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Current & Emerging Issues

  • Stock on Roads – Discussion Paper

A number of Local Governments throughout Western Australia have raised the issue of livestock straying onto roads. WALGA conducted research to determine the severity of the situation associated with livestock straying onto local and state roads, and the policies and legislation in place to deal with the situation.

WALGA has released the attached paper for discussion within the Sector and welcomes comments, on the proposed recommendations. WALGA welcomes feedback on each of the recommendations, and will also be seeking feedback from relevant agencies. Local Governments are requested to provide comment by the 16 August 2010.

Stock on Roads - Discussion Paper
Stock on Roads - Infopage
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  • Proposed changes to school zone times

The Department of Education has raised concerns regarding students increased mobility around school campus's outside the current school zone times. The proposed changes to be recommended to the Road Safety Council is to amend all school zones in WA to fixed whole-of-school day school zone time - 7.30am-5pm.

WALGA is seeking the view of Local Governments on this proposal before supporting any change, through a Fax Back.

Change of school zone - Infopage
Change of school zones - Fax Back

Please send comments to Warren Pearce, Policy Manager, Transport and Roads on fax (08) 9322 2611 or email wpearce@walga.asn.au by 19 July 10.
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  • Western Power Strategic Reference Group

This Strategic Reference Group, with representatives from Western Power, WALGA and the Institute of Public Works Engineers (IPWEA), has been established to address ongoing systemic issues Local Government have with Western Power. A role of this group is to prioritise projects to be addressed and ensure Western Power is allocating staff and resources to drive agreed outcomes. The status of these projects will be reported to the Western Power board on a quarterly basis. The work priorities determined by the Group are:

  • Review of Western Power's Distribution Undergrounding Policy;
  • Project-level communications;
  • Timeliness and quality of reinstatements;
  • Timeliness of customer funded work;
  • Cost of customer funded work;
  • Prioritisation of Black Spot and Government-funded work;
  • Training for LGA staff of Western Power's design processes and standards;
  • Streetlights - fault restoration timeframes and introduction of compact fluorescent lights (CFL); and
  • Potential for LGAs to directly appoint Western Power-approved contractors.

An Operational Forum is guiding this work through a series of working groups.
Western Power Update Infopage - June 10
A dedicated Local Government Relationship Manager, Mike Read, has been appointed to assist Local Governments with their interaction with Western Power: Mike is available to present at Zone and Regional Road Group meetings on Western Power / Local Government issues and can be contacted on:
Mr Mike Read, Local Government Relationship Manager
T: (08) 9326 4466 | M: 0409 088 959
E: mike.read@westernpower.com.au. _____________________________________________

  • Public Bus Stop Infrastructure (Bus Shelters)

The Public Transport Authority (PTA) is committed to upgrading all public transport bus stops to align with current Commonwealth Disability Standards. This program will impact on bus shelters and other infrastructure, which has been provided and maintained by Local Governments. The PTA has developed a draft document which outlines the required changes for bus stop boarding areas. The Association is seeking feedback from Local Governments with regards to the draft document. Please send comments to Warren Pearce, Policy Manager Transport and Roads at wpearce@walga.asn.au by Friday 28 May 2010. If you have any queries, please contact Warren on 9213 2033.

Draft for comment - Public Transport Bus Stop Site Layout Guidelines
Infopage - Public Bus Stop Infrastructure (Bus Shelters)
Faxback - Due 28 May 2010
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  • The Proposed New Mass Management Scheme for WA

The Mass Management Scheme (MMS) Discussion Paper was released for comment by the Ministerial Heavy Vehicles Advisory Panel in February 2010. WALGA is not a member of the Panel and has had no role in the development of the proposal. The MMS Discussion Paper proposes that the current Certified Weighbridge Mass Management Scheme (CWMS) and the Concessional Loading Bulk Products Scheme (CLS) will be rolled into a new framework and the current mass levels and permit conditions be reviewed.

In general terms, the MMS contemplates an increase in the maximum weight of heavy vehicles, both in terms of axle loadings and overall mass limits, based around an undefined "network of routes" on State and Local roads. An increase in heavy vehicle weights will have a significant impact on road wear and cost of repair for Local Governments on local roads.

WALGA has submitted an interim submission to the State Government in response to the Discussion Paper.

Mass Management Scheme Discussion Paper

Interim submission - Mass Management Scheme

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  • Operational Responsibility for Public Roads in WA - Main Roads/Local Government Draft Interface Agreement - Feedback

Main Roads WA, in partnership with WALGA and the Institute of Public Works Engineering Australia WA (IPWEA), has developed a draft interface agreement outlining the principles and practical guidelines for determining how the responsibility for operating and maintaining the different parts or elements of highways and main roads is to be allocated between Main Roads WA and Local Governments.

    The document is intended to:

    • Support responsible road authorities in the performance of their road management functions with respect to the provision of a safe and efficient road network for use by road users and the community, and
    • Recognise that Main Roads and Local Governments are partners in managing Western Australia’s public road network.

The interface agreement has been developed over a number of years by a working group consisting of representatives from the Association, Main Roads and IPWEA. This group was formed to identify and document the issues involved for both Main Roads and Local Governments, and to develop a set of principles that could be used to determine responsibility of different elements of the WA road network. The interface agreement is intended to assist those on the ground identify where Local Government responsibility begins and ends.

The Association is looking for feedback from Local Governments on the draft document. Please track changes in the word document and send comments to Warren Pearce, Policy Manager Transport and Roads at wpearce@walga.asn.au by Wednesday 3 March 2010. If you have any queries, please contact Warren on 9213 2033.

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  • Guidelines for reclassification of roads between Local Government and Main Roads

The Association is seeking feedback from Local Governements on the draft guidelines. Please send comments to Warren Pearce, Policy Manager Transport and Roads at wpearce@walga.asn.au by Friday 28 May 2010. If you have any queries, please contact Warren on 9213 2033.

Guidelines for use in the negotiations between Local Government and Main Roads on the condition of roads proposed for reclassification

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  • Austroads Access for all Local Governments

Austroads is the association of Australian and New Zealand road transport and traffic authorities. Through ALGA’s membership of Austroads, Local Government is able to influence the Austroads work program and participate in Austroads projects. Importantly, all Local Governments have access on line to publications free of charge. Each Local Government has a user name and pin number to access the member’s section of Austroads. Austroads produces a comprehensive range of technical guides which can be used by Local Government in the planning, design, construction, maintenance and operation of their road networks. This avoids duplication of effort and produces a high level of national consistency. The Australian Road Research Board (ARRB) is owned by Austroads. Attached is the link to the Austroads website: http://www.austroads.com.au/index.html, For further information Austroads can be contacted on 02 9264 7088 or austroads@austroads.com.au.

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  • Grain Freight Network Local Road Evaluation Study

State Council resolved that work be undertaken to research and map Local Government feeder roads into the grain freight network and quantify the costs for these roads to meet the freight task. A consultant has been commissioned to undertake this work which is being overseen by WALGA in partnership with the Local Government Grain Infrastructure Working Group. Information from the project will inform the road funding component of the Grain Freight Road and Rail rescue package. Check the Infopage dated 10 July for more details.

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  • Proposed amendments to the Main Road WA Act

Main Roads is currently preparing drafting instructions for the purpose of amending the Main Roads Act 1930 so that it better reflects modern operations and addressed future needs. The current Act is nearly eighty years old and is still largely focussed on its original purpose of empowering and funding an agency to construct the State’s road networks.

Main Roads has taken the amendment process as an opportunity to align their functions, objects and powers under the Act with their current to long term responsibilities, operations and needs. They have taken a futuristic look at what functions and powers will be required of them in the coming decades. This is reflected in the proposed amendments.

The proposed amendments have significant implications for Local Government. The Association is seeking your feedback on the proposed amendments. In addition, we would like to know areas of the Act that have not been put forward for amendment that Local Government would like considered.

For further information or to provide feedback, please refer to the relevant documents below:

The Commonwealth Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport 2002 (Standards) provide the following timetable for bus stop infrastructure compliance; 31st December 2007 compliance with the relevant Standards by 25%; 31st December 2012 compliance with the relevant Standards by 55%; 31st December 2017 compliance with the relevant Standards by 90% and 31st December 2032 all public transport services to fully comply with the Standards.

For further information, please refer to the relevant documents below:

    Interim Submission

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  • Accessible Bus Stop – Compliance Checklist

Please find the Accessible Bus Stop – Compliance Checklist developed by WALGA in partnership with the Public Transport Authority. This is an easy to use Checklist to audit bus stops for compliance. This Checklist contains guidance for the providers of bus stops infrastructure on the minimum requirements as set out in the Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport (2002) and the State Government Public Transport Bus Stop Layout Policy for Universal Access, prepared by the Public Transport Authority (PTA).

Monash University Accident Research Centre (MUARC) has been selected by WALGA to undertake research, involving extensive consultation with Local Governments, into the existing and potential role of Local Government in enhanced speed enforcement.

The project commenced in September 2009 and although initially envisaged to be complete by February 2010, an extension approval was granted by the Office of Road Safety to accommodate a completion date of 29 June 2010.

A Project Advisory Committee has been established to support the work with representatives from WA Police, Office of Road Safety, Main Roads WA, Institute of Public Works Engineering, Local Government (City of Stirling, Shire of Plantagenet and the Great Eastern Country Zone), and WALGA.

If you would like further details please call (08) 9213 2059.

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  • Railway Level Crossing Safety- Development of Interface Agreement

A new National Railway Level Crossing Safety Strategy (2010-2020) has been released. The Strategy seeks to deliver a nationally coordinated action plan to reduce deaths and near misses at Australian Railway Level Crossings.

To implement the Strategy, WALGA in partnership with Main Roads WA and other Railway Authorities, is developing a draft interface agreement outlining the practical guidelines and responsibilities for maintaining and monitoring compliance.

The Interface is intended to;

      • ensure that nationally acceptable standards of safety are afforded to all users of the interface and that the infrastructure is protected from damage as much as reasonably practicable.provide for the joint assessment and management of risks associated with all aspects of the interfaces identified in this Agreement.
      •  establish financial arrangements between the Parties in relation to the management of interfaces and the Agreement.
      • provide for the definition and description of each interface to which this Agreement applies, and documentation of the respective responsibilities of the Parties and all third parties.
      • establish procedures for monitoring compliance with this Agreement.
      • provide a framework for agreed processes for management of interfaces, including:
          • application of legislation and nationally accepted standards;
          • management of lifecycle responsibilities;
          • development and maintenance of OHS&W Safe Working Procedures;
          • information exchange between the Parties;
          • audit, inspection and monitoring procedures; and
          • development and maintenance of emergency management procedures;
          • joint process for the assessment and mitigation of risks;

Comment will be sought from the Local Government sector as the Draft is developed. For further information contact Warren Pearce, Policy Manager Transport and Roads on (08) 9213 2033, or email wpearce@walga.asn.au.

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