In early June 2024, Before You Dig Australia convened key representatives from the telecommunications sector for two days of robust conversation, debate and idea generation to determine how we can reduce the volume of damage to Australia’s critical telecommunications network from preventable strikes. With 50% of utility damages affecting the telecommunications network every year, this was a crucial conversation for this sector.
Mell Greenall CEO BYDA stated the forum’s focus was to align the sector’s collective efforts towards addressing key issues, such as enhancing the exchange of digital plans and improving information quality for all stakeholders, alongside longer-term objectives such as advancing skill development within the construction sector.
At the forum, telecommunication representatives discussed the significant challenges faced in safeguarding the telecommunications network from construction and excavation impacts. Some of these challenges include:
- A prevailing misconception that damage to telecommunication networks is merely an inconvenience, underestimating the severe disruptions and safety risks such damage can cause
- Limited awareness and use of the free BYDA utility plans request service among contractors, consultants and property owners
- Certain federal legislation severely hindering the ability of the sector to support BYDA to move to a digital environment
- Inaccuracies in utility asset information as well as inadequate monitoring and reporting of network damage limiting efforts to identify and invest in necessary innovations and enhancements.
The Telecommunications Sector Safety Forum, on 4 and 5 June, was the fourth and final instalment in series that’s proving to be a pivotal moment for the Australian utility industry.
This series of utility forums didn’t just foster a greater understanding of our common challenges and collective potential to drive change; it sparked a realisation that industry collaboration and information sharing are the linchpins to evolving the sector and making sustainable and substantial changes to enhance utility safety standards.
We extend our gratitude to the representatives from AARNet (Australia’s Academic and Research Network), nbn® Australia, Optus, Telstra, TPG Telecom, and Vocus for their invaluable contributions over the two days of productive and open discussions.
We’re now pleased to share the highlights and summary of recommendations from the forum in the Telecommunications Sector Safety Forum Discussion Paper.
BYDA will continue facilitating and fostering utility industry collaboration and solutions to drive the necessary changes and innovations to enhance utility safety standards and damage prevention.
Our next series of utility sector forums starts in September with the Electricity sector, focusing specifically on advancing skill development, knowledge and understanding across the construction and trade sectors. For more information about this upcoming forum, please contact Jason Stanley, Senior Awareness and Damage Prevention Officer at [email protected]
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