“We have Friends of the Library but we do not have Friends of the Sewer.” Quoting Robert Goodwin, Director of Public Works in Rockville, Maryland, Dirk van Rhyn from Redcliffe City Council in Queensland summed up the dilemma that faces major infrastructure funding.
Speaking at the 9th National Local Government Engineers Conference held recently in Melbourne, Dirk put the case that improved performance management is one way to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of infrastructure investment.
Drawing on the information gained on a study tour in the United States, he said valuable insight can be gained from the American experience, where a series of public works disasters prompted a nation wide study to develop an integrated infrastructure strategy. Following the study, a series of strategic goals were formulated embodying principles of efficiency, reliability, equity, environmental sustainability, innovation, revenue diversification, productivity growth and job creation.
Further to the implementation of the strategy is the need to convince taxpayers of the value of investing in local resources where the benefits may not be immediately seen or realised. Other problems come about from the need to find new and better tools for maintaining public facilities.
Crucial to the success of such strategy measures is the need for intergovernmental cooperation to avoid duplication and simplify bureaucratic procedures.
Dirk van Rhyn believes solutions can be found, by implementing the following.
- Cost effective management and maintenance focusing on service delivery and performance outcomes, maintenance planning and reporting.
- Cost benefit and risk analyses enabling choice of the most efficient investments.
- Focusing on small scale improvements and demand management to increase economies.
- In partnership with the private sector avoiding barriers to the spread of new technology and adopting flexible design standards to enhance return from investments.
- Simplifying regulations and establishing regular inventories and cost sharing to allow local priorities.
- Integration of environmental considerations into infrastructure planning and design.
Following the USA study, the American Public Works Association developed a manual of Public Works Management Practices, which Dirk van Rhyn strongly recommends for use in Australia. He said that many of the practices advocated are in fact already happening in Australia but outside a formal framework. Application of such principles may greatly increase the longevity and performance of infrastructure here.
For further information contact Dirk van Rhyn, telephone (07) 3283 0233.
