Reducing utility strikes. Improving safety. Modernising how Australia manages underground assets.
BYDA exists to protect Australia’s utility networks and keep people safe. We combine industry research, national data, and practical reform, with the goal of reducing the frequency and impact of utility strikes nationwide. Since 2023, we’ve been collecting and analysing national data to better understand the true cost of utility damage and how to prevent it.
Data-driven insights.
Damage to underground utilities remains a significant national issue. Each year, utility strikes disrupt essential services, endanger workers and the public, delay construction, and impose major economic costs.
Our research shows these incidents are not isolated or inevitable. They are driven by systemic issues such as inconsistent regulation, outdated data practices, fragmented processes, and gaps in skills and risk management.
The impact of these failures is growing. Australia’s infrastructure pipeline is expanding at a time of skills shortages, increasing project complexity, and pressure to lift productivity and safety outcomes. Without reform, the cost and consequences of utility strikes will continue to rise.
BYDA’s advocacy efforts focus on addressing these root causes through evidence-based reform.
What we’ve learned.
Damage to underground utilities costs Australia an estimated $4.6 billion each year, much of it avoidable. Evidence shows targeted reforms could reduce strike rates while improving productivity, minimising project delays, and making worksites safer for everyone.
Our research highlights both the scale of the problem and the opportunity for reform. BYDA works with asset owners, industry, and government to turn this evidence into action through pilots, implementation pathways, and reforms that can scale nationally.