Council staff (i.e. Director of Engineering Services, Asset Manager and Management Accountant) have completed the IPWEA NAMS.PLUS training titled “A guided pathway to sustainable asset management”.  

An Asset Management Plan for Local Roads has been prepared in accordance with the International Infrastructure Management Manual and related documentation and is currently in its second draft form.

The Asset Management Plan Vision is to ensure that infrastructure assets support services that are appropriate, accessible, responsive and sustainable to the community in a cost effective manner. A feature of the plan is extensive community consultation which has been in progress for some time and the process is continuing as part of Council’s annual budget planning process. It is expected that the final Asset Management plan will be completed by July 2009. The plan will focus on 10 year maintenance cycles but projects out over the life of the sealed network which is 40 years.

Key Elements

•    Taking a life cycle approach and developing cost-effective management strategies for the long term.
•    Managing risks associated with asset failures.
•    Providing a defined level of service with effective performance management.
•    Continuous improvement in management practices and a sustainable use of limited physical resources.
•    Meeting demands for growth through management and infrastructure investment.

Identified Goals/Service Deficiencies

The Asset Management Plan is currently focused on the entire road network of Moree Shire excluding only those roads that are a Federal or State Government responsibility. However, through the Single Invitation Maintenance Contract managed by the RTA Moree Council does conduct required works on those networks. The Asset Management Plan ensures Council’s maintenance, renewal and works programs are aligned with the 10 year financial plan and has set specific goals to achieve this. These goals include:

•    Ensuring the current local sealed network is sustained in satisfactory condition and the local unsealed network is provided with routine maintenance.
•    Ensuring the right assets are provided through community consultation (as above).
•    Defining efficient and effective management of assets through long term planning.
•    Providing sustainable infrastructure through leadership.
•    To be financially responsible by providing appropriate resources for the delivery of services.
•    To improve our knowledge of the assets we manage.
•    To manage our asset in a manner that is fair for present and future users in terms of benefits and cost.
•    To ensure service levels are based upon foreseeable demand.
•    To ensure the level of service specified for all infrastructure assets match the community’s needs.
•    To ensure the long term viability of infrastructure assets in regard to financial, service, environmental and physical demands.
•    To provide assets that are functional and fit for purpose at an acceptable cost.
•    To understand the lifecycle implications of our assets.

Above: Whole life cycle cost concept diagram.

Correlation with the Special Variation Proposal

The special variation proposal plays an integral role in allowing Council to meet the goals of the Asset Management Plan stated above. The projected rate revenue increases will allow Council to meet this minimum standard of community expectation. The Following tables outline the minimum annual road works required to maintain the current local sealed network. This special variation application is being submitted to provide for these works to be completed on an annual basis. The Asset Management Plan has identified that the absence of additional funding will result in a sustainable local sealed network that is less than half of the current network.