Image © Graham Boyd
Pre-conference workshop
We have three pre-conference workshops on offer.
Date: Wednesday 19 November 2025
Time: 8.30am - 4.30pm
Venue: Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre
Cost: $400 per person, for the whole day
How to Register for the Pre-conference workshops
If you’re registering for the full conference, you can simply add a pre-conference workshop ticket as part of your registration.
If you’re only attending the pre-conference workshops and not the main conference, please register by clicking the button below.
ANCOLD Guidelines on Tailings Dams
This workshop will present the guidance and content in the upcoming ANCOLD Guidelines on Tailings Dams, and the application of the new guidelines through worked examples based on real tailings dams. These updated Guidelines present a significant evolution in ANCOLD’s guidance by aligning the Tailings Dam Guidelines with the rest of the ANCOLD Guidelines, and encouraging a risk-informed approach for all stages of tailings dams. These Guidelines are intended to be released in 2026, and this workshop will mark the first time that the updated and completed guidance is presented to the dams and mining industry.
This workshop will cover:
The basis for the new Guidelines
Key content and features of the new Guidelines
Application of the new Guidelines through fully worked examples for new and existing tailings dams.
Attendees will also have the opportunity to ask questions and have open discussions with the Working Group who authored the Guidelines.
Image © Brook Miller
Stopbanks/Levees Design and Management
This workshop is open to all those involved with or interested in the design and management of stopbanks/levees (river/flood protection).
Topic summary and intended outcomes of the workshop includes:
That the current programme of work underway within New Zealand Regional Councils with regard to Stopbank Design and Construction guidelines, and Asset Management / Risk Assessment tools are shared with engineering consultants and other related experts.
That engineering consultants feel empowered to contribute to Council improvement processes underway, particularly in regard to Asset Management Practices.
To hear from other experiences in this space, particularly from Australia and the USA.
To be involved in a discussion about stopbanks and flood protection system improvements and to influence the direction.
Connect the similarities and differences between stopbank / levee management and large dam management.
Guidance in the use of the USACE levee screening tool. Using an example scheme which is to be analysed as a case study using this tool, and results compared to the current practice
Site visit to a local river and associated with the case study and workshop.
Image © Nick Jowsey
Dam Regulations – Learnings and Perspectives from New Zealand/Australia
Topic summary and intended outcomes of the workshop includes:
An overview of the range of regulations across New Zealand and Australia, and the different challenges, benefits, and dam safety requirements each of these bring.
Overview of the New Zealand Dam Safety Regulations implementation, lessons learnt, and the views of this from the owner, regulator, and Recognised Engineer perspectives.
Discussion and guidance around some of the Regulations topics such as non-compliance, flood-prone, earthquake-prone dams, and dangerous dams.
How the Resource Management Act and Resource Consents now fit into the NZ Dam Safety space with respect to the Regulations.
Legal perspectives, and dams that are outside the current Legislative requirements.
Case studies and examples of Building/Resource Consent/Regulations issues and compliance.
Australian dam regulations perspectives, compliance differences, challenges, and opportunities.
Outcomes are expected to provide guidance to Owners/Regulators/Consultants to navigate Regulations and input into management and interpretation of these, and where there could be areas of consistency across various Regions/Countries.