Dial Before You Dig NSW/ACT is now on Facebook.

We have found that Facebook is an easier way to let you know what's going on in NSW and the ACT.

Visit www.facebook.com/beforeyoudignswact.

Like the page to be kept up to date whenever we post an item.

2015 was another big year for the Dial Before You Dig service in NSW and the ACT.

This video shows just some of the highlights (and lowlights) for the service that featured on TV, livestreaming and social media in 2015.

1. A hit to an optical fibre cable disrupts commuters travelling across the Harbour Bridge into the city.
2. A hit to a 132kV subtransmission cable cuts power to several suburbs.
3. Channel Nine reality TV show The Block hits a gas main.
4. A circus hits a secondary gas main in a park in Gosford.
5. Rain in Sydney floods the Dial Before You Dig offices in Bondi Junction.
6. Shane Wynd wins the Modified class of the ANDRA drag racing championships.
7. Courtney O'Hehir wins a race in the wingless sprintcar class at Sydney Speedway.
8. Jon McCorkindale wins a race in the Porsche GT3 Challenge at Sydney Motorsport Park.
9. Michael Bartch joins the Primmer Racing Team.
10. Mark Primmer spins out at Wakefield Park, Phillip Island and Winton and gets close to a competitor in Queensland.
11. The Tacking Point women's surf boat crew come to grief at Coffs Harbour.
12. The Bondi men's surf boat crew make an appearance on Bondi Rescue.
13. Two of Shane Wynd's assistants are faces in the crowd in Adelaide.
14. ActewAGL and Icon Water run an advertising campaign on Canberra TV.
15. Courtney O'Hehir is interviewed on Sydney Speedway TV.
16. Courtney O'Hehir signs autographs for the fans at Sydney Speedway.
17. A spoof movie trailer - Infrastructure-If Anything Exciting Happens We've Done it Wrong - gets over 5 million views on YouTube.
18. The Mona Vale and Bondi men's surf boat crews feature in the Ocean Thunder pro surf boat series.

It was a sunny winter's day last Sunday at Eastern Creek for round four of the Australian Motor Racing Nationals at Sydney Motorsport Park.

Dial Before You Dig at two race teams at the event.

The Primmer Race Team had two cars in the Dial Before You Dig Super Six Touring Car series. And Jon McCorkindale competed in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge.

Jon McCorkindale had the better of the event, with a first place finish in the first race of the day. A second place to Ryan Simpson in the second race was enough for Jon to claim first place in the Professional Class for the round.

Jon is sitting second outright and second in the Professional Class after the weekend.

Mark Primmer picked up 66 points over the round to sit in tenth spot in the outright championship.

The video below shows the highlights of the day for both teams. Vision was taken from Nationals TV live streaming the event and on an iPhone.

As a free, non-profit service, Dial Before You Dig NSW/ACT is a major supporter of surf lifesaving.

The NSW Surf Life Saving Championships are the largest event on the 2014/15 surf lifesaving calendar to be held in this State.

The 2015 NSW Surf Life Saving Championships were co-hosted by Ocean Beach and Umina Surf Lifesaving Clubs.

The State’s premier surf event has been held at this location for the last three years. It attracts more than 7000 competitors from all over NSW, along with 600 volunteer officials and up to 15,000 family and spectators.

It was a stellar event for Dial Before You Dig crews, with seven crews making the semi finals and six reaching the final in their respective divisions.

Crews from Cudgen Headland, Bondi, Moruya and Mona Vale featured.

Special attention also goes to the Austinmer crews who raced in their Dial Before You Dig livery from the Ocean Thunder Pro Surfboat series.

The Australian surf lifesaving championships on the Gold Coast in April will mark the end of the season.

Best of luck to all Dial Before You Dig crews at the Australian titles.

Honour Roll - 2015 NSW Surf Life Saving Championships

Open Women
Bondi - semi finalists
Austinmer - finalists (second)

Open Men
Austinmer - finalists (second)
Moruya - finalists (third)
Mona Vale - finalists (fourth)

Reserves Men
Mona Vale - finalists (fourth)

U19 Men
Austinmer - finalists (third)
Moruya - finalists (fifth)
Cudgen Headland - finalists (sixth)

U23 Women
Austinmer - finalists (first)

U23 Men
Mona Vale - finalists (fourth)

Above: Moruya (left) and Bondi (right) in their Dial Before You Dig Surfboat Crew jackets

Above: The Cudgen Headland U19 crew had a superb carnival, making the final. Sadly they couldn't cap it off with a win.

Above: Moruya launched their new Dial Before You Dig boat a few weeks ago, and it served them well at the State titles.

Courtney O'Hehir is a twenty year old hairdresser who races wingless sprint cars.

In 2015 she was selected as a Speedway Australia Rising Star.

In April 2014 Dial Before You Dig NSW/ACT went to see Courtney race at Sydney Speedway.

Last Saturday the Dial Before You Dig team went to the Speedway again to see Courtney race.

As in past years, the team wore special t-shirts to support Courtney.

Sydney Speedway were gracious hosts, welcoming Dial Before You Dig in event announcements. The Dial Before You Dig logo was displayed on the main screen.

Courtney did not disappoint, making the A Main final.

Courtney will appear in more races at Sydney Speedway in 2015 as well as in Dubbo on the ANZAC Day weekend. In February 2015 Courtney raced in Goulburn.

She was featured in the Daily Telegraph in December 2014 and the Parramatta Advertiser in March 2015.

Above: Courtney at Sydney Speedway in March 2015

Above: The Dial Before You Dig team supporting Courtney at Sydney Speedway in March 2015

Sydney International Dragway had a different look on Saturday 28 February 2015.

Normally the host for national Modified Aeroflow Sportsman champion Shane Wynd, the Dragway was landscaped with rocks, dirt and trees.

The event was Round Two of the Enduro-cross Nationals.

Enduro-cross is a competition for dirt bikes on an indoor or closed outdoor circuit.

The track includes rocks, boulders, logs, sand, mud, water holes and special obstacles like giant tyres and wooden sections resembling fallen trees.

Round One of the championships was held at Archerfield Speedway Brisbane on 7 February 2015. Round Three will be held at Calder Park Melbourne on 14 March 2015. 

Dial Before You Dig is a sponsor of all three rounds.

In Sydney the team from Dial Before You Dig NSW/ACT was out in force. Balloons and showbags were snapped up by spectators.

Congratulations to Women's winner Tayla Jones and Pro Class winner Mike Brown.

Above: The Trade Alley at Round Two of the Enduro-cross Nationals.

 
Above: Dial Before You Dig Corner at Sydney Dragway.

Dial Before You Dig NSW/ACT exists to lessen the risk of damage to our members' underground assets.

The classic Dial Before You Dig service at www.1100.com.au is the best-known way we do this.

There are other innovative ways in which Dial Before You Dig protects our members from damage.

We regularly hold seminars to improve skills in the excavation, engineering and construction industries.

This week was the launch of a new initiative to improve asset protection.

A Locator Steering Committee had its first meeting in Parramatta.

The Steering Committee is a collaboration between utilities, authorities, local Government and industry associations for civil construction and asset location to improve the quality of utility location in New South Wales.

The Steering Committee is an initiative of Dial Before You Dig NSW/ACT and the Civil Contractors Fedation of NSW.

More information on the work of the Committee will appear as the project unfolds.

Above: The inaugural Locator Steering Committee meeting. Organisations attending (left to right): Dial Before You Dig NSW/ACT, Taren Group, Jemena, Optus, Durkin, Downer Engineering, NSW Local Government, Dial Before You Dig NSW/ACT, Diona, Civil Contractors Federation of NSW, National Utility Locating Contractors Association, Roads and Maritime Services NSW, NBN Co.

2015 has started with a bang at Dial Before You Dig NSW/ACT, with forums in Moruya, Newcastle and Dubbo.

These regional forums have been well attended, with over 100 people attending Moruya, 60 in Dubbo and 50 in Newcastle.

A full schedule has been arranged in 2015 that includes the following occupations:

• Horizontal Directional Drilling
• Plumbing
• Building
• Local Government
• Civil Construction.

Seminars have been arranged in Sydney and major centres across NSW and the ACT.

Most seminars have speakers from industry experts including gas, communications, legal and Government.

All Dial Before You Dig seminars in NSW/ACT are free to attend. They include refreshments and showbags.

Many seminars also include lucky door prizes.

Eligible occupations can also apply for Continuing Professional Development points.

Visit the Upcoming Events page regularly to keep track of seminars being held in your area.

Register online to attend seminars by visiting the Register for an Event page.

Above: Stephen Taylor-Jones from Moray and Agnew lawyers addresses a forum in Dubbo in February 2015

Dial Before You Dig NSW/ACT is a major supporter of surf lifesaving in NSW.

Our thinking is simple - a surf lifesaver doesn't charge to rescue you from the surf. And Dial Before You Dig doesn't charge to arrange information from our member companies where you are digging.

Over the last decade, Dial Before You Dig NSW/ACT has become the major sponsor at the following surf lifesaving clubs (listed from north to south):

• Cudgen Headland (Kingscliff)
• Tacking Point (Port Macquarie)
• Tea Gardens Hawks Nest
• Mona Vale
• Bondi
• Moruya.

We are also in sponsorship discussions with Cooks Hill (Newcastle).

This partnership with surf lifesaving in NSW has led to an association with the Ocean Thunder Pro Surfboat series.

Ocean Thunder is an elite made-for-TV event held over four rounds each season. Highlights from each round are shown on Fox Sports as well as free-to-air TV.

Twenty five men's and women's crews competed in Ocean Thunder in 2014/15.

This season was the tenth for Ocean Thunder. Dial Before You Dig NSW/ACT has been associated with all except one season.

in 2014/15 Dial Before You Dig NSW/ACT sponsored men's and women's crews from the following clubs in Ocean Thunder:

• Bondi
• Mona Vale
• Bondi
• Austinmer
• Bulli.

Our cousins at Dial Before You Dig Vic/Tas also sponsored the St Kilda women's crew.

Fox Sports has been showing highlights from each round. Round 4 highlights are scheduled for February 25 and 28.

Congratulations to men's champions Currumbin and women's champions Helensburgh-Stanwell Park.

Above: Ocean Thunder at Collaroy Beach in December 2014

Four times a year all Dial Before You Dig Managers meet to discuss ways to improve the Dial Before You Dig service.

In July 2014 the meeting was hosted at Cudgen Headland Surf Lifesaving Club, in far north New South Wales.

February 2015 was the turn of Sydney to host the conference again.

Dial Before You Dig Managers from around Australia gathered in North Sydney.

They were joined by NSW/ACT Chairman Janssen Chan. Motorsport representatives Courtney O'Hehir and Mark Primmer also attended.

Above: The Dial Before You Dig team gather at North Sydney

Flashback: (left) The team at Bondi in October 2011 and (right) at Bondi in September 2008

Flashback: The team in Canberra November 2013

As a free, non profit community service, Dial Before You Dig NSW/ACT likes to support other free community services and events.

Since 2009 we have sponsored Parramatta's Australia Day celebrations. 

Australia Day starts early in Parramatta Park with an Aerial Carnivale of hot air balloons. In the afternoon events move to the Big Backyard.

All through the day there are free activities and entertainment.

The Dial Before You Dig team hand out free merchandise to thousands of people.

In the evening the free Dig 1100 Concert offers entertainment for younger and older Australians.

The Dig 1100 Concert for 2015 featured the Wiggles, Sarah De Bono and Timomatic.

The evening was rounded out with a fireworks display.

Even a light drizzle could not dampen the mood of the crowd.

 
Above: A shower of rain could not dampen the fun, thanks to ponchos provided by Dial Before You Dig

 
Above: NSW Premier Mike Baird with Dominic Puiu and Otre Moussa from Dial Before You Dig NSW/ACT

Above: The Dial Before You Dig team pose with representatives of Parramatta Council

Above: Yellow Wiggle Emma Watkins with Dial Before You Dig Manager Dominic Puiu

Dial Before You Dig NSW/ACT supports four small motorsport teams.

As the motosport season winds down, the teams can reflect on successful seasons.

Shane Wynd has been crowned national drag racing champion in the Modified Aeroflow Sportsman division. Read about Shane's victory here.

Jon McCorkindale had a barnstorming finish to the season to finish second in the GT3 Porsche Challenge. Read details of Jon's clean sweep at Queensland Raceway here.

Mark Primmer and Cameron Moss finished tenth and twelfth at Wakefield Park in the final round of the 2014 Dial Before You Dig Australian Super 6 Touring Car Series.

And Courtney O'Hehir has been recording fast lap times in the wingless sprintcars at Sydney Speedway. At the meeting on 11 October Courtney recorded the fastest lap time in Heat 1, finishing second. She started ninth in the A Main final at the same event, finishing 11th.

Earlier this month the teams gathered for a photoshoot at Sydney Speedway. You can read about the shoot here.

To mark the end of the season, Jon McCorkindale hosted a track day at the Wakefield Park circuit near Goulburn. Dial Before You Dig NSW/ACT Directors Trent Wray and John Croxson were taken for a lap with Jon.

Above: Top Director John Croxson (yellow polo) views the McCorkindale GT3 Porsche. Bottom Director Trent Wray takes a trip with Jon McCorkindale

Lebanese Australians are well represented in building, engineering, construction, trades and engineering.

For this reason Dial Before You Dig NSW/ACT has been a supporter of lebanese village associations and the Maronite Catholic Church.

In October and November 2014 an important event occurred in the life of Maronite Christians in Australia.

His Beatitude and Eminence Patriarch Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Rai made an official visit to Australia.

The NSW Legislative Council passed a motion in support of the visit. The motion noted that the visit was important to all Australians of middle eastern background.

Dial Before You Dig NSW/ACT is proud to have supported the visit.

The support was in the form of sponsorship and the production of embroidered memorabilia.

Above: His Beatitude and Eminence Patriarch Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Rai

Above: Assistant Manager Otre Moussa and Manager Dominic Puiu with (left to right) Shadow Minister Jason Clare MHR, Immigration Minister Scott Morrison MHR, Parliamentary Secretary David Clarke MLC

Above: Dial Before You Dig on display during the visit of His Eminence

Shane Wynd is the drag racer who made the move from Perth to Melbourne to be closer to the tracks on the eastern seaboard.

When he lived in Perth, Shane Wynd crossed the Nullarbor 55 times to compete in the eastern States.

You can read about Shane here and here.

Something about the move must have suited Shane.

He has just been crowned national champion in the Modified Aeroflow Sportsman division. The win adds to his two previous national championships in Super Sedans.

Dial Before You Dig NSW/ACT is proud to support Shane and wishes him best of luck in defending his new title.

Above: Newly-crowned national champion Shane Wynd celebrates his win

On 3 November 2014, all four of the motorsport teams for Dial Before You Dig NSW/ACT met at Sydney Speedway for a photoshoot.

The teams were Primmer Racing (Super Sixes), the Shane Wynd modified aeroflow drag car, Courtney O'Hehir's wingless sprintcar and the McCorkindale GT3 Porsche.

It was the first time all four motorsport teams had been brought together.

This time lapse video compresses the shoot into a few minutes.

Dial Before You Dig NSW/ACT attends many field days and trade shows.

These events allow us to take the safe digging message to excavators, engineers, builders, tradespeople and primary producers.

The Farming Small Areas and Lifestyle Expo at Richmond in Sydney's northwest is one such event.

This November marked the twelfth time the Expo has been held.

Dial Before You Dig NSW/ACT has been represented at all twelve.

As in past years, representatives distributed merchandise including balloons to happy children and discussed safe digging with their parents.

Above: Dial Before You Dig NSW/ACT at the 2014 Farming Small Areas and Lifestyle Expo at Richmond

As a free, non-profit service, Dial Before You Dig NSW/ACT likes to support other non-profit community services.

One of these events is the Sydney to the 'Gong Bike Ride.

The Ride raises funds for people affected by Multiple Sclerosis. Multiple Sclerosis is the most common disease of the central nervous system and affects more than 23,000 Australians.

This is the third year that Dial Before You Dig NSW/ACT has sponsored a team in the Sydney to the 'Gong Bike Ride.

Members of the DBYD1100 team are employed at Dial Before You Dig member company Ausgrid.

The DBYD1100 team raised $10,721. This creditable result made DBYD1100 the top non-profit fundraising team and 32^nd overall. The event overall raised $2.9 million.

It is not generally known that the average age of diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis is typically between 20 and 40 years of age. Or that Multiple Sclerosis affects three times as many women as men.

The fundraising supports MS Australia in its work. MS Australia lessens the effects of Multiple Sclerosis on people affected by the disease, as well as their families, carers and the community, by offering a wide range of services, equipment and support. The goal is to assist everyone affected by Multiple Sclerosis to live life to their fullest potential and secure the care and support they need, until we ultimately find a cure.

Congratulations to everyone who worked to make team DBYD1100 such a success.

Above: The DBYD1100 team, ranked top fundraiser among non-profit teams in 2014

Just as Dial Before You Dig NSW/ACT supports Parramatta events, we also support events held by other local Councils in western Sydney.

Holroyd is a Local Government Area with 110,000 residents based in Merrylands.

This weekend Holroyd hosted the Living Holroyd Expo.

The Living Holroyd Expo invited locals to find out about services on offer throughout their City including food, entertainment and giveaways.

Held at Merrylands Park, this inaugural event had live dance performances, amusement rides, interactive activities, food and raffles.

Dial Before You Dig NSW/ACT was one of the local and non-profit businesses at the Expo handing out balloons and merchandise.

Above: Dial Before You Dig NSW/ACT at the Living Holroyd Expo in Merrylands

This month Dial Before You Dig NSW/ACT participated in two major conferences.

The Institute of Public Works Engineering Australasia NSW State Conference was held at the Novotel Coffs Harbour Pacific Bay Resort.

The Conference included the the Road Safety, Water Directorate and NSW State Forums.

The audience included Engineers, Public Works Managers, Group Managers, Supervisors, Technical Staff, Councillors, Directors and General Managers in local government, utilities and State Government departments.

The following week the Local Government NSW Annual Conference was also held in Coffs Harbour.

This Conference is the annual policy-making event for the 152 councils of NSW. Local councillors meet to share ideas and debate issues that shape the way we are governed.

Dial Before You Dig NSW/ACT was pleased to attend and support both conferences.

Above: The IPWEA NSW State Conference, with Chief Executive Officer John Roydhouse (right)

Above: (left) Manager Dominic Puiu with the State of Origin trophy, (right) delegates at the Local Government NSW Annual Conference

Above: With City of Sydney Councillor Christine Forster

Courtney O'Hehir is a 20 year old hairdresser who races a wingless sprintcar at Sydney Speedway in Granville. You can read an earlier story about Courtney here.

The sprintcar season is well underway. Courtney competes in a distinctive pink car with matching race suit and helmet.

Last weekend Courtney took her sprint car off track, to the carpark at her local McDonald's in McGraths Hill.

The occasion was the annual McHappy Day, a major fundraiser for Ronald McDonald House Charities.

Funds raised on McHappy Day go towards a range of programs including Ronald McDonald House, Ronald McDonald Family Rooms, the Ronald McDonald Learning Program and Ronald McDonald Family Retreats Program.

The 2014 fundraising goal of $3 million equates to over 23,000 nights accommodation in a Ronald McDonald House for families with seriously ill children.

Now in its 24th year, McHappy Day has raised over $28 million for Ronald McDonald House Charities.

Above: Courtney O'Hehir and her pit crew support McHappy Day at McGraths Hill near Windsor

As a free, non-profit service, Dial Before You Dig NSW/ACT likes to support other non-profit community services.

One of these is Camp Quality, a charity that supports families that have children living with cancer.

The name Camp Quality comes from the idea that no-one can do anything about the quantity of anyone's life, but all of us can do something about the quality.

Camp Quality's major annual fundraising event is the esCarpade.

Camp Quality esCarpade takes place in October each year. Now in its 23rd year, esCarpade entrants drive on outback roads for seven days in vehicles that are at least 20 years old.

In 2014 the esCarpade is travelling from Broken Hill To Albury.

In 2013 the event went from Bundaberg to Wollongong and raised over $1.2 million.

This is the twelfth year that Dial Before You Dig NSW/ACT has sponsored Car 1100. In recognition of Dial Before You Dig's support, Camp Quality CEO Simon Rountree presented a special plaque in October 2014.

Dial Before You Dig NSW/ACT supports Car 1100 through a donation to Camp Quality and merchandise for the team to hand out on the way.

Above: Car 1100 team members Tony Draybi, Hans Elzerman, Tony Saab and George Loulach on the 2014 esCarpade

Above: Car 1100 on the 2014 esCarpade

Above: Camp Quality CEO Simon Rountree (left) presents Dial Before You Dig NSW/ACT Manager Dominic Puiu (centre) and Assistant Manager Otre Moussa (right) with a special award recognising 12 years of support for the esCarpade

Dial Before You Dig runs seminars for excavators across New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory.

In August and September 2014, Dial Before You Dig ran Workplace Health and Safety seminars at Ausgrid and Zinfra.

We also run seminars for builders, tradespeople and the excavation industry in general.

Many of the seminars are assisted by Dial Before You Dig members including Jemena, Endeavour and ActewAGL.

The next scheduled seminar for builders is in Harris Park on 24 September 2014.

Visit the Upcoming Events calendar to keep in touch with events in your area. You can also register online to attend.

Above: Stephen Mudford from ActewAGL (left) and Armen Dervisevic from Endeavour Energy (right) at seminars for Zinfra in Canberra and Baulkham Hills

Above: Trent Wray from Jemena at a seminar for Ausgrid in Tuggerah

Following his move from WA to Victoria, Shane Wynd and Dial Before You Dig are adopting a new
image.

Thanks to sponsorship from Dial Before You Dig NSW/ACT, the race car and trailer have been transformed with a
theme-specific wrap.

The new look car will debut at Sunset Strip in Mildura this weekend (September 13th and 14th).

Shane's beloved Tigers assisted by dropping out of the AFL finals series, leaving Shane free to concentrate on his drag racing.

After Mildura, Shane will race at the Spring Nationals in Adelaide on October 4th and 5th.

The Nationals in Sydney on the last weekend of October will be the culmination of a season’s work.

Shane is hoping to add a championship win in the Modified Aeroflow Sportsman Drag Racing Championship to his previous two Super Sedan Championships.

You can follow Shane on Facebook at Shane ‘Pooh’ Wynd Racing.

Vinyl Wraps and Graphics created the artwork for the new theme. Trailers By Design then applied the wraps to the car and trailer.

Shane particularly thanked Healesville Directional Drilling for the use of the props that appear in the photos below, his partner Jo and crew for their invaluable help.

Shane also thanked his long supportive sponsors Dial Before You Dig NSW/ACT, Penrite Oils, Farrer Race and Performance and Dimoff Transmissions.

Above: The new look for Shane Wynd's car and trailer. Shane is looking to add the Modified Aeroflow Sportsman Drag Racing Championship to his previous two Super Sedan Championships.

The City of Parramatta is a major employment centre and transport hub in western Sydney.

Many thousands of people travel to Parramatta for business, shopping and recreation in addition to the 174,000 that live there.

A clue to the importance of Parramatta is that it is one of only four Councils in NSW with a Lord Mayor. Another clue is that Parramatta is the name of both a State and Commonwealth electorate.

Because of its economic importance and position in the centre of Sydney, Parramatta is also a locus for major infrastructure. This includes energy, communications and other vital services.

Dial Before You Dig NSW/ACT has good relations with Parramatta's Members of Parliament, Lord Mayor, Councillors and staff.

For some years Dial Before You Dig NSW/ACT has been a major sponsor of the Parramatta Australia Day carnival.

Recently Dial Before You Dig NSW/ACT was able to support two major events in Parramatta.

The first event was the Royal NSW Lancers Parade. The Parade celebrated the centenary of the raising of the First Light Horse in August 1914.

Parramatta Council brought Australian military history to life with a street parade in the Parramatta CBD. The Parade featured cavalry, tanks and armoured vehicles.

The second event was the Lady Mayoress' Charity Gala Evening. The Evening supported charities Camp Lionheart, the Children’s Medical Research Institute, Giant Steps, Lymphoma Australia and White Stone.

Dial Before You Dig NSW/ACT was proud to support both events.

Above: The Governor-General takes the salute of the Royal NSW Lancers in Parramatta

Above: State MP for Parramatta Dr Geoff Lee with Dial Before You Dig NSW/ACT Manager Dominic Puiu at the Charity Gala Evening in Oatlands

The Dial Before You Dig associations around Australia are supporters of the Geospatial Information & Technology Association (GITA).

GITA is a not-for-profit organisation which promotes the benefits of geospatial information and location-aware technologies. It is the professional association for anyone using geospatial technology to manage, operate, plan and develop infrastructure. 

Members of GITA are professionals working with utilities, telecommunication companies, technology businesses and the public sector. 

This week GITA held its annual conference at the University of Technology, Sydney.

National Dial Before You Dig CEO Carlos Campino was a late withdrawal from the conference. Carlos has taken up opportunities elsewhere and the Dial Before You Dig service wishes him all the best.

The conference was the venue for the announcement of winners of two annual awards - the Dial Before You Dig High Performance Award and the GITA Excellence Award.

GITA introduced the Dial Before You Dig High Performance Award in 2007 to recognise high performance by member companies responding to Dial Before You DIg enquiries.

A competition is conducted anonymously to compare member companies' responses to a set of enquiries. These responses are judged on the basis of speed of response, quality of response, availability, accuracy and quality of material provided to the enquirer.

A perpetual trophy is awarded each year.

In 2014 there were three finalists - Western Power (WA), Essential Energy (NSW) and Energex (QLD).

Essential Energy and Energex shared the trophy, which was presented by Jonathan Russell, Executive Manager, Strategic Business Development from the national Dial Before You Dig office.

The winners received a prize pack of merchandise provided by Dial Before You Dig NSW/ACT.

GITA Excellence Award finalists were Unity Water (QLD) and Western Power (WA).

A notable feature was that both finalists' projects related to the Dial Before You Dig service.

Western Power were the winner for 2014.

Dial Before You Dig NSW/ACT extends congratulations to all finalists and winners.

Above: GITA President Antoine Burdett (left) and Dial Before You Dig Executive Manager Jonathan Russell present Essential Energy and Energex with their awards.

Lebanese Australians are closely associated with building and construction in New South Wales.

Many lebanese in Sydney are Maronite Catholics. The largest Maronite parish is Our Lady of Lebanon in Harris Park near Parramatta. 

August is a busy month for Our Lady of Lebanon. It is the month of the feast of the Assumption, which is celebrated around the world.

Dial Before You Dig NSW/ACT is a major sponsor of Feast Week at Our Lady of Lebanon.

Feast Week at Our Lady of Lebanon is a 10-day celebration that includes Masses, processions, music and barbeques. The Week culminates in a barbecue and Masses attended by over 30,000 people.

Over 200,000 people attend events during Feast Week at Our Lady of Lebanon.

Last Saturday was the Annual Barbecue and Festival night. Despite the threat of rain thousands attended to eat, drink and dance.

Above: helpers at the Annual Barbecue at Our Lady of Lebanon Harris Park. Dial Before You Dig NSW/ACT is a major sponsor of Feast Week

Dial Before You Dig NSW/ACT has an Executive that meets in months when the full Board does not meet.

In 2014 the Executive has travelled NSW and the ACT to meet with representatives of Dial Before You Dig members.

This year the Executive visited Port Macquarie and Wagga Wagga. This week the Executive was in Canberra and met with representatives of ACT members.

Stepehn Mudford from multi utility ActewAGL was introuduced to the Executive by outgoing representative Frank Cortes.

Chris Dale from the Commonwealth Department of Finance and David Hodgson from Canberra Aiport also attended.

Meetings are scheduled in Moruya and Coffs Harbour later in 2014.

Visit the Upcoming Events page for information on when the Executive is coming to your location.

 Above: (left to right) incoming ActewAGL representative Stephen Mudford, Chris Dale from the Department of Finance, NSW/ACT Manager Dominic Puiu, outgoing ActewAGL representative Frank Cortes, David Hodgson from Canberra Airport, Chairman Janssen Chan from Sydney Water

Local Government is an important part of the Dial Before You Dig service in NSW and the ACT.

Which is why last Wednesday Dial Before You Dig partnered with Bankstown City Council to provide a forum for builders.

Eighty builders, developers and tradespeople attended the forum at the refurbished Bankstown City Library.

Dial Before You Dig, Jemena and Workcover NSW presented on safe digging in NSW.

Council representatives gave an overview of developments in the Bankstown LGA including Local Area Plans.

Visit the Training Calendar for information on forums and seminars scheduled for 2014.

Above: Bankstown Mayor Cr Khal Asfour (centre) opens the forum

 
Above: Paul Scott from Bankstown City Council addresses the forum

Jon McCorkindale is a racer from Young in southern NSW.

Dial Before You Dig NSW/ACT has sponsored Jon since he was racing wingless sprintcars at Granville.

Since then Jon has moved to winged sprintcars and then to GT3 Porsches.

This year is Jon's first full season in the GT3 Challenge Cup.

And as the name suggests, the season has had its challenges.

Jon ran out of fuel at Sydney Motorsport Park. He broke an exhaust pipe at Mallala and ran into a wall in the rain at Winton.

He was even disqualified at Sandown for wearing the wrong socks.

Last weekend at Queensland Raceway it all came together for Jon.

Starting with a win in the 40 lap Enduro on Saturday night, Jon had three wins from three starts and broke the track record.

Jon also featured on the cover of The Racing Magazine Australia.

Next round in September is at Phillip Island. Best wishes to Jon from Dial Before You Dig NSW/ACT to continue his winning form.

Above: (left) Jon on the podium at Queensland Raceway last weekend. (right) Jon on the cover of The Racing Magazine Australia

Flashback: (left) The odd socks that disqualified Jon at Sandown in April. (right) Jon in his sprintcar days

Local Government is an important part of the Dial Before You Dig service in NSW and the ACT. 

Local Councils support Dial Before You Dig by making sure that Council staff and contractors dial before they dig.

As consent authorities, Councils also encourage builders to dial before they dig.

And many Councils are members of Dial Before You Dig NSW/ACT in order to protect their vital underground infrastructure.

Singleton Shire Council is one of 17 regional NSW Councils currently participating in the Dial Before You Dig service.

In common with many regional Councils, Singleton Shire provides water, sewerage and drainage services to its ratepayers.

There are 6707 properties connected to the Singleton Council water supply. Council maintains 272 kilometres of water mains supplying a demand for 2,500 megalitres of water a year.

Singleton also promotes the Dial Before You Dig service on its website.

Last week Singleton Shire ran a display for Local Government Week.

The display showed aspects of Council services and activities with balloon giveaways, information handouts, visual displays and activities.

Dial Before You Dig provided pens, stickers and other promotional items.

The items were so popular that the pens and rulers ran out - twice!

Above: (left) Rebecca Gilmore from Singleton Shire Council and (right) NSW/ACT Board member and Jemena representative Trent Wray at the Local Government Week display in Singleton

The Dial Before You Dig service operates around Australia. The service is composed of five State associations and a national office.

Four times a year all Dial Before You Dig Managers meet to discuss ways to improve the Dial Before You Dig service.

In July 2014 it was the turn of NSW/ACT to host the meeting at the Cudgen Headland Surf Lifesaving Club in Kingscliff, just south of Tweed Heads. Cudgen Headland SLSC had been the location of the Australian IRB Titles just a week earlier.

In past years the meeting has been hosted at Parliament House, Canberra and Bondi Surf Bathers' Life Saving Club.

Apart from the busy agenda and the presence of operational contractor PelicanCorp, the meeting offered the opportunity to meet with former Australian Rugby League fullback Gary Belcher.

Gary is on the Sportsday Central panel that hosts The Dig on Fridays and Saturdays across NSW and south eastern Queensland. 

All Dial Before You Dig Managers appreciated Gary's company at the meeting.

Above: Dial Before You Dig Managers and operational representatives from around Australia meet at Cudgen Headland Surf Lifesaving Club Kingscliff

Above: Sportsday Central presenter Gary Belcher (second from right) meets with Dial Before You Dig Managers

As a non-profit community service, Dial Before You Dig NSW/ACT supports many community events.

One of these events was the annual fest week and fete at St Elias Antiochian Orthodox church Wollongong.

His Eminence Metropolitan Archbishop Paul Saliba attended a dinner at the church to celebrate the Feast of St Elias.

His Eminence wore the official St Elias shirt, provided by Dial Before You Dig NSW/ACT. 

Above: His Eminence Metropolitan Archbishop Paul Saliba at St Elias Wollongong

Many experienced people in building and construction think that pipes and cables can only be found in the road and footpath.

In fact many major networks are located on private property. 

In NSW excavators are required by law to notify Dial Before You Dig for all work, including on private property.

Dial Before You Dig NSW/ACT works with industry associations to alert people in building and construction to their obligations.

In July Dial Before You Dig sponsored the Civil Engineering Projects division of the Master Builders Association Northern NSW Region Building Industry Awards.

The Housing Awards reward quality, workmanship and innovation in residential and commercial projects across project home builders, contract builders, multi-unit developers, medium density housing builders and builders specialising in alterations and additions.

The awards were so popular in 2014 that 100 more people attended the awards ceremony than in 2013.

Winners were Atlanta Building, Damian Connellan Building and Hutchinson Builders.

Click here to see the official winners for 2014. Congratulations to all winners.

Above: Dial Before You Dig NSW/ACT Manager Dominic Puiu presents Hutchinson Builders with their award

Winter has most of NSW and the ACT in its icy grip.

Yet one part of NSW resists the cold - the Northern Rivers region of NSW.

In what passes for winter in the Northern Rivers, yesterday was a balmy 20 degrees with a cloudless sky.

The mild climate made Cudgen Headland Surf Lifesaving Club the perfect venue to host the Australian IRB Championships.

Cudgen Headland is the most northerly of six surf lifesaving clubs sponsored by Dial Before You Dig NSW/ACT.

IRB is the short form of Inflatable Rescue Boat. In times gone by, surf lifesavers used surf belts and surf boats to rescue swimmers in distress.

Nowadays an IRB will usually come to your rescue.

The IRB Championships are held in a different State every year.

Graham Ford, President of Surf Life Saving Australia, said "The competition brought together 724 competitors from 49 clubs around Australia".

"Queensland were crowned winners of the Interstate Championships, and North Burleigh Surf Life Saving Club were victors of the National Championships for the 12th time in the event’s history".

Congratulations to all medallists from Dial Before You Dig NSW/ACT.

Full results of the Championships are available at sls.com.au/irbchamps.

Above: The 2014 Australian IRB Championships at Cudgen Headland Surf Lifesaving Club, Kingscliff NSW.

Dial Before You Dig NSW/ACT aims to lessen the risk of damage to our member organisations' assets.

To this end we regularly partner with industry specialists to discuss the latest techniques in safe digging.

This week Dial Before You Dig has partnered three forums at Oatlands Golf Course in North Parramatta.

One forum was for western Sydney builders, the second forum for employees of energy supplier Ausgrid and the third for the Horizontal Directional Drilling industry.

Coates Training were partners of the event for builders. Trenchless Advisor partnered the event for the Horizontal Directional Drilling industry.

Oatlands Golf Course, Coates Training and Trenchless Advisor generously donated door prizes.

The speakers were industry specialists with experience in working safely around underground assets.

Eighty people attended each event.

You can visit the Calendar of Events to view coming forums. If you would like to attend an event, register your interest on the Register for an Event page.

Above: Seminars at Oatlands Golf Course in July 2014. Left- Trent Wray from Jemena talks to Ausgrid. Centre- Peter Brown from Trenchless Advisor addresses the Horizontal Directional Drilling industry. Right- Ron Harrison from Optus advises builders.

High pressure natural gas pipelines are in many urban and suburban areas.

Yet because they are buried and because there has never been a death or serious injury due to a high pressure gas pipeline leak in Australia, people can take them for granted.

Pipeline industry records show that pipeline incursions from people from outside the pipeline industry continue to happen. Third party incursions cause danger to excavators, to the wider public and to critical infrastructure.

The Australian National University is conducting a project aimed at better understanding of why third party pipeline incursions occur to identify ways to maintain the integrity of pipelines and improve community safety.

This includes learning about:

• how third parties see and think about accidental pipeline violation
• how third parties understand risk and responsibility
• whether people working near pipelines have adequate knowledge of the risks.

This research is of significant benefit to the pipeline industry, to utility contractors and subcontractors and to the general public.

If you would like to be involved in this research, please contact:
Dr Vanessa McDermott, The Australian National University
(02) 6125 1995 or M: 0401 827 241
Email: vanessa.mcdermott@anu.edu.au

Acknowledgements:
This work was funded by the Energy Pipelines CRC, supported through the Australian Governments Cooperative Research Centres Program. The cash and in-kind support from the APIA RSC is gratefully acknowledged.

In June the Dial Before You Dig Super Six Touring Car Series was at Winton in Victoria.

The Dial Before You Dig Racing Team of Mark Primmer and Cameron Moss continued their rivalry with another close finish.

After a weekend of nip and tuck racing, Cameron Moss edged out Mark Primmer thanks to his faster pitstop times.

Cameron finished 12th and Mark 13th over the round.

Mark Primmer sits in 8th overall for the series.

Saloon Cars are six cylinder production based model VT Commodore and AU Falcon sedans, slightly modified for competition, safety and reliability.

The category is a full-on traditional battle between Holden and Ford that offers high-speed thrills for competitors and entertainment for spectators at a relatively low cost. 

You can see highlights of every round of the Dial Before You Dig Super Six Touring Car Series on Speedweek (SBS) and online at speedweek.com.au.

 
Above: The Dial Before You Dig Racing Team at Winton in June

Above: Highlights from Winton in June 2014

Dial Before You Dig NSW/ACT is the major sponsor of six surf lifesaving clubs in NSW.

We sponsor surf lifesaving clubs because as a free, non-profit community service we like to support other free, non-profit community services.

Tea Gardens Hawks Nest is one of the smaller surf lifesaving clubs that we sponsor.

Small in terms of membership perhaps, but big in heart.

Tea Gardens Hawks Nest has become the first surf club in NSW to be awarded Gold Level Status as part of the Surf Life Saving Quality Club Program.

Gold Level Status is the highest level of the Program. It is awarded to clubs which have shown outstanding progress over the season in all areas including lifesaving and patrols, training and education, surf sports, member services, administration, finance and marketing.

Tea Gardens Hawks Nest President Stephen Howell was thrilled.

“This couldn't have been achieved without the hard work of our secretary Maxine Cook, who went through the archives and provided all the evidence to demonstrate that we are indeed, a quality club,” said Mr Howell.

Dial Before You Dig NSW/ACT congratulates Tea Gardens Hawks Nest Surf Lifesaving Club on meeting the Gold Standard.

Above: (Left) The symbol that marks a Gold Quality surf lifesaving club in NSW. (Right) Club President Stephen Howell poses with Tea Gardens Hawks Nest's surf boat in 2012.

House Rules is a popular reality program now showing on the Seven Network nationally.

Six teams travel Australia renovating each others' houses. The winning team has their mortgage paid in full.

This month contestants have managed to damage four underground pipes and cables in the yards of different properties.

A sewer pipe from a septic tank, a stormwater drainage pipe, a telephone cable and a gas service were all cut.

While this is reality TV, the risks and costs are the same as for anyone else; lost time, the cost of repair, danger and loss of supply.

The pipes and cables that bring gas, water and electricity from the street to your house are called services. Telecommunications cables are called lead-ins.

Services can be tricky to work around as they are often shallow. They can also be unpredictable. There are often privately-installed services on private properties. And utilities often do not know exactly where services run once onsite.

So what could the House Rules contestants have done to lessen the risk of hitting services?

Dial Before You Dig
The House Rules contestants did have Dial Before You Dig plans.

This was smart because while information on services can be sketchy, information provided through Dial Before You Dig is still useful.

For example, plans will usually show where the service is coming from and where it enters the property.

Dial Before You Dig will also show any mains and cables on the property. Many major networks on private property do not have an easement. 

And remember in NSW it's the law to notify Dial Before You Dig - including private property.

Look for Clues
Reality TV contestants work to strict deadlines. This pressure can make it hard to take the time to look around for evidence of where services are located.

But taking the time to look for clues is time well spent.

Clues onsite can include a downpipe running down a wall into the ground, a water or gas meter, or the top of a septic tank.

As Dial Before You Dig plans usually show where the service comes from in the street, you can often look for the pit or valve that shows where the service originates.

All these clues can allow you to piece together where the service pipe or cable will be.

Ask for Help
Often the homeowner or facilities manager will know something about where the pipes and cables are.

On major sites there are often diagrams available of the services installed.

Member utilities will provide help over the phone to understand what the plans are showing. Contact numbers are provided with every plan.

Help is also available from professional cable and pipe locators. Locators charge by the hour to locate pipes and cables.

Telstra provides a list of accredited locators with every Dial Before You Dig plan. The Utility Location Contractors Association also has a list of locators at www.nulca.com.au.

Hiring a locator will cost you money, but it may save you much more in time and cost.

Above: Hitting services and lead-ins means cost and danger. Dial Before You Dig can help to lessen this risk.

Australians love our sport and we also love to talk about it. Who's on top, and who's not.

We also love to pay out on the bad boys and girls of sport. The ones that play up on and off the field. Or sometimes get in trouble with the law.

In 2014 people in Victoria and Tasmania have had The Dig - a weekly radio segment sponsored by Dial Before You Dig.

The Dig takes aim at the targets of the week, every week. And rarely misses.

Now The Dig has come to New South Wales and Queensland.

Each week on Sportsday Central, Gary Belcher, Scott Sattler and Adam MacDougall will have their dig.

The Dig, for Dial Before You Dig, is an opportunity for the boys to open up and share with the listeners what’s really annoying them this week.

Starting Friday 27 June, 26 stations across regional New South Wales and southern Queensland are carrying The Dig.

See below for details of stations and times. And click here for audio of The Dig from 27 June 2014.

  Above: The Dig team of Gary Belcher, Scott Sattler and Adam MacDougall

Above: Where and when to catch The Dig

Politicians at all levels of government recognise the value of Dial Before You Dig in reducing the risk of damage to vital community services.

The NSW Government recognised this in 2010 by making Dial Before You Dig NSW/ACT the first Dial Before You Dig service in Australia to be directly referenced in legislation.

A summary of the legislation can be found on the Resources Page.

Last week Manager Dominic Puiu and Assistant Manager Otre Moussa met with top State and Commonwealth politicians at two events.

While the events crossed the political divide, there was bipartisan support for the work of the Dial Before You Dig service.

Above: Assistant Manager Otre Moussa (left) with Commonwealth Opposition Leader Bill Shorten (centre) and Shaoquett Moselmane MLC (right)

Above: Dominic Puiu and Otre Moussa with State Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian and State MP for Parramatta Dr Geoff Lee

Dial Before You Dig signs are appearing on worksites across NSW and the ACT.

Site managers use the signs to remind staff and contractors to be aware of underground pipes and cables onsite. Even on private property.

The signs tell everyone that this site is committed to safe excavating.

The durable corflute signs are supplied free of charge.

You can have one of these signs on your worksite. Just visit www.beforeyoudignswact.com.au/merchandise/promotional and place an order.

The three sites below display the Dial Before You Dig logo in June 2014. Top to bottom are Parramatta (NSW), Seven Hills (NSW) and the Majura Parkway project (ACT).

As a non-profit community service, Dial Before You Dig has the strong support of governments at all levels.

Assistant Manager Otre Moussa attended events in May and June to meet with some of the parliamentary supporters of Dial Before You Dig in NSW and the ACT.

In May Otre attended a special reception to launch the Parramatta Young Leaders' Forum. The forum is a partnership between Parramatta City Council and the University of Western Sydney. Among those attending were Parramatta Lord Mayor John Chedid, State MP for Granville Tony Issa and State MP for Parramatta Dr Geoff Lee.

Mona Vale Surf Lifsaving Club held its annual presentation night in May. Minister for the Environment, Minister for Heritage, Minister for the Central Coast, and Assistant Minister for Planning Rob Stokes attended the event.

In June the NSW Government held a Community Cabinet meeting in Parramatta. Attending were John Ajaka MLC, State MP for Baulkham Hills David Elliott and State MP for Parramatta Dr Geoff Lee. 

Above: (Left) Premier Mike Baird at the Parramatta Community Cabinet meeting in June. (Right) Assistant Manager Otre Moussa with Rob Stokes, State MP for Pittwater and Mona Vale SLSC member.

Above: Assistant Manager Otre Moussa at the Parramatta Young Leaders' Forum in May. On the left is Tony Issa, State MP for Granville. Second from the right is John Chedid, Lord Mayor of Parramatta.

Representatives of the Board of Dial Before You Dig NSW/ACT met in Parramatta on Friday 30 May.

They were there to map out a direction for Dial Before You Dig in NSW and the ACT for the next five years.

The meeting covered strategic directions in NSW/ACT along with budgets, Mission Statements and a five year marketing plan.

Mermber representatives can login to the Members Area and find materials from the strategy day.

Above: (Back row-left to right) Otre Moussa-Assistant Manager, Trent Wray-Jemena, Janssen Chan-Sydney Water, Christine Holley-Commonwealth Government. (Front row-left to right) Mi-Kyong Lee-Endeavour Energy, Ron Harrison-Optus, Dominic Puiu-Manager.

Over 140 NSW local government representatives were at Oatlands golf course yesterday for a seminar on footpath works.

Parramatta Deputy Lord Mayor opened the event. State MP for Parramatta Geoff Lee also attended the event and welcomed those attending.

There were speakers from Telstra, NBN Co, Sydney Water, Workcover NSW, Optus, Dial Before You Dig NSW/ACT and Moray and Agnew lawyers.

The seminar was hosted by Dial Before You Dig NSW/ACT and expertly catered by Oatlands Golf Course.

You can visit the Calendar of Events to view coming forums. If you would like to attend an event, register your interest on the Register for an Event page. 

Above: (left to right) Manager Dominic Puiu, NSW/ACT Director Trent Wray, State MP for Parramatta Geoff Lee and NSW/ACT Director Clay Wilson at the forum.

 Above: Clay Wilson and Lisa Sherd from NBN Co at the forum.

Above: Attendees at Oatlands Golf Course.

 Builders in the Australian Capital Territory attended a seminar on safe digging in Canberra this week.

The seminar was hosted by the Master Builders Association of the ACT.

Phillip Edwards from the Master Builders Association opened the evening. Speakers from Dial Before You Dig and Jemena natural gas gave 25 builders tips on safe digging and plan reading.

Vice Chair Christine Holley was also on hand to welcome builders.

You can visit the Calendar of Events to view coming forums. If you would like to attend an event, register your interest on the Register for an Event page.

Above: Left Seminar hosts (l to r) Dominic Puiu, Trent Wray, Christine Holley and Phillip Edwards. 
Right Trent Wray explains natural gas awareness

Visitors to Western Sydney International Dragway this week would have noticed a few changes.

Two weeks ago Shane Wynd was defending his lead in the Modified Aeroflow Sportsman Drag Racing Championship.

This week the Dragway was host to hundreds of exhibitors showing the latest techniques and equipment for public works engineers at Civenex.

Thousands of visitors browsed to the backdrop of Top Fuel dragsters practising on the drag strip. 

Civenex is the premium trade show in NSW for engineers and staff working for public authorities and local government.

2014 is the 59th year that Civenex has been run. The event was previously known as the Engineers' Field Days.

Dial Before You Dig NSW/ACT has been at Civenex since 1999.

In 2014 we were assisted by wingless sprint car competitor Courtney O'Hehir, complete with her sprint car.

Treasurer John Croxson and Director Trent Wray assisted Dominic Puiu and Otre Moussa to answer the questions of the large crowd. They also handed out over 1,000 show bags.

Above: Courtney O'Hehir presents Manager Dominic Puiu with a certificate of appreciation at Civenex 2014

Above: Courtney O'Hehir in action at Sydney Speedway in 2014

Shane Wynd is passionate about two things - the Richmond Football Club and drag racing.

That passion explains why Shane is currently leading the ANDRA Modified Aeroflow Sportsman Drag Racing Championship for 2014.

Last weekend Shane made the trip up the Hume Highway to compete at the X-Champs at Western Sydney International Dragway. 

The trip from Melbourne was no trouble for Shane. When he lived in Perth, Shane Wynd crossed the Nullarbor 55 times to compete in the eastern States.

That travel is in the past now that Shane has moved back to his native Victoria.

Shane was hopeful of winning at WSID. Not just to preserve his lead in the Drag Racing Championship, but to provide a trophy he could present to his father Kevin Wynd.

Kevin has been Shane's greatest supporter, making many trips across the Nullarbor to support Shane.

Shane made the semi finals of his previous events in Adelaide and Melbourne, only to have the weather get in the way.

Sadly there was no trophy from Sydney either, with Shane being eliminated on the final day.

The good news is that Shane still leads the Modified Aeroflow Sportsman Drag Racing Championship for 2014.

Above: (Left) Shane Wynd's entry, leading the Modified Aeroflow Sportsman Drag Racing Championship. (Right) Shane Wynd (centre) with Manager Dominic Puiu (right) and Saloon Car drivers Ian Chvas and Mark Primmer (left).  

St George Antiochian Orthodox church Redfern hosted the second Dial Before You Dig construction industry forum for 2014 on Wednesday night.

Over 100 builders, tradespeople, engineers and others associated with building and construction attended the event.

Speakers from Workcover NSW, Jemena natural gas and Dial Before You Dig explained how to dig without danger to yourself or underground networks.

The forum was the second such event for 2014. All forums are completely free of charge.

Attendees receive a showbag and can register for Continuing Professional Development points.

An excellent dinner is also provided by the hosting church.

The next forum is scheduled for St Mary Antiochian Orthodox church Mays Hill on 13 May 2014.

Visit the Calendar of Events to view coming forums. If you would like to attend an event, register your interest on the Register for an Event page.

If you attended the event in Redfern, or will attend a forum later in 2014, please note that you must register on the night and complete the CPD Quiz in order to receive Continuing Professional Development points.

Above: (left) Ted Walsh from WorkCover NSW assists with the showbags. (right) Otre Moussa from Dial Before You Dig talks about safe digging.

Dial Before You Dig NSW/ACT supports many community events.

One of these events is the Miss Lebanon Australia pageant.

Last Sunday evening 600 people travelled to Doltone House, Pyrmont to support 11 young women vying to become Miss Lebanon Australia 2014.

The winner was 19 year old engineering student Cynthia Farah. Cynthia won a trip to Lebanon to represent Australia in the Miss Lebanon International pageant.

Manager Dominic Puiu was on the judging panel and Assistant Manager Otre Moussa was on hand to present Cynthia with her winner's sash.

Congratulations to Cynthia and all contestants.

Below: Channel 10's morning program "Wake Up" interviewed Miss Lebanon Australia Cynthia Farah the next day.

Lebanese Australians are closely associated with building and construction in New South Wales.

On Easter Monday the Maronite Catholic Church held its annual sports day at Bankstown. Dial Before You Dig NSW/ACT was proud to be major sponsor.

Over 1,000 participants competed at soccer, touch football, volleyball and basketball.

Maronite Catholics are the followers of St. Maroun.  The Maronite Church has its own distinctive liturgy, spirituality, and system of government.

There are nine Maronite parishes in Sydney from Redfern in the east to Mount Druitt in the west.

 
Above: Maronite Sports Day 2014, sponsored by Dial Before You Dig NSW/ACT

Courtney O'Hehir is a hairdresser during the day.

But on weekends she swaps the scissors for a pink race suit and helmet to compete in wingless sprint cars.

Wingless sprint cars race on dirt at circuits including Sydney Speedway in Granville.

Like their winged cousins, wingless sprint cars have a high power to weight ratio and can reach speeds of 180 kilometres an hour.

Forty enthusisasts from Dial Before You Dig NSW/ACT member companies turned out to support Courtney at Sydney Speedway.

The rainy autumn in Sydney had caused the event to be postponed three times previously. But last Saturday night the rain held off and the race was on.

The Dial Before You Dig support crew were decked out in red polo shirts that attracted the attention of the track announcer.

Courtney won through to the final race, finishing 17^{th overall} in a field of 25.

Above: Courtney O'Hehir shows off the Dial Before You Dig wingless sprint car.

Above: Courtney with Dial Before You Dig supporters on the night.

The Australian surf lifesaving championships are one of the premium amateur sporting events in the world.

Up to 70,000 competitors attend the championships, this year held at Scarborough Beach, Western Australia.

Dial Before You Dig sponsored club Mona Vale won the Open Mixed Surf Boat Relay for the second year in a row.

Mona Vale were chasing a fourth consecutive victory in the Open Men's Surfboat event.

For the second year in a row all but one of the crews in the Open Men's Surfboat final were from NSW.

It was a case of close but so far for Mona Vale, who took the silver to Austinmer in the final.

Congratulations to Austinmer, Australian Champions for 2014.

Congratulations also to the following crews from Dial Before You Dig sponsored clubs:

• Mona Vale Under 19 Men, fourth in the final
• Mona Vale Open Women, semi finalists
• Mona Vale Reserves Men, quarter finalists
• Bondi, who reached the top 16 of the Open Men's Surfboat competition
• Mona Vale Green, who reached the top 8 of the Open Men's Surfboat competition

Above: Mona Vale club member Jon Dibbs Tweeted this picture of the silver medallists in the Open Men's Surfboat at the 2014 national titles.

 Dial Before You Dig NSW/ACT management Dominic Puiu and Otre Moussa travelled to Orange in early April.

The event was the Water Industry Operators Association of Australia conference in Orange.

The Water Industry Operators Association of Australia is a national non-profit association for the water industry.

Water authorities from across regional NSW attended the conference.

Dial Before You Dig NSW/ACT demonstrated how to use its new website to order promotional items, register for forums and events, and register underground assets.

Above: Otre Moussa and Dominic Puiu at the WIOA conference in Orange.

The Primmer Racing Team and the McCorkindale GT3 Porsche came to Sandown in Melbourne ready to roll last weekend.

The Primmer Racing Team of Mark Primmer and Cameron Moss competed in the Dial Before You Dig Australian Super Six Touring Car Series.

Jon McCorkindale competed in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge.

Jon followed his success at Eastern Creek with pole position in the first race, which he converted to a third place finish.

Jon then finished third overall in the event for his first podium finish.

Jon currently sits second overall in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge with 125 points.

Jon's success spurred Mark Primmer to a ninth place finish in the third race. Team mate Cameron Moss finished fourteenth.

In the overall placings Mark Primmer is fifteenth and Cameron Moss is eighteenth.

Above: Mark Primmer (left) and Cameron Moss (right) at Sandown

Above: Jon McCorkindale at Sandown

Moruya Surf Life Saving Club on the far south coast is one of six clubs in NSW sponsored by Dial Before You Dig NSW/ACT.

Vice Chair Christine Holley attended a Special Nippers carnival at Moruya in March 2014.

"To see these kids enjoying themselves so much does a lot to show that a sense of community is alive and well at Moruya Surf Lifesaving Club," said Christine.

Moruya and Pambula Surf Lifesaving Clubs have established a Special Nippers program and share surf carnivals.

"This gives the Special Nippers the opportunity to enjoy the beach, socialise, and feel a part of the Surf Life Saving Community", said Christine.

"To see the look of joy on their little faces was just wonderful."

Above: Mike Hallahan from Moruya SLSC assists the Special Nippers.

When the ACT Brumbies meet the NSW Waratahs, of course we at Dial Before You Dig NSW/ACT take an interest.

When these two teams met at Canberra Stadium on 15 March, Vice Chair Christine Holley hosted a table of 10 Dial Before You Dig associates from the ACT.

ActewAGL Board representative Frank Cortes and his wife Cherie were among the attendees.

All saw a high quality game of rugby as the Brumbies defeated the Waratahs 28 - 23. A very popular result in Canberra.

One of guests, Peter Roper, proposed to his girlfriend Chloe who happily said yes.

Above: the guests at the Brumbies v Waratahs dinner hosted by Dial Before You Dig NSW/ACT

Dial Before You Dig NSW/ACT is a strong supporter of surf lifesaving in NSW.

The link is a simple one-surf lifesaving clubs are non-profit and offer a free service to the community. Just like Dial Before You Dig.

Many of the clubs sponsored by Dial Before You Dig NSW/ACT competed at the NSW surf titles held at Ocean Beach-Umina beaches on the NSW Central Coast in March.

The NSW titles are the most competitive of all the States. In the 2013 Australian open men's surfboat final, all except one crew was from NSW.

Congratulations go to the Bondi open men's crew, who reached the semi finals.

Mona Vale had the best of the carnival, featuring in the following finals:

• Open men's - second
• Reserve men's - first
• Under 19 men's - fifth

Mona Vale also won the surf boat relay.

Best wishes to all Dial Before You Dig surf boat crews at the Australian titles in Perth in April.

Above: Assistant Manager Otre Moussa (right) and daughter Angelina with the Mona Vale open women's surfboat crew at the NSW titles on the Central Coast

Sir Jack Brabham famously pushed his car over the line at Sebring in Florida to win the World Championship after running out of fuel.

Dial Before You Dig GT3 Porsche driver Jon McCorkindale followed in Sir Jack's footsteps on the weekend after running out of fuel in the first race after leading the field at Sydney Motorsport Park.

But unlike Sir Jack, Jon McCorkindale recorded a DNF and sixteenth place for the race.

With better fuel management in the second race, Jon showed his class and moved from sixteenth to second place.

Jon then went one better in the third race, getting past race leader Fraser Ross to record his first win in the Porsche GT3 Challenge Cup.

Sebring was the first of three world championships for Sir Jack Brabham. Here's hoping that Jon McCorkindale can also achieve many more wins.

Follow Jon McCorkindale on Facebook and keep up with his results in the Porsche GT3 Challenge Cup.

Below: Sydney Motorsport Park was the first outing for the McCorindale Porsche in its new colours.

On Saturday 1st March 2014 Dial Before You Dig NSW/ACT Assistant Manager Otre Moussa attended a community forum at Parramatta RSL.

The forum was hosted by State MP for Parramatta Dr Geoff Lee.

Dr Lee arranged for three Ministers to attend the forum and outline the work the State Government is doing in western Sydney.

Fair Trading Minister Stuart Ayres gave an outline of major infrastructure projects affecting Parramatta, including Westconnex and associated upgrades to Parramatta Road.

Below: Assistant Manager Otre Moussa at the forum with (left) State MP for Parramatta Dr Geoff Lee and (right) Fair Trading Minister and MP for Penrith Stuart Ayres.

Forum for the building industry attracts 150

The first Forum for the building and construction industry for 2014 was held in Granville this week.

The event was held in partnership with the Blouza Association at their hall in Blaxcell Street Granville.

150 people from the building, trades and construction industries attended the event.

Presentations on safe digging were given by representatives from Endeavour Energy, Jemena Natural Gas, Workcover NSW, Telstra and Dial Before You Dig.

100 licensed builders registered for Continuing Professional Development points on the night.

The Granville forum is the first for 2014. Forums for the industry are usually held between February and November.

A number of forums are being arranged for 2014. Visit the Calendar of Events to view coming forums. If you would like to attend an event, register your interest on the Register for an Event page.

If you attended the event in Granville, or will attend a forum later in 2014, please note that you must register on the night and complete the CPD Quiz in order to receive Continuing Professional Development points.

Above: An article from The Future arabic language newspaper covering the forum.
Below: Trent Wray from Jemena addresses the forum.

The Streets Opening Conference-affectionally known as the SOC-was formed in 1909 to coordinate streetworks in the City of Sydney.

In 2014 the SOC was incorporated and became the Streets Opening Coordination Council.

In 2014/15 the vision of the SOC finally became real, with the inception of the iWORCS online works coordination database.

Highlights of sponsorships appearing on TV in 2006.

Includes the Primmer Saloon Car racing team, Shane "Pooh" Wynd drag racing and the Bondo women's Ocean Thunder surf boat crew.