IPWEA Vic Blog

Thursday 26 July 2012 4pm – 6pm at South West Institute of TAFE, Timor Street, Warrnambool Karen Foster, Executive Officer, Great South Coast Group & Macarthur Wind Farm Logistics Team will present to a forum reviewing some of the major projects in the South West Coastal Region, their cumulative impacts, contribution to the regional strategy and project delivery issues.  The logistics of the Macarthur Wind Farm major equipment move will provide a tangible and quite a literal case study of delivery challenges.

This event is organised by Australian Institue of Project Management and Engineers Australia and supported by Warrnambool City Council, Great South Coast Group and IPWEAvic South West Regional Group.

Cost is $10 for AIPM.EA members and $20 for non members.

Download more information here

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At the IPWEAvic Leadership Series Business Luncheon held on 15 June 2012 at Kew Golf Club Gary Liddle, CEO VicRoads, spoke about leadership challenges faced in the road sector.

The top three leadership challenges are:

1. Embedding a service culture into the organisation by moving from a focus on assets to the servie VicRoads provides.  Consider heavy vehicles from an asset protection point of view are a major cause of road deterioration and to rpotect the asset its best not to have heavy vehicle travle the road netwrok.  However the reason for the road network is for safe and efficient movement of goods.  Lesson: look at the reason for the road rather than protection of the asset.  Develpoing a smart network is hte focus.  Looking at the holstic transport network is also important and this is illustrated in the 170 road/rail crossings we have in Victoria where 10 grade separations are planned over the next 7 or8 years.  Along the Dandenong corridor we are looking at the rail crossing closed for 60% of the time in the not too distant future

2. Maintenance.  Over the next 2 to 3 years the amount of finding for road maintenance will be substantially reduced so there is a need to prioritise.  This is a challenge and a leadership issue as we ask what can you do differently eg alliance contracting.  There is a need to get the organistation into a mindset where reactive maintenance is undertaken but still need to do proactive maintenance.

3. Sustainability issue

• What can the organisation let go – VicRoads has built in additional layers over the years but now needs to consider what we do not really need to do
• Letting staff go – things we are no longer adding value
• Can we increase activity that generates income eg advertising
• We need to control our own destiny (not road user charging)
• Good at generating income for raising for capital projects but not for operating and maintaining systems

Communication is an important consideration in getting messages to the public.

Government determines the level of funding not VicRoads

VicRoads is committed to keeping the graduate program.  It is a good place to grow your own engineers.  VicRoads have a 60% retention rate after 10 years.  After graduation from the program the graduates can travel over seas for 1 year on leave without pay.

VicRoads is 100 years old commencing in 1913 as Country Roads Board

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The Chairman and Trustees of the Municipal Engineering Foundation Victoria extend an invitation to all members of IPWEAvic to attend an Awards Recognition Luncheon to be held in the Element Room at the Sebel Albert Park Hotel, 65 Queens Road, Melbourne 3004, from 12:00pm to 2:00pm on Friday 10^th August 2012.  The luncheon hosted by MEF Victoria will provide a networking opportunity and acknowledge those members who have been granted Scholarship Awards by the Foundation in 2012.

Dress code for the luncheon is smart casual.  Parking is available at the hotel at a cost of $16.  Limited off-street parking may be available.

Please forward your RSVP to Merv Paton, the Foundation Secretary, (including any dietary requirements) by Friday 27^th July 2012 at one of the following contacts:

Mail:  Secretary, Municipal Engineering Foundation Victoria, PO Box 5175, South Melbourne, Vic, 3205

Fax:  (03) 9682 8977

Email:  mefvic@ozemail.com.au

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Speaker: Caroline Evans – Senior Economist ARRB Group

Key lessons from recent initiatives:

• US Climate Change Resilient Road Tansport Scanning Tour
• Australian Low Carbon Transport Forum
• PIARC Climate Change and Sustainability Technical Committee Outcomes

Date: Thursday 14th June 2012

Time: 4:30pm till 6:00pm

Venue: ARRB Auditorium (500 Burwood Hwy Vermont South)

Registration: RSVP irene.seah@arrb.com.au by Tuesday 12 June at 5pm

Light refreshments will be provided at conclusion of seminar.

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Join the IPWEAvic Board on Friday 15th June 12noon til 2pm for a Business Luncheon with Gary Liddle.   At this lunch, Gary is going to share some of his thoughts on the key challenges facing Local, State, Federal Government in managing our transport network.  He will also provide his view on what organisational leaders need to do to meet these challenges.  The luncheon is part of the IPWEAvic Leadership Series of events.

Where:  Kew Golf Club, 125 Belford Rd Kew

When: Friday 15th June 2012

Time: 12noon til 2pm

Cost: Members $60 and non members $80

The luncheon is open to all.   More details and registration available here

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Summary
IPWEAvic supported by VicRoads and AustStab undertook three regional group forums during May 2012, one in Western Victoria in Ballarat, one in Northern Victoria in Shepparton and one in Eastern Victoria in Warragul. The forums gave the opportunity to nearly 200 participants and over 30 organisations to discuss ideas, problems and find possible efficiencies in rural road maintenance.  The format involved presentation by the VicRoads regional director, supported by a municipal view of the issue from the region , a case study and some practical tips for road maintenance in conjunction with a workshop on issues and suggestions for possible efficiencies that could be found in maintenance of our road networks.

Top 6 Points from Workshop Session
The workshop looked at the issues and solutions or efficiencies road authorities could use in maintaining the road network .   The 6 top points that kept recurring throughout the three forums:
1.       Drainage
Extreme changes in weather from drought to fire(stripping vegetation) to flood has highlighted the need to keep up maintenance of table drains, culverts and other rural road drainage to keep water from road pavements.

2.       Heavy Vehicles
Increased use of the road networks by freight and construction traffic around large infrastructure projects such as desal plant in Gippsland and McCarthur  windfarms in Western Victoria highlights the need to develop dedicated freight routes and importance of obtaining contributions during the planning stage of large infrastructure projects from developers of large infrastructure projects for road damage incurred during the construction phase of the project

3.       Community Expectations
Community expectations are predominately around road safety, access and presentation of the roadside in rural areas.  Communication with the community over levels of service available for the road network and why these levels have been set are paramount.  Eg if the road surface is rough and funds are limited signage to the public to slow down may assist in safe travel through the hazard.  

4.       Appropriate level of funding for roads  
A growing asset base requires increased maintenance funds.  The importance of robust Asset Management Plans was highlighted as they are used as a tool to educate community, elected representatives, government of the growing renewal gap and consequences of decreased investment in road maintenance.

5.       Availability of skilled maintenance staff
Resource sharing, increased training to ensure work is “done right the first time”, using overseas fly-in/fly-out workforces, clever contracting reducing the personnel required to undertake the work were all some solutions suggested to address the decreasing pool of available people to undertake the maintenance works.

6.       Planning and consideration of built environment
The need for better/tighter supervision of new subdivision roads before they are handed over to councils for maintenance was highlighted as was the need for better systems and processes when planning large infrastructure projects such as the McCarthur wind farms to ensure road damage by heavy vehicle construction traffic is compensated.

Efficiency Gains
With limited budgets efficiency gains in the road network are centred around

• innovation
  • in use of new technology,
  • product usage eg gripset anti reflective membrane
  • recycling of road materials, consideration of stabilisation, recycled plastic posts and signs
• communications
  • undertaking less maintenance works and accepting lower standard for the roads
  • go back to gravel roads
  • use of signs to advise road users of condition and to reduce speed limits
• systems and processes
  • more effort “first time round” eliminating need to go back to rectify problem
  • resource sharing
  • type of contracts used eg alliance contracting, separate packages for grass cutting
  • bundled services arrangements, packaging up type to achieve ‘economies of scale”, working with local industry players in rural areas
  • integration of organisations customer service, AM and maintenance systems
  • maintain regular maintenance program through droughts and floods

Case Studies
Example of maintenance plan from Moira Shire
Example of Robust Asset Management System from Campaspe Shire
Example of effects of droughts, fire, flood on roads from Baw Baw Shire.  Managing the road network for better outcomes – Ian de Bruyne, Manager Contract Works, Baw Baw Shire
Example of Asset Gap from LaTrobe. Current challenges facing regional and rural councils in road maintenance – Grantley Switzer, General Manager Community Infrastructure, LaTrobe City Council
Example of potential efficiency gains from Shepparton. Current challenges facing regional and rural councils in road maintenance – Peter Harriott, General Manager Asset Development Greater Shepparton City Council
Example of planning failure fro large projects leading to massive road degradation from Warrnambool Council

Practitioner Tips in Road Maintenance
AAPA, ARRB and AustStab discussed some practical tips in rural road maintenance

Actions

• VicRoads in conjunction with local government need to work together to gain efficiencies in the whole road network for the community given the available funding.  At the end of the day the community wants a safe, accessible network with good presentation regardless of which road agency delivers.
• In conjunction with VicRoads bring the issue of lack of road maintenance and its community consequences to the notice of Minster for Roads
• Advocate for more funding for road maintenance in conjunction with VicRoads
• Develop a source (possible association websites or VicRoads website) for practitioners to access to find information and where to go to find available training relating to rural road maintenance

The Shepparton Forum

The Ballarat Forum

The Warragul Forum

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The first group of IPWEAvic Regional Forums on Effective Road Maintenance with Limited Budgets will be held at three centres in May.

Effective road maintenance is a significant issue for the state and local government industry.   IPWEAvic has designed a series of Regional Forums around the issue to be held in three regional locations during early May 2012.
These forums provide an opportunity for you to :

• Gain some tips to maintaining roads on limited budgets
• Learn from case studies
• Share your experiences and solutions
• Influence the industry by helping IPWEAvic develop its policy position
• Track trends and future funding directions in the road industry

The three forums will be held at:

• Western Region:        Thursday 3^rd May at Robert Clarke Centre, Ballarat Botanical Gardens, Ballarat Download Flyer
• Northern Region:       Tuesday 8^th May at The Connection, Shepparton Download Flyer
• Eastern Region:         Tuesday 15^th May at West Gippsland Arts Centre, Civic Precinct, Warragul Download Flyer

The forums run from 9:30 till 12:30 with a light lunch provided courtesy of AustStab.   The Regional Director of VicRoads will assist in setting the scene with respect to current challenges in road maintenance followed by a regional council technical director in the region.  A short workshop will enable sharing of solutions and a local council will present a case study for your consideration.  Speakers from AAPA, ARRB, AustStab will give some tips on road maintenance for you to take away.

Registration is required for each forum and details are provided in the flyers fund by clicking the relevant location above.

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The next Business Luncheon in the IPWEAvic Leadership Series will be held on Friday 20th April 12noon til 2:30pm at the Whitehorse Centre, Nunawading.

At this  lunch, Tony is going to share some of his thoughts on the key challenges facing the public works professionals in the coming years in Victoria and provide some tips on how you can improve your leadership style in your organisation.

Cost is $65 for members and $80 for non members.

Download registration details and brochure here

Reserve your seat by calling Mandy on 0419105788

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Engineers Australia Fellows Luncheon is to be held on 24th April  12 – 2pm at Crown Palladium

Dr John Daley, CEO, Grattan Institute will be delivering the key note address which focuses on the impact of the changes to the Australian economy and to stay competitive internationally the need to focus on true innovation for infrastructure and infrastructure services.  With the Prime Minister in Melbourne last week chairing the Manufacturing Task force – this is a critical topic. 

Register through the Engineers Australia Website.

Download flyer here

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Engineers Australia have organised a dinner event on Thursday 19th April 6:15 till 8:30 pm at Century Inn 5 Airfield Road, Traralgon.  The Guest Speaker will be Graeme Offer.

After an extensive career at both a technical and senior management level in the Power Generation industry, Graeme made a switch to Local Government, where he was involved in the rapidly emerging Asset Management field at a high-growth Queensland regional city.

Graeme will share some observations on the different approaches to Asset Management in the two industries, and will share some of his experiences in implementing Asset Management in a local government environment.

Your registration includes a two course meal at the Century Inn. 

More details and registration can be found at http://www.engineersaustralia.org.au/events/asset-management-power-generation-industry-and-local-government

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