The National Asset Management Strategy (NAMS.AU) group of the Institute of Public Works Engineering Australia (IPWEA) continues to develop a number of valuable tools to assist asset management practitioners achieve best practice in sustainable management of community infrastructure.
In response to industry demand, Condition Assessment Practice Notes have been developed with a Preamble Document that spells out the generic principles, available for free, through the www.nams.au.com website. Specific Guidelines for particular asset classes are then available for purchase such as for Footpaths/Cycleways and Kerb and Channel/Gutter, which have just been released.
The Practice Notes provide rating systems for determining current asset condition and apply risk management techniques to address both short term maintenance needs and longer term renewals planning.
Guidelines for buildings are being developed and others will follow on, including stormwater drainage, water and wastewater and street signage.
NAMS.PLUS, the guided pathway for writing of core asset management plans and estimating cashflow projections for long term financial plans, is becoming a default ‘national standard’ for organisations keen to foster greater ownership of their asset management plans and to upskill their own staff in the process.
Participants gain access to step by step guidelines in the form of an eBook, a comprehensive suite of templates, online modelling tools, help desk, and four support workshops spaced a few months apart.
NAMS.PLUS is subscription based to ensure its continual development. After strong take up across New South Wales, Western Australia and Tasmania, the program is now being offered in Queensland, with workshops commencing late July. This provides an excellent opportunity for newly amalgamated Councils to combine their asset management activities across the whole new organisation and upskill staff in the process.
NAMS.PLUS is an ideal way of developing the necessary financial data for input into long term financial plans that are so necessary to demonstrate financial sustainability.
Other worthwhile resources include the recently launched NAMS.NEWS,which is circulated quarterly to keep practitioners up to date on the latest in asset management around Australia.
The NAMS.AU web pages have details for registering to receive NAMS.NEWS.
Another popular resource is the AssetMates Discussion Forum, which provides avenues for answers to all those asset management issues that are often in the too hard basket.
Sustainability in Local Government community infrastructure remains an ongoing challenge.
Getting that message across to elected members and senior management is helped by the DVD produced by NAMS.AU, titled ‘Sustainable Communities – Critical Insights’, covering the three key elements of stewardship, asset planning and financial planning.
The DVD and all the other resources mentioned can be accessed by visiting the NAMS.AU website at www.nams.au.com
For further information email Peter Way, Chair of IPWEA NAMS.AU, at pway@ipwea.org.au
