AusConnect Underground Services has been featured in Trenchless Australasia, highlighting the people, partnerships and continued investment behind the company’s growth as an underground infrastructure contractor in Australia.

The feature, A Partnership to Serve the East Coast, traces AusConnect’s journey from a two-person operation founded by brothers Ben and Dave Collins in 2012 to a multi-state underground infrastructure business operating across Victoria, Queensland and New South Wales.

Today, AusConnect delivers horizontal directional drilling, trenchless services, vacuum excavation, rock drilling, trenching and associated civil works for major utility and infrastructure projects across Australia’s eastern states.

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Building an Underground Infrastructure Business Across Australia

AusConnect began in 2012 with a single Vermeer 20×22 directional drill and a straightforward objective: build a business recognised for safe, reliable and high-quality underground infrastructure delivery.

As project demand and client requirements increased, so did AusConnect’s capability.

By 2014, the company had grown to a 12-person team operating multiple drilling rigs, supported by continued investment in equipment, technology, training and operational systems.

Expansion into Queensland followed in 2019, establishing a permanent local operation capable of supporting the state’s growing infrastructure and utility pipeline.

In 2025, AusConnect strengthened its east coast presence through the acquisition of L&M Trenchless, establishing a New South Wales depot with dedicated equipment and local management.

With established operations across Victoria, Queensland and New South Wales, AusConnect is now positioned to support complex underground infrastructure projects across Australia’s east coast.

Horizontal Directional Drilling and Trenchless Capability

Horizontal directional drilling (HDD) is one of AusConnect’s core underground construction capabilities.

HDD allows underground pipes, conduits and utilities to be installed with significantly less surface disruption than conventional open-trench construction. This makes horizontal directional drilling particularly valuable for projects involving roads, rail corridors, waterways, urban environments and existing utility networks.

AusConnect’s trenchless capabilities include:

• Horizontal directional drilling
• Rock drilling
• Vacuum excavation
• Trenching
• Underground utility installation
• Associated civil works
• Complex utility and infrastructure construction

The company continues to invest in specialist equipment and skilled personnel to safely deliver underground infrastructure projects in challenging ground conditions and congested utility environments.

Investing in Equipment, Technology and Industry Partnerships

The Trenchless Australasia feature also highlights AusConnect’s longstanding relationship with Vermeer Australia.

From the company’s first directional drill to its expanding fleet of HDD rigs and vacuum excavation equipment, access to dependable machinery and technical support has played an important role in AusConnect’s growth.

However, underground infrastructure capability depends on more than equipment alone.

AusConnect continues to invest in the people, systems, training and processes required to deliver projects safely, consistently and efficiently — particularly when working within complex utility environments and Tier 1 infrastructure programs.

This combination of experienced crews, specialist equipment and established operating systems allows AusConnect to provide practical trenchless solutions across a broad range of underground infrastructure applications.

Delivering Major Underground Infrastructure Projects

AusConnect’s expanding capability has allowed the company to support increasingly complex infrastructure programs across multiple Australian states.

One project highlighted in the Trenchless Australasia article is the successful delivery of the Gig State rollout, a $15 million program involving eight drilling rigs.

AusConnect also continues to undertake work for major infrastructure clients, including Ventia and Service Stream.

Across horizontal directional drilling, rock drilling, vacuum excavation, trenching and associated civil works, the company maintains a consistent approach:

safe execution, dependable delivery and practical underground infrastructure solutions.

This capability enables AusConnect to support telecommunications, utilities and major civil infrastructure projects requiring reliable underground construction expertise.

Growth Built on People

While equipment and technology continue to evolve, AusConnect’s growth has always been driven by its people.

From field crews and project managers to operational teams, clients, suppliers and long-term industry partners, each stage of the company’s growth has been built on strong relationships and a shared commitment to delivering work properly.

As Ben Collins said in the Trenchless Australasia feature:

“Growth has always been a team effort. We’re proud of how far we’ve come — and we’re just getting started.”

With established operations across Victoria, Queensland and New South Wales, AusConnect continues to strengthen its capability as an underground infrastructure delivery partner for major projects across Australia.

What Underground Infrastructure Services Does AusConnect Provide?

AusConnect provides a range of underground infrastructure and trenchless construction services across Australia’s east coast, including horizontal directional drilling, rock drilling, vacuum excavation, trenching and associated civil works.

The company supports projects involving telecommunications networks, underground utilities and major infrastructure programs.

Where Does AusConnect Operate?

AusConnect has established operations in:

• Victoria
• Queensland
• New South Wales

This east coast presence allows the company to mobilise equipment, crews and project resources for underground infrastructure projects across multiple states.

Why Use Horizontal Directional Drilling?

Horizontal directional drilling can install underground utilities with less surface disturbance than traditional open trenching.

HDD is commonly used where infrastructure must pass beneath roads, waterways, rail corridors, developed areas or existing services while minimising disruption to surrounding environments and assets.

Looking for an Underground Infrastructure Contractor in Australia?

If your project requires experienced horizontal directional drilling, trenchless construction or underground infrastructure delivery, AusConnect can provide specialist equipment, experienced crews and multi-state project capability.

Contact AusConnect to discuss your underground infrastructure or horizontal directional drilling requirements.

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