2002 National Local Roads Congress

Greg Hallam
Executive Director
LGAQ

Neil Doyle
General Manager (SP & D)
Main Roads

Increasing demand on road system
Increasing community expectations
Limited funding - need to use existing money better
Only one network
Efficiencies through working in partnership
Benefits from longer term planning
Butcher report identified road management benefits through state and LG working together and by having a focus on a regional road network

Partnership approach - MR and LG
Wide breadth of issues including: investment; prioritisation resource sharing; capability;operations; etc
Formation of regional road groups(RRG), technical committees and a network of local roads of regional significance.
Not "one size fits all" - geographic diversity
Focus on regional areas and authority - determine regional priorities at the regional level
A state-wide framework - guide decision making for investment and road management strategies

Building case for road funding
Increased efficiency in delivery of road projects
Ensure best value in planning, design, construction and maintenance
Improve coordination, planning and avoiding duplication
Improve capacity of local governments in planning, prioritising and implementing road projects
Maintaining employment levels within regional Queensland - especially vulnerable areas

MR, LG & joint reference groups formed
Discussions at MR regional forums & District Local Government Association meetings
Learning from other states
Signing of a Memorandum of Agreement
Discussions and workshops at LGAQ roads and transport forum 2000, 2001, 2002
Formation of 4 Local Government pilot studies
Consultation sessions in 15 regional towns

4 pilots developed to test the alliance initiatives proposed in the working papers
Local government and MR represented
Benefits by having alliance initiatives tested on the ground
Able to obtain feedback from practical application by Local Governments and MR
Feedback from pilots included directly into final guidelines for implementation

Asset management (AM) capability development was identified as an important issue for local government
AM to address High Court decision on non-feasance
AM to work together for a consistent view of network (hierarchy, condition, minimum output specs)
Minister (DMR) has committed $2 million per annum to assist local government to develop capability

LGAQ executive, on behalf of LG, and state cabinet agreed to implement
Proposed signing of Agreement in late August
Progressive implementation on a coordinated basis across the state through 2002- 2003
Formation of groups/selection of network - 2002
State-wide asset management capability - mid 2003
Implementation of most initiatives - end 2003

Success through a partnership approach
Benefits from early engagement and continuous consultation through the process
Able to capture and use road management capability and knowledge from both MR & LG
Important to test concepts on the ground
Pilots important to gain necessary feedback and to provide project ownership
Based on trust and long-term commitment