Councils Reforming Business Infrastructure Standards Model - Standardising Engineering Requirements Across Victoria Chris Newman Local Government Victoria

Councils Reforming Business

Infrastructure Standards Model

- Standardising Engineering Requirements Across Victoria

Chris Newman

Local Government Victoria - DPCD


Councils Reforming Business (CRB)

• Originally funded in 2007 - $4.7m• Partnership between DPCD and MAV • Refunded to 2012• Working together across State and

Local Government (and Federal) and with industry

• Focus on boosting efficiency, reducing costs and providing better services to communities.


CRB Current Focus Areas

Supporting Reform of foundation LG activities– Procurement– Asset Management & Infrastructure– ICT Strategy and Interactions– Financial Management– Local Law Making

Reducing Burdens on Business– Better Practice Building Site Management– EasyBiz – OnLine Systems and Forms


Why Collaborative Reform?

• Shared Federal, State and local government priorities and policy goals

• Integrate local government into the National Reform Agenda

• Address capacity issues for local government

• Significant savings available for both councils and business


Why focus on Procurement?• Vital role in delivering council and community

objectives– Cutting costs– Maintaining probity– Creating local employment– Achieving social and sustainable outcomes

• Represents a large component of council activity and expenditure– Victorian local governments spend over $3 billion

each year– More than half of councils’ overall expenditure


• LG Procurement Strategy - 2009•13 pilot projects•New training programs

• Procurement Excellence Program – 2010-2011•Regional and Council Roadmaps for procurement development•New Suite of Procurement Excellence Tools•New Collaborative Procurement Grants Program•Expansion of the Engineering Standards Project

Procurement Excellent Program


• Inconsistent standards (eg: 90 kerb and channel profiles in Gippsland)

• No Opportunities for Collaboration• Requirements unclear for Developers/

Contractors• Outdated standards• No standards at all

Why Engineering Standards?


• Victorian Regional Infrastructure Design Manual• Growth Areas Engineering Standards Manual

Overseen by ‘Infrastructure Standards Committee’

Current Projects


• Based on the initiative of Campaspe/ Bendigo and Shepparton Councils

• Additional CRB pilot project to implement across 6 Gippsland Councils

• Now 19 regional Councils participating• Standard drawings being completed• Reviewed regularly by reps from across

participating councils

Victorian Regional Infrastructure Design Manual


1.Led by Regional Management Forum Procurement Group

2.Building on existing work3.Engage across Councils4.Ensure standards meet topographical needs5.Consult with industry6. Implementation process and integration with

planning documented7.Adoption through councils (underway)

Gippsland Process


• Growth Area Councils and Growth Area Authority

• Urban standard prepared – Focus on Subdivisions

• Final consultation in June• To be launched in August

Growth Areas Authority Engineering Standards Manual



• Share costs to review and maintain standards• Shared risk • Greater certainty for developers, contractors• Less redesign - less time lost• Skill portability between Councils• Improve land affordability• Effective implementation of best practice• Opportunities to share knowledge/ experience• Share capability development and training

Benefits


Council Reps• Growth Area Councils• North Central Region• Gippsland Councils• Geelong

Other Reps• DPCD, VicRoads, Growth Areas Authority• MAV, IPWEA

• UDIA, CCF, ALDE

Infrastructure Design Committee


• Roll-out Program• Integration with Planning reform• New Streetworks Code of Practice• Training and Capability Development• New links with VicRoads standards• Strengthen links with Service Providers• Integrate with specifications and broader procurement processes

• Interface with National Initiatives

Infrastructure Design Committee- Key Initiatives


• Targeted regional workshops with IPWEA• Part of roll-out of Procurement Excellence

Program• Close link to Asset Management Framework

delivery• Contacts to get involved:

•Councils Reforming Business (LGV)•City of Greater Shepparton•Growth Areas Authority

Roll-out Program


The Councils Reforming Businessprogram presentsa great opportunity forcouncils and industry partnersto participate.

To get involved in the program or forfurther information, please contact ChrisNewman, Manager of Councils ReformingBusiness, on (03) 9651 7280 [email protected]

Alternatively, please visitthe Councils ReformingBusiness website atwww.localgovernment.vic.gov.au/crb

Documents

Councils Reforming Business Infrastructure Standards Model - Standardising Engineering Requirements Across Victoria Chris Newman Local Government Victoria