Programme - day one

REGISTRATION AND COFFEE

TRADE EXHIBITION OPEN

MIHI WHAKATAU

WELCOME FROM THE MC

Greg Ward 

LEADERSHIP

LEADERS’ PANEL: TURNING THE FOCUS TO 2024

Future Roads falls after the election and roading is sure to be a hot topic on the new government's agenda. Priorities have already started shifting and a spectrum of policy options present themselves. Will expensive multi-modal transport projects be paused while rebuild, resilience and maintenance issues receive top billing? What is getting funding attention in council transport budgets? In this panel, we hear what's on the list from top executives around the country.  

• have we got the balance right around investing in new modes of transport vs maintaining the existing networks and what about the trade-off around critical network components? 
• is the roading funding system fit-for-purpose?   
• incorporating resilience into the system and what is the thinking around managed retreat
• is decarbonisation still being achieved and what are the costs? 

Panelists:

Chris Bunny – Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency 
Siobhan Procter – Wellington City Council 
Dawn Baxendale – Christchurch City Council 
Simon Dyne – Fulton Hogan
Darren Wu – Beca

Facilitator: Adrienne Miller – Urban Development Institute of New Zealand

EXECUTIVE UPDATE: DOWNER GROUP

Downer is one of the top Tier One infrastructure contractors in New Zealand. It is active in both the road construction and maintenance space, servicing over 50,000 kms of state highway and local roads across Australasia. With 40 plants across Australasia, it has integrated business units in bitumen, asphalt, materials technology, aggregates and recycling.

In 2023 Downer merged its New Zealand and Australian businesses and formed the largest business unit – Transport & Infrastructure. Downer New Zealand’s chief executive Murray Robertson was promoted into the trans-Tasman COO role and provides us with an update on the ‘new Downer.’ A business that is geared at a more inclusive and collaborative approach to solving the challenges of the future.

• Key topics covered:
  • The new structure of the $13 billion Downer Group business
  • The integrated Transport & Infrastructure business
  • The greatest challenge facing our industry

KEYNOTE ADDRESS: SMARTER ROADING SOLUTIONS AND THEIR ROLE IN A MORE DYNAMIC INFRASTRUCTURE

Nick Leggett was appointed chief executive of Infrastructure New Zealand in 2023 after previously leading Transporting New Zealand. In this speech, we hear about INZ’s view of key priorities for the sector and where he intends on taking the organisation

• local government’s role in the funding discussion for roading
• alternative materials – what is their role in the New Zealand roading network?
• private financing for roading projects and reflections on recent PPP experiences
• reflections from end users – the Transporting New Zealand experience
• how to engage with central government

MORNING TEA AND NETWORKING

FOCUS | PROCUREMENT

FOCUS | TECHNOLOGY

Introduction from the chair

Greg Ward 

Introduction from the chair

Fraser May – communications and advocacy manager, Civil Contractors New Zealand

THE NTRO OPPORTUNITY FOR ROADING AUTHORITIES IN NEW ZEALAND

The National Transport Research Organisation (NTRO) (formerly the Australian Road Research Board (ARRB)) has entered an agreement with Waka Kotahi and established offices in Wellington to provide services across the New Zealand roading industry. The skills and knowledge developed from 63 years of servicing Australian State Government Transport Agencies will all be available to Waka Kotahi and the broader NZ industry through this agreement and the presence of NTRO NZ. The NTRO team were recently involved in the recovery phase for roads impacted by the floods in the North Island and has a range of technical solutions on offer in New Zealand.

• plans for NTRO in New Zealand
• opportunities for local roading authorities to optimise the roading dollar
• what the Waka Kotahi partnership will mean and what is the focus
• off-the-shelf technology and solutions from NTRO for New Zealand

Michael Caltabiano – chief executive officer, National Transport Research Organisation

PANEL DISCUSSION: DEVELOPMENTS IN HEAVY MOBILE EQUIPMENT MANAGEMENT, TECHNOLOGY AND PROCUREMENT

There have been huge developments in heavy roading equipment technology in recent years including in areas such as fuel efficiency and emissions, GPS integration and guidance systems, payload meters, machine controls, and centralised fleet performance data collection and monitoring.

Bringing new smarts to roading construction, repair and maintenance jobs offers benefits for the client, but what are the costs and practicalities?

In this panel discussion, we ask what the big fleet managers are thinking and what technology are they using.

• asset management and replenishment cycles
• life-of-asset considerations
• safety improvement through technology
• ownership considerations – own, lease, self-finance

Evan Yeoman – Higgins

Andrew Dyson – Isaac

Facilitator: Matt George – Pro-Manage Consulting

SUSTAINABILITY WITHOUT THE B.S.

Lots is changing in the workplace. Bullying and harassment are out. Diversity and inclusion are in. Health and safety is paramount. Working with local iwi is more commonplace. Wetland conservation is a thing. Engagement is usually a necessary part of resource consenting. These are all aspects of the socio-economic benefits of your product or operation. So how do we deliver something that is real in the sustainability space, not just BS, and how do we communicate this?

• the ESG (environmental, social, corporate governance) approach
• materiality assessments
• what level of investment for a sustainability report or Environmental Product Declaration
• “don’t trust us, measure us” – how to put in place a simple sustainability report
• FMA guidelines around “greenwashing” and possible repercussions

Bernie Napp – director, Prospect Consulting

INTERNATIONAL SPEAKER: THE BENEFITS OF FIBRE-REINFORCED ASPHALT PAVEMENTS 

Aramid fibre-reinforced pavements provide a range of benefits to the road owner, particularly around strength and flexibility. Physical reinforcement adds to the life span and load-bearing capacity of the pavement. Hear from consulting engineer and international expert Phil Blankenship on:

• water-proofing properties of fibre-reinforced pavements
• understanding the costs of deployment
• how to blend fibre into your asphalt mix
• case study of a recent deployment in Australia
• carbon reduction benefits

*delivered online with live intro and Q&A link-up

Phil Blankenship – consulting engineer and owner, BATT Lab, USA

INTRODUCING THE THEORY OF CONSTRAINTS IN PROCUREMENT

This year’s Future Roads launches a new workshop session and action plan around dealing with constraints in the roading procurement space.

So what is the Theory of Constraints and how can identification and actions lead to improved outcomes?

• experience from other sectors
• observation in the roading sector
• what to expect in the workshop session

Caroline Boot – director, NZ Procurement and Probity Services
Graham Scott – consultant, Simple Business

NETWORKING LUNCH IN THE EXHIBITION AREA

FOCUS | PROCUREMENT

FOCUS | PROGRESSION

Welcome back from the chair

Greg Ward 

Welcome back from the chair

Fraser May – communications and advocacy manager, Civil Contractors New Zealand

PROCUREMENT WORKSHOP

Identifying, understanding and dealing with constraints in roading procurement processes from a client and supplier perspective.

How it works:

• delegates will be sent survey questions in advance and asked about the constraints they deal with in the procurement of roading services. There are two separate surveys for clients and suppliers
• these survey results will be collated and circulated
• at the workshop delegates will break out into tables with one designated host per table. There will be a balance of clients and suppliers on each table
• each table will have a dedicated host who will help the table work through some of the constraints identified in the survey and coming up with possible solutions and actions
• results are then shared amongst the workshop and findings are sent out to all participants after the conference

Graham Scott – consultant, Simple Business
Vicky Mabin – professor, Victoria University

Facilitator: Greg Ward

Supported by: NZ Procurement and Probity Services

We conducted a survey back in August and received 100 responses. To see the report and findings, click the link below. These are the same questions that will go to delegates prior to the workshop.

CLICK HERE 

THE NEW ROAD AHEAD – RMA REFORMS

Out with the old and in with the new?  The Resource Management Act reform will have occurred, and the new framework will be in place.  This will be a practical, high-level session for planners, designers, constructors, and asset owners, covering:

• what are the key changes and what do they mean for the roading sector?
• when will the changes take effect and what are the processes to get the new system in place?
• how can the roading sector best be involved from the start to shape the policy, planning and culture changes needed to deliver efficient and effective outcomes for the sector?

David Allen – partner, Buddle Findlay

INTERNATIONAL SPEAKER: FROM OVERLAYS TO FULL PAVEMENTS – A US PERSPECTIVE ON SUSTAINABLE CONCRETE PAVEMENTS

Concrete pavements and concrete overlays to existing pavements are regularly used as sustainable solutions in the United States. Concrete’s reputation for durability and longevity provides significant economic benefits and can also help reduce transportation-related environmental impacts. This presentation will focus on experiences in the United States to design, build, and maintain concrete pavements that help deliver on economic and environmental transportation goals:

• long-term performance of US concrete pavements and concrete overlays to existing pavements
• economic impacts and benefits of concrete pavements
• cost-benefit analysis vs alternatives
• how to optimise and reduce the environmental impacts of transportation infrastructure

Eric Ferrebee – senior director of technical services, American Concrete Pavement Association (ACPA) 

TRANSITIONING TIMES FOR TEMPORARY TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT  

This presentation delves into the significant culture change the NZ Temporary Traffic Management (TTM) sector is currently undergoing as it transitions towards a risk-based approach. The role of the newly established TTM Industry Steering Group, tasked with navigating this transformative journey, will be a key focus. The talk aims to:

• explore the fundamentals of this change
• how it's being operationalised
• the potential impacts on TTM delivery

Dave Tilton – chair, TTM Industry Steering Group

AFTERNOON TEA AND NETWORKING

LABOUR FORCE CONSIDERATIONS; THE OUTLOOK FOR 2024

Roading and infrastructure more broadly look set to continue to receive substantial funding under the new government. New Zealand’s well-publicised infrastructure deficit and weather-related rebuilds span a number of sectors which often draw on the same pool of labour. This has been constrained in recent years and can drive up the cost of new projects and routine maintenance.

• general workforce situation and the need for workers. A look at the project pipeline and how this compares to the past five years
• immigration settings and where labour will be coming from. How we recognise immigrant skills
• attracting and engaging with people outside the industry (EPIC and EPIC Careers in Road maintenance)
• importance of building the skills of workers, training programmes and some of the research we have done..
• why clients should care and the importance of Civil Trades (or new industry trade certification programme)

Fraser May – communications and advocacy manager, Civil Contractors New Zealand

BUILDING RESILIENCE INTO YOUR ROADING NETWORK

ROAD OWNER PROFILE: MARLBOROUGH DISTRICT COUNCIL 

Marlborough District Council is one of the country’s six unitary authorities, giving it local and regional council responsibility. Its roading network maintenance contracts include state highway (NOC) and local road responsibility, managed jointly with Waka Kotahi. It experienced high-rainfall events several years ago and has been building up its network resilience. Hear from Mark on how they run their network.

• choosing the level of contractor to use – tier 1 through to 4 
• flood protection work 
• access to river aggregates 

INTERNATIONAL SPEAKER: QUEENSLAND’S JOURNEY TO RECOVERY AND RESILIENCE

Queensland experienced significant weather-related events in 2021 and 2022, causing widespread damage to its roading network. Since then, it has embarked on significant rebuilding and recovery efforts including the managed retreat of some areas. 

• factoring in future weather-related events 
• building roads that can withstand flooding 
• building capacity in recovery and resilience in your communities 
• making decisions around managed retreat 

WRAP-UP - END OF DAY 1

Greg Ward  

NETWORKING DRINKS

FUTURE ROADS DINNER

The ticketed dinner will feature a three-course meal, great networking and entertainment.