1. Infrastructure Standards Model
- Standardising Engineering Requirements Across Victoria
Chris Newman
Local Government Victoria - DPCD

2. Councils Reforming Business (CRB)
Originally funded in $4.7m
Partnership between DPCD and MAV
Refunded to 2012
Working together across State and Local Government (and Federal) and with industry
Focus on boosting efficiency, reducing costs and providing better services to communities.
CRB is a partnership initiative between the Department of Planning and Community Development (DPCD) and the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) to identify opportunities to improve services in the local government sector.
The program assists councils to work with each other, the Victorian Government and other stakeholders to develop and implement new programs to boost efficiency, reduce costs and provide better services to communities.
Councils are being supported in five priority areas:
Procurement Better Practice Local Laws
Online Services Shared Services
Affordable Housing

3. CRB Current Focus Areas
Supporting Reform of foundation LG activities
Procurement
Asset Management & Infrastructure
ICT Strategy and Interactions
Financial Management
Local Law Making
Reducing Burdens on Business
Better Practice Building Site Management
EasyBiz – OnLine Systems and Forms

4. Why Collaborative Reform?
Shared Federal, State and local government priorities and policy goals
Integrate local government into the National Reform Agenda
Address capacity issues for local government
Significant savings available for both councils and business
The Victorian Local Government Procurement Strategy identified savings of between $ million per year that could be made in the procurement area through increased council collaboration and good practice procurement
Increased focus reflects shared Federal, State and local government priorities
Integrate local government in the National Reform Agenda
Address capacity issues for local government
Significant savings and performance opportunities available for both councils and business

5. Why focus on Procurement?
Vital role in delivering council and community objectives
Cutting costs
Maintaining probity
Creating local employment
Achieving social and sustainable outcomes
Represents a large component of council activity and expenditure
Victorian local governments spend over $3 billion each year
More than half of councils’ overall expenditure
Plays an increasingly vital role in delivering council and community objectives
Cutting costs
Maintaining probity
Creating local employment
Achieving social and sustainable outcomes
Represents a large component of council activity and expenditure
Victorian local governments spend over $3 billion each year
More than half of councils’ overall expenditure
Increased focus on sector wide collaboration and the streamlining of council practices
One of the fundamentals to council success and long-term viability

6. Procurement Excellent Program
LG Procurement Strategy
13 pilot projects
New training programs
Procurement Excellence Program –
Regional and Council Roadmaps for procurement development
New Suite of Procurement Excellence Tools
New Collaborative Procurement Grants Program
Expansion of the Engineering Standards Project

7. Why Engineering Standards?
Inconsistent standards (eg: 90 kerb and channel profiles in Gippsland)
No Opportunities for Collaboration
Requirements unclear for Developers/ Contractors
Outdated standards
No standards at all

8. Current Projects Victorian Regional Infrastructure Design Manual
Growth Areas Engineering Standards Manual
Overseen by ‘Infrastructure Standards Committee’

9. Victorian Regional Infrastructure Design Manual
Based on the initiative of Campaspe/ Bendigo and Shepparton Councils
Additional CRB pilot project to implement across 6 Gippsland Councils
Now 19 regional Councils participating
Standard drawings being completed
Reviewed regularly by reps from across participating councils

10. Gippsland Process Led by Regional Management Forum Procurement Group
Building on existing work
Engage across Councils
Ensure standards meet topographical needs
Consult with industry
Implementation process and integration with planning documented
Adoption through councils (underway)

11. Growth Areas Authority Engineering Standards Manual
Growth Area Councils and Growth Area Authority
Urban standard prepared – Focus on Subdivisions
Final consultation in June
To be launched in August

13. Benefits Share costs to review and maintain standards Shared risk
Greater certainty for developers, contractors
Less redesign - less time lost
Skill portability between Councils
Improve land affordability
Effective implementation of best practice
Opportunities to share knowledge/ experience
Share capability development and training

14. Infrastructure Design Committee
Council Reps
Growth Area Councils
North Central Region
Gippsland Councils
Geelong
Other Reps
DPCD, VicRoads, Growth Areas Authority
MAV, IPWEA
UDIA, CCF, ALDE

15. Infrastructure Design Committee - Key Initiatives
Roll-out Program
Integration with Planning reform
New Streetworks Code of Practice
Training and Capability Development
New links with VicRoads standards
Strengthen links with Service Providers
Integrate with specifications and broader procurement processes
Interface with National Initiatives

16. Roll-out Program Targeted regional workshops with IPWEA
Part of roll-out of Procurement Excellence Program
Close link to Asset Management Framework delivery
Contacts to get involved:
Councils Reforming Business (LGV)
City of Greater Shepparton
Growth Areas Authority

17. The Councils Reforming Business
program presents
a great opportunity for
councils and industry partners
to participate.
To get involved in the program or for
further information, please contact Chris
Newman, Manager of Councils Reforming
Business, on (03) or
Alternatively, please visit
the Councils Reforming
Business website at