New Zealand Utilities Advisory Group

Working Working TogetherTogether

New Zealand Utilities Advisory Group

New Zealand Utilities Advisory Group

Utilities and the Road CorridorUtilities and the Road Corridor12–21 July 200512–21 July 2005

Have Your Say on Current NZUAG IssuesHave Your Say on Current NZUAG Issues

Peter BerryPeter Berry

Utilities and the Road CorridorUtilities and the Road Corridor12–21 July 200512–21 July 2005

Have Your Say on Current NZUAG IssuesHave Your Say on Current NZUAG Issues

Peter BerryPeter Berry


Current IssuesCurrent Issues

• Competency and Qualifications

• Civil Defence Emergency Management

• Facilitating Partnering Agreements/Working in the Roads

• Promoting the use of Best Practice Guidelines

• Promoting Debate:

– Poles in Roads– Trees in Roads– Space in Road Reserve– Undergrounding of Services– Safety Around Utilities in Road Reserve


“RCAs and Principal Providers are concerned about ensuring the total quality of a project and that the contractor had in place safety, health and quality plans and processes

to enable these outcomes.”

Competency & QualificationsCompetency & Qualifications


Concerns from Employers/Contractors:

• Level of training required• Suitability of current training• Role of safety and quality management systems• Role of “non-NZQA” based training• Recognition of Current Competencies (RCC)• Compliance costs



NZUAG Actions:

• Independent review of work to date• TQS1 and TQS2 (Review? Usage?)• Traffic Management (COPTTM/LRS)• Multi-utility safety• Update Working in the Road Handbook



Working in the Road

• Acknowledges existing legislation and responsibilities.

• Sets out the minimum requirements for working in the roads.

• To succeed SNZ HB 2002:2003 needs the commitment required from all parties to work together, co-operate and co-ordinate.


• Technical excellence

• Quality

• National consistency

• Competency in our workforce

• Excellence in health and safety

Working in the Road - Outcomes


Market Size• 74 local authorities• 12 regional councils• Transit NZ• 50 utility organisations

More Partnering Agreements!

Working in the Road/Partnering Agreements


So, what are the impediments to using Working in the Road?


• Share works programmes:– 12 month major works– 3 month minor works

• Problem solving:– 3rd party damage– Obstructions– Bark gardens

• One-stop-shop for traffic management plans.

Working Together: The Rotorua Experience


• Breaks down barriers between council and utilities.

• Formalises what we were doing anyway.

• Proves we talk and listen to each other.

• Fixes any gaps in communications.

Rotorua says…


• National consistency• Improved safety performance• Improved quality• Lower compliance costs

How are Best Practice Guidelines reflected in Principal Provider and Service Provider documents?

Promoting Use of Best Practice GuidelinesPromoting Use of Best Practice Guidelines


Best Practice Document


“…We are moving to a situation now where the roads are becoming a modern day commons, and are inadequately regulated, and fail to encourage co-operation and collaboration.”

[Mai Chen, NZUAG Conference 2002]

Promoting Debate – “The Tragedy of the Commons”Promoting Debate – “The Tragedy of the Commons”


What are the “communities” acceptable level of benefit/risk for utilities in roads?

How should the risks (community, utility, road users) be managed?

Costs/benefits/who defines the “hazard” and who pays for “hazard” mitigation?

Legislative framework – consistency, equity

Economic impact of utilities

Issues in the Utility/Roading DebateIssues in the Utility/Roading Debate


1. Trees & Poles in Roads

New Zealand Transport Strategy – Utility Discussion?

Transit NZ/LTSA “research” – Utility Discussion?

RCA “policies” – Utility Discussion?

Utility position- Existing services/new services- Risk management- Private land?

Cost/benefit

Legislation

Specific IssuesSpecific Issues


2. Undergrounding of Services

Utility/RCA/TLA policies

Existing services

New services

Costs/benefits

Maintenance/operation costs

Specific Issues contd…Specific Issues contd…


3. Space in Road Reserve

Management of the “commons”

Planning and co-ordination of utilities services in road corridors/economic growth

Trees and other amenity services

4. Safety Around Utilities in Road Reserve

Asset damage

Road/utility reinstatement

Working around utility assets

Specific Issues contd…Specific Issues contd…


Utility Access to Road Reserve

• The road corridors (“commonland”)• Competing interests amongst utilities• “Space” management• Public good/economic development/safety• Costs/benefits

Voluntary agreements or legislated outcomes?

• Co-ordination/planning/discussion

Promoting DebatePromoting Debate

Documents

New Zealand Utilities Advisory Group