Call out to LGs to update National State of the Assets report
New work to
address Australia’s $30 billion infrastructure deficit has begun, with councils
being asked to contribute to the next National State of the Assets (NSoA)
report.
The Australian
Local Government Association (ALGA) is partnering with the Institute of Public
Works Engineering Australasia (IPWEA) to produce the report, which aims, among
other things, to provide a sound rationale for targeted support to local
government from other spheres of government.
All 537
councils will soon receive an email inviting them to provide financial and
performance data on the following asset groups:
- Roads
– Sealed and Unsealed; - Bridges
– Timber and Concrete; - Building
and Facilities; - Parks
and Recreation; - Stormwater;
- Water
and Wastewater; and - Airports
and Aerodromes.
The 2018 NSoA Report, based on the responses of more than 400 councils, found that 63 percent of infrastructure assets was rated as being in good condition, while 9 percent was rated as poor. The remaining 28 percent was rated as fair. The report put the cost of renewing or replacing substandard assets at $30 billion.
ALGA established its National State of the Assets project in
2012 to improve the performance and management of the $345 billion of
infrastructure owned and operated by local government, with the first report
published in 2013.
IPWEA is the peak association for the professionals who
deliver public works and engineering services to communities across Australia
and will handle the data collection task for the 2019-20 reporting period.
ALGA President David O’Loughlin said the partnership with
IPWEA will help ensure local government’s asset investment plans and spending
are guided by the very best facts and analysis – at a time when a significant
amount of local government-owned infrastructure is nearing the end of its
lifecycle and in need of adaptation to perform to 21st century
requirements.
“We hope the ALGA-IPWEA partnership encourages more councils
get involved in the next report,” he said. “The more data we have on the
current state of our infrastructure, the more compelling our case is for
renewal and adaptation.”
IPWEA President Rita Excell said: “We are delighted to be
working with ALGA on the State of the Assets project. Information from the
assessments will drive informed discussion on infrastructure investment based
on evidence, that will not only deliver efficiencies but, ultimately, better
infrastructure for communities around Australia.”
The data input
process is likely to take about an hour of an officer’s time to complete,
depending on availability of, and access to source data and systems that are
typically required for reporting purposes as at 30 June 2020.
Fro inquiries regarding the project email alga@alga.asn.au or phone 02 6122 9400. Alternatively email admin@ipwea.org or phone: 1300 416 745.