The drilling industry will flock to the Sunshine Coast from 10 to 12 October for the DRILL 2017 “Innovation to the Core” conference and exhibition at the Novotel Twin Waters Resort.
DRILL 2017 will showcase all the latest drilling tools, technology and techniques that increase productivity, efficiency and safety.
The Australian Drilling Industry Association (ADIA) and the New Zealand Drillers Federation (NZDF) are organising the event that should attract 300 delegates and their partners and families.
With the industry going through an upturn, DRILL 2017 is a well-timed opportunity for drilling contractors to check out state-of-the-art equipment and innovations and to get ready for the upswing.
Delegates will be waterwell drillers from the agriculture, stock and mining sectors, environmental and geotechnical drillers from the construction, civil and mining sectors, mineral exploration drillers, coal and energy drillers, as well as suppliers and service providers. About a third of delegates will be from Queensland, half from interstate and 20% from overseas.
“The last ADIA conference was in 2015, so we expect there will be many important new industry developments showcased,” ADIA CEO, Peter Hall, said.
“The event management team has chosen a venue that will provide delegates and exhibitors with a full range of world-class conference and exhibition facilities in a resort-style informal setting.”
“The weather on the Sunshine Coast in October is consistently in the mid-20 degrees range, which means everyone can enjoy the outdoor exhibitions and equipment demonstrations,” he said. “The Sunshine Coast is a drawcard, but is also home to many drilling personnel who work on mine sites on a fly-in and fly-out basis.”
DRILL 2017 is sponsored by Sunshine Coast Council and supported by Business Events Sunshine Coast, a division of Visit Sunshine Coast.
Sunshine Coast Council Deputy Mayor, Tim Dwyer, will welcome delegates at an evening cocktail party on Tuesday 10 October.
“We’re pleased to welcome the attendees of the DRILL 2017 conference to the Sunshine Coast and we value the contribution events such as this adds to our region,” Cr Dwyer said.
Visit Sunshine Coast CEO Simon Latchford welcomed the announcement of DRILL 2017 to be held on the Sunshine Coast.
“Organisations and event planners are looking for something different, the standard four-wall city conference venue is no longer enough to entice delegates,” he said.
“Associations such as ADIA are increasingly being drawn to regional destinations for our destination appeal, friendly service, receptive local suppliers and overall, we can offer better value for their conference dollar, meaning they tend to stay longer.
“Business events are estimated to be worth $40.8 million to the Sunshine Coast region with 27,384 delegates and 100,731 delegate days spent on the Sunshine Coast.
“These figures follow a string of events secured via our convention bureau team, Business Event Sunshine Coast, and to be held during 2017 including The Australian Association of Travel Writers Convention 18-20 August, The Australian Cruise Association Annual Conference 6-8 September and The Australian Event Awards and Symposium 13-15 September,” Mr Latchford said.
The full conference programme will also feature themed dinners on both evenings.
Corporal Enterprises, Reflex, AMC Drilling Fluids & Products, Harlsan Industries, McCullochs Drilling & Boring, Sandvik, Drilltechniques, Driconeq, AustEx, Ranger Drilling and Sullair Australia proudly sponsor DRILL 2017.
About the conference
An impressive line-up of speakers will reveal the future of drilling.
There will be a session on a drill rig weighing less than 10 tonnes promising drilling at a cost of $50/metre to a depth of 500 metres and with ancillary safety and environmental benefits.
The advent of digitisation and automation underpin many of the conference sessions, with topics such as managing data and succession planning, real-time logging, sampling and analytical methods, downhole surveying, and best practice in compressor operation. The case for computerised maintenance management systems will also be discussed.
HR and legal matters are also on the agenda, with a session on risk management and loss control in workers’ compensation and a session offering legal strategies for drillers when complying with legal obligations and OH&S legislation.
Australia’s longest serving Federal Resources and Energy Minister and now Queensland Resources Council Chief Executive, Ian Macfarlane, will highlight key issues that impact the drilling industry.
Cricketing legend, raconteur and larger-than-life character, Greg Ritchie, will entertain everyone with a talk at the end of the conference.
Stay and play
The Sunshine Coast is ideal for a post-conference break with partners, families or mates, and Business Events Sunshine Coast is offering exclusive ‘stay and play’ deals for DRILL 2017 delegates via www.visitsunshinecoast.com.
“We recommend delegates take a few extra days after the conference to enjoy the local attractions, including the Twin Waters’ own golf course, nearby beaches and holiday attractions,” Mr Hall said.
From the iconic Glass House Mountains to Noosa and the coloured sands of Rainbow Beach, the region includes over 100 kilometres of pristine sandy beaches, surrounded by lush hinterland villages and heritage-listed national parks.
The Novotel Twin Waters Resort has 361 rooms onsite and there are numerous other accommodation options nearby. Brisbane is a 75-minute drive away but delegates can also fly in and out of Sunshine Coast Airport as there are daily flights from capital cities and New Zealand.
For more information about DRILL 2017, contact Peter Hall at ADIA on 0413 608 050 or peter@adia.com.au or visit https://www.adia.com.au/events/event/drill-2017-innovation-to-the-core
