E N V I R O N M E N T CORROSION KEYNOTE ROCKS, KIWI CONFERENCE ANNOUNCED In order to promote a better understanding of corrosion, each year the Australasian Corrosion Association (ACA) stages the Corrosion & Prevention Conference that brings together corrosion practitioners and researchers, as well as asset owners and operators, from around the world. All structures—from domestic buildings and public artworks to commercial offices and harbour facilities—are affected by corrosion to varying degrees. This degradation has a major economic impact on industry and the wider community: each year, it is estimated that governments and organisations spend approximately three percent of GDP—the equivalent of billions of dollars— mitigating and repairing corrosion damage. The design, construction and operation of facilities and infrastructure represent major investments by companies, organisations and governments. Corrosion will affect all structures at varying rates over time, depending on the material used, the types of corrosive agents in the environment and the physical processes 28 February 2016 and mechanisms involved. How to manage this degradation is a challenge for designers and engineers, as well as asset owners, managers and operators. C&P2015, held at the Adelaide Convention Centre last November, provided a forum for all corrosion stakeholders to meet and discuss a wide range of topics. In particular, the conference brought together a panel of industry experts to discuss the challenges and the importance of maintaining vital infrastructure. Attendees were able to participate in seminars and hear technical papers covering best practice in corrosion management, environmental protection techniques, public safety and economics. In opening the 2015 conference, South Australian Independent Senator, Nick Xenophon, stated that education, training, compliance and Australian Standards are vital to the success of businesses operating in a diverse range of markets. Sen. Xenophon is a champion of Australian industry and supporter of local jobs. During his presentation, the Senator expressed a commitment to support the ACA to raise the profile of corrosion and its mitigation, as well as working to place corrosion control on the national agenda. “The through life cost of corrosion can potentially be never ending,” Xenophon said. Such costs become a burden to industry because there is insufficient control on construction standards and corrosion coatings, especially on imported materials and products. Public art is often overlooked when corrosion is discussed, but there are often monumental structures throughout a city that over time must be protected, repaired or rebuilt. The degradation of the artworks themselves, and their support structures, is exacerbated by the fact that many cities in the Australasian region are situated on the coast with maritime climates. According to Les Boulton, principal consultant of Les Boulton and Associates in Auckland, few people give public art a second thought as to how it should be looked after or protected. “Artists have a vision as to how their sculpture or painting will look but often don’t factor in the effect of the
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