Annual Report 2006 (main body) - RTA - NSW Government

linked to outputs and service standards
using program budgeting and maintenance
contracts. The maintenance contracts
determine consistent minimum levels of
service, with requirements for identifying
and rectifying defects.
ROAD MAINTENANCE
REFORM PACKAGE
The Road Maintenance Reform Package,
introduced on 1 July 2000, brought major
changes in the way road maintenance is
delivered across the State. The package
introduced single invitation maintenance
contracts to create a contractual
relationship between the RTA and local
council maintenance providers. Eighty
seven contracts with councils continue to
work successfully through use of consistent
standards, procedures and management
systems for worker safety, traffic control
and safety, environmental protection and
works quality.
During 2005–06 a more collaborative style
alliance contract was formed between the
RTA directorates for Operations and
Services and Road Network Infrastructure.
The alliance is a cooperative arrangement for
RTA maintenance contracts that will help
drive productivity improvements and cost
savings. The alliance has clearly defined
processes for decision making with strategies
to support regional staff, a review of delivery
options and a capability to provide expertise
when and where it is needed.
Through discussions with local government
the RTA is encouraging ‘clustering’ of local
councils to reduce the number of small
contracts.This is expected to produce cost
savings through economies of scale without
jeopardising local employment.
REBUILDING COUNTRY ROADS
PROGRAM
The NSW Government’s Rebuilding Country
Roads Program involves a commitment for
the RTA to spend at least $100 million a year
on renewing roads and bridges to the latest
FIGURE 3
Percentage of network
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
1920’s
FIGURE 4
% Length
100
80
60
40
20
0
Poor
Fair
Good
1996
3.3
9.4
87.3
DISTRIBUTION OF CONSTRUCTION PERIOD FOR STATE ROADS
(INCLUDING THE AUSLINK NATIONAL NETWORK)
1930’s
1940’s
1950’s
RIDE QUALITY (%) ON STATE ROADS
(INCLUDING AUSLINK NATIONAL NETWORK)
1997
3.5
9.4
87.1
1998
3.4
7.2
89.4
1999
3.1
9.4
87.5
2000
2.0
7.6
90.4
standards. Over the past eight years the RTA
has spent an average of $122 million per
annum on this program. Expenditure for
2005–06 amounted to $96.5 million.
Due to the ageing of the State arterial road
network, the NSW Government announced
a variety of increased RTA charges in
December 2001 including a rise in the
Sydney Harbour Bridge toll. All
the additional funds are directed into
1960’s
2001
2.4
8.0
89.6
1970’s
2002
2.2
7.7
90.1
1980’s
2003
2.4
8.0
89.6
2004
2.3
8.2
89.5
1990’s
2005
2.4
8.2
89.4
2000’s up
to 06/06
2006
2.0
7.2
90.8
maintenance of the RTA’s arterial roads
and bridges with the majority to be spent
on rural and regional arterial roads. For
2005–06 expenditure amounted to
$50.7 million.
The necessity of funding over $42 million in
natural disaster restoration works during the
year meant that expenditure under both the
Rebuilding Country Roads Program and from
the accelerated maintenance program was
POSITIVE ECONOMIC OUTCOMES 17