Our History

Underground Envirotech Australia – now known simply as UEA – was established in Goulburn to provide trenchless installations for utility companies in the southern region of NSW and the ACT. ActewAGL and Telstra are among the first clients to utilise the technology for electrical upgrades, sewer renovations and new communications networks. UEA’s TT 10S Grundodrill is the first HDD rig of its kind to work in the ACT and surrounding areas.

On the back of the telecommunications boom, UEA grows from the initial 3 employees to over 70 personnel. Backed by a fleet of Vermeer HDD rigs UEA enters the rock drilling market with a D50 x 100 supported by a DFE cleaning system.

UEA capitalises on our strength within the utilities sector and increases our market share in the Greater Sydney area – in particular the electricity market. By the year 2000 offices are open in Sydney and Canberra, servicing a large part of NSW and the ACT.

Once established in Sydney, UEA’s commitment to high quality work and innovative approaches opens up opportunities to become a panel contractor in the electrical market with Endeavour Energy and other major civil contractors. Further diversification into other infrastructure sectors, such as water, wastewater and sewer quickly follow.

UEA move into the maxi rig market with the purchase of a 300,000-pound HDD rig a Vermeer D300 x 500. Projects become more complex, bores longer and pipes bigger.

UEA wins the ASTT New installation of the year award for the Brightmore Park Project – 1,403 metres of 500mm PE on grade. This success paves the way for a long-term relationship with Sydney Water and its contractors eventually delivering in excess of $100 million of projects.

UEA installs, what was at the time, the largest PE pipe in Australia – a 1,200mm pipe – as part of the Mardi Mangrove project.

UEA successfully completes our first ocean outfall HDD on the Northern Beaches of Sydney, NSW. This paves the way for multiple installations across the country over the next few years.

UEA takes delivery of a new 330 tonne Gallagher HDD rig as well as significant support equipment as the company begins to focus on larger more complex projects.

An additional Vermeer D330 x 500 is added to the UEA Maxi Rig Fleet to further cement UEA’s position in the market. UEA is now recognised as an industry leader with the ability to successfully deliver significant projects around Australia.

UEA focusses on our core business, HDD, during this period. Continual improvement to our techniques, operator training and education backed up by industry leading HSEQ solutions ensure we continue to lead the way in the industry.

UEA adds a new Herrenknecht 250C HDD rig to our growing list of maxi rig spreads to meet growing demand for larger and longer HDD installations throughout Australia.

A second Herrenknecht 250C and another DFE cleaning system is acquired to meet the increased demand for maxi rig services. The rig is put to work immediately on what was UEA’s largest ever contract at the time – Port Kembla Gas Installation for Nacap.

UEA completed a significant gas project in Kurri Kurri with up to three maxi-rig spreads on the project at any one time. A total of 5,513 metres of mainline and 1,094 metres of drill mud return line were installed using HDD techniques.

30 years of doing HDD business! Quite an achievement.