David Sutcliffe Reports as follows:
Tired of service authorities not meeting road management plan requirements?
David Sutcliffe is on the Road Management Act Review – Infrastructure Reference Panel. The panel has been formed to look at ways of improving the operation of the Road Management Act implementation with regard to Council’s/service authority issues. Take a look at the issues under discussion here. It woud be appreciated if you could fill out this Survey Form and return to David Sutcliffe.
At our first meeting last week it is fair to say that the service authorities did not accept there were any operational issues on their side and Council’s have been asked to substantiate the claims that service authorities are not notifying prior to works and works are complete, repairing road penetrations and repair made are substandard. There is a requirement in the regulations to repair like with like. eg brick paving replaced with brick paving.
I am looking for examples in the next week of each type of service authorities, Water (sewerage), Gas, Telstra, Power utilities, where you have had problems. Examples of:
- heritage or trees due to inappropriate excavation
- brick paved retail areas where repair has been an asphalt or concrete patch.
- Roads and footpathsbeing left unpatched or inappropriate patches
- Road closures or OH&S issues.
Also interested in:
- Where authorities are not obtaining consent or providing notification?
- Those not providing post notifications?
- Also who in the council is recording the information and who is managing the process in council?
- Are reinstatements being undertaken and if so is it like for like.
I would also be interested in how many of you are using “Dial before You Dig” to give you intelligence about who is digging up your assets. I understand also some councils are trying to charge Asset Protection Fees to service authorities.
Can you have your asset protection officers’s assist with filling in the form and contributing examples (with photos) identifying location and when it occurrred?
Happy if you can email direct to me at davids@cgoldshire.vic.gov.au.
David Sutcliffe, Central Goldfields Shire
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Clearwater in partnership with IPWEAvic and Melbourne Water is holding an event on 3rd June on Starting an Asset Register for WSUD as part of the Clearwater Hot Topic Series.
- Is your council keen to gain a better understanding of its Water Sensitive Urban Design assets?
- Are you interested in hearing about steps, tools and guidelines available to help record information necessary for effective WSUD management?
- Do you want to hear how local councils have used an asset register to manage Water Sensitive Urban Design across departments?
This Clearwater Hot Topics is a terrific opportunity to hear about the importance of developing a WSUD asset register in council.
As an attendee you will;
- Realise the value of starting an asset register that incorporates Water Sensitive Urban Design along with drainage infrastructre.
- View examples of WSUD asset registers developed by local councils and see how they are using this information across council departments to support maintenance and future planning.
- Hear about tools, guidelines and standards available to ensure the capture, management and use of appropriate data.
- Presentations throughout the day will be supported with facilitated discussion and networking activities followed by a sit down lunch. Book soon as places are limited.
Date: Friday 3rd June 2011
Time: 9.00am – 1.00pm
Cost: $110: Government / Not for Profit $140: Commercial
Location: Fenix Restaurant, 680 Victoria Street, Richmond
RSVP: Friday 27 th May
Audience: Asset managers, open space managers, technology/ communications staff, engineers, environment and maintenance staff
Register your place now by visiting our website www.clearwater.asn.au or contact 03 9235 5335.
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The Federal Government is planning to establish the Office of the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator(NHVR) to be fully operational by January 1, 2013 and responsible for regulating all vehicles in Australia over 4.5 tonnes. One of the roles of the NHVR will be to issue permits for access including local roads for non standard vehicles. The draft legislation dealing with this part of the role of the NHVR is available for downloading and is 625 pages long.
Integral to establishing an independent National Heavy Vehicle Regulator is the release of the Draft Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) and the draft Heavy Vehicle National Law.
Interested stakeholders are encouraged to make a submission on the proposed law by 6 May 2011, either online or by mail to the National Transport Commission.
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Released in March 2011 the roadmap includes recommendations to guide the establishment of Melbourne as a world leader in integrated water cycle management and make our urban landscapes more liveable and sustainable.
The Living Melbourne, Living Victoria roadmap outlines eight recommended areas for reform:
- An agreed vision for the contribution of water to urban liveability, through protection from flooding, improving the health of urban waterways and supporting green landscapes
- Greater customer choice and innovation in the water products on offer, the water charges they pay and their level of service
- Improved integration of urban and water planning through planning and building regulations that facilitate integrated water cycle management
- Optimised use of all available water sources, including fit-for-purpose alternative water supplies
- Better environmental and public health outcomes supported by clear regulations to ensure both customers and the environment are protected
- A common approach to the economic evaluation of water projects to ensure broader benefits, such as downstream water quality and reduced risk of flooding, are recognised
- Approaches to pricing that recognises the value of the water resource and rewards customers for conserving water
- Strengthened institutional and governance arrangements to hold service providers to account for their performance
Take a look at the document here
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Gary Mawby has announced his retirement. Gary has been very active in the North West Region working out of Towong Shire Council and will be greatly missed. He was the IPWEAvic North-East Regioanl Co-ordinator and assisted greatly in the recent reforming of IPWEAvic.
Best wishes Gary in your retirement.
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On 14 February 2011 EPA Victoria released the Tullamarine Landfill – Community Health and Environment Report, consisting of three new pieces of research designed to provide the community with more information about the now closed landfill:
– a study by Cancer Council Victoria into cancer rates in areas near the Tullamarine Landfill, confrimng no link found between cancer rates and landfill,
– an independent review of the landfill’s cap concluding the cap design conforms with international best practice standards and it would provide long-term protection for the surrounding community and environment.
– a study of past and present air quality at the Tullamarine Landfill. The comprehensive study of past and present air monitoring data showed the risk to the community from three pollutants; benzene, vinyl chloride and trichloroethylene, was negligible.
The full report, an executive summary and source documents can be viewed at: www.epa.vic.gov.au
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Take a look at the March edition of vicRoads Worksite Safety Update here
Areas addressed in this bulletin :
– Speed enforcement initatives on M80 Project
– West Gate Bridge underbridge inspection and maintenance
– Safe work method statements for road construciton
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IPWEA presents this new series of workshops for practitioners in Building Asset Management. The Workshops focus on the practicalities of how to prepare and undertake a building condition survey including data analysis, reporting and more.
The workshops are based on the concepts & guidelines in IPWEA’s Practice Note 3 for Buildings – Practical Building Condition and Performance Assessment.
Workshop Objectives
– Improve buildings asset management practice
– Provide a consistent approach to buildings survey and condition assessment
– Provide hands-on professional development
Key Topics Covered in the Workshops
– Defining business needs
– Level of detail for survey
– Condition rating
– Performance assessment
– Functional requirements
– Tool kit and system choices
– Prepare and carry out practical survey
– Case study
– Analyse and report survey
– Valuations
Who Should Attend
Building asset practitioners including engineers, building surveyors, technical officers, inspectors and assessors. Applicable to local government, public works or other organisations (public or private) that rely on buildings to provide services for their community, customers and stakeholders.
Download registration form and details here
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An Infrastructure Reference Panel Working Group has been established to address a range of road authority issues around utility works on roads, and compliance with the requirements of the Road Management Act (RMA); and a number of issues around (inconsistent) Council and VicRoads processes and requirements that impact on the ability of utilities to undertake their works efficiently and in a cost effective manner.
Here are some of the issues of road authorities and utilties that work in roads have cited. Do you agree? Do you disagree? Do you have other road authotity/utility issues in working in council road space? Please let us know vic@ipwea.org.au
IPWEAvic Board member David Sutcliffe from Central Goldfields Shire is a participatant in the Working Group to address the road authority / utility issues concerning works on roads.
David would like to hear from you if you have any road authority/utility issues concerning works on roads. davids@cgoldshire.vic.gov.au
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