Programme - day two 2024

REGISTRATION, TEA AND COFFEE

TRADE EXHIBITION OPEN

DAY TWO WELCOME FROM THE MC AND RE-CAP DAY ONE

Sarah Sinclair – partner, MinterEllisonRuddWatts 

THE FUTURE OF THE TRANSPORT REVENUE SYSTEM

The Government has set out its priorities for the transport system over the next 10 years via the Government Policy Statement on land transport 2024-34 (GPS 2024).

The Ministry of Transport is developing advice for the Government on the revenue work programme, looking at how we raise the revenue that will be needed to deliver the ambitious investment programme.

In this presentation we hear about the progress on the work programme, including work the Ministry has done on the Future of the Revenue System, and the specific actions in the GPS 2024 to:

• transition the petrol vehicle fleet into road user charges
• reform tolling legislation, and to toll all new state highway projects where practical
• introduce legislation to enable time of use charging to improve network efficiency and reduce congestion

Matt Skinner – manager, revenue, Ministry of Transport

PANEL DISCUSSION: FUNDING ALTERNATIVES FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT TRANSPORT PROJECTS 

Much has been said recently about alternative funding models for infrastructure and it will be interesting to see where the Government lands later this year with signalled changes to the Infrastructure Funding and Financing Act. By the time of the conference, policy should also be in place around city and regional deals. In this panel we take a look at the opportunities and considerations for councils when it comes to roading projects. 

• PPPs – when to use, when to avoid 
• overseas best practice 
• financing considerations for councils including credit ratings and financing costs 
• tolls and congestion charging 
• potential funding partners – iwi investment arms 
• off-balance sheet debt options 
• city and regional deals for roading 
• correct project valuation and building in future maintenance costs upfront at time of financing 
• ‘build, own, operate, transfer’ equity finance schemes, and value capture to generate additional revenue 

Panelists: 

Andrea Reeves – Wellington City Council  
Ian Purdy – ACC  
Stuart Cross – Morrison Low
Louise Marsden – Mafic Partners
Paul Davidson – Tauranga City Council

Facilitator: 
Craig Rice – PwC 

PANEL DISCUSSION: PRIORITISING ROADING BUDGETS AND THE ROLE OF INNOVATION 

This panel discussion canvases different councils around how they make the roading dollar go further. 

• low-cost maintenance techniques and materials 
• chipseal alternatives 
• raising your drainage spend to combat changing weather patterns and protect your network 
• understanding different asset classes and what they cost, lifecycles and how to maintain them
• decision-making optimisation around asset management 
• hot cutback bitumen vs emulsion. What is the capacity in my district to produce this and what are the risks?

Panelists:
Daniel Erard – Tararua Alliance
Attinder Singh – Waikato District Council
Carol Ma – HEB Construction
Jarrod Bates – Fulton Hogan

Facilitator: 
Richard Parsons – Beca

MORNING TEA AND NETWORKING

EXHIBITION HALL PRESENTATIONS

INTRODUCTION FROM THE CHAIR

Stacy Goldsworthy – Winstone Aggregates

ROUND TABLES

ROUND TABLES

INTRODUCTION FROM THE MC AROUND HOW THE ROUND TABLES WORK

TEMPORARY TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT – NAVIGATING THE CHANGES

Being able to facilitate safe environments for road workers and road users through temporary traffic management is vital when it comes to building and maintaining our infrastructure in New Zealand. It’s no wonder that TTM and road cones have become a prominent reminder of activity that councils, contractors and service providers all share in the responsibilities of delivering well whether you love them or hate them.

After more than two decades under the same guidelines, a significant shift to a risk-based approach is taking place with a focus on smarter planning of road works to enable the right-sizing of having just enough TTM for the job. This should see greater efficiencies for the sector and NZTA is actively making this change. So the question is, when and how do we change? How does a council make this happen within its jurisdiction and how does this line up with a contractor’s change management process – it must be a joined up approach for us to truly succeed.

• how some of the recent trials have performed eg the Manawatu
• obligations as a PCBU - the council-contractor interface
• how do we make TTM commercially viable?
• road closures vs extended lane closures and TTM
• what is your organisation’s position on the risk-based approach?
• how is your organisation implementing the change?
• what are you learning on the journey of change? What’s been tough? What have been some wins?

Panelists:
Dave Rendall – Fulton Hogan
Wayne Clarke - Chevron Traffic Services
Simon Hodges - Christchurch City Council
Tracey Berkahn - Auckland Transport

Facilitator:
Darren Wu – Beca

HOW TO STRUCTURE AN ALLIANCE CONTRACT 

You’ve heard about them, so how do they work and what are some of the key benefits of using an alliance contract over other forms of procurement?

In this Round Table you’ll be taken through the fundamental components of an alliance agreement and have an opportunity to share experiences and learnings.

We’ll unpack some of the myths about alliances and the essential factors that make them successful – are they soft, easy and ‘gold-plated’?

Through real-life examples we’ll highlight the outstanding results that can be achieved through this form of collaborative contract, and the enduring value they have delivered.

Jon Varndell – group director - civil infrastructure, AECOM 

WHAT DOES A WORTHWHILE EPD LOOK LIKE TO A ROADING AUTHORITY?     

The roading materials sector is stepping up on life-cycle assessments (LCA) including Environmental Product Declarations (EPD). Join this round table to gain an understanding of LCAs and EPDs related to gravel and sand, concrete, limestone, cement and other roading materials.  

Bernie Napp – director, Prospect Consulting 

MANUFACTURED SAND AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO NATURAL SAND  

Natural sand is getting harder to access, particularly from rivers and the seabed. Manufactured sand will be part of the solution however has challenges in terms of capital investment, historical costs of natural sand, consumer resistance and the fact that good aggregate rock is used to produce sand. This discussion will pursue the issues and potential solutions to increasing supply of manufactured sand in New Zealand, particularly for roading structures.  

Wayne Scott – CEO, Aggregate and Quarry Association 

SUPPORTING YOUR WORKFORCE CAPABILITY NOW AND INTO THE FUTURE

Waihanga Ara Rau's (Workforce Development Council for Construction and Infrastructure) role is to maintain 2,300 assessment standards and over 150 qualifications, while also developing new products based on identified industry demand. 

This discussion will outline our role in the VET (vocational education and training) eco-system and how we respond to industry needs, e.g. recently developed products include two Level 4 micro-credentials for the Temporary Traffic Management sector: TTM Design and TTM Risk Assessment. 

Join this round table to discuss the skill gaps you’re facing and to explore potential solutions.

Sue Hawkins – relationship manager - civil, Waihanga Ara Rau 
Kat Ricketts – relationship manager, Waihanga Ara Rau

UNDERSTANDING THE NEW FAST-TRACK CONSENTING FRAMEWORK

You have probably heard a lot about how the fast-track legislation will speed up approvals for regionally and nationally significant infrastructure.  In this session we will discuss the good, the bad and the ugly of the ‘one-stop-shop’ legislation:

• how does it fit into the context of the RMA
• types of projects envisaged for fast track.
• fast-track criteria
• how to apply
• the decision making process
• pros and cons

Geoff England – senior principal - planning, Boffa Miskell

HOW AND WHY TO PROPERLY SCOPE THE BUSINESS CASE FOR YOUR ROADING PROJECT UP FRONT

A key factor in deciding whether to build a roading project is the expected cost and benefits of the scheme. Critics complain that engineers tend to underestimate the cost and overestimate the benefits of infrastructure projects. They argue that this undermines the decision to build.

Engineers working in local councils are often asked to provide cost estimates for future roading and streetscape projects to be included in the Council’s long-term planning process. Such advice is often required at short notice. The advice is required despite the scope of these projects not being well defined.  These timeframes prevent engineers from fully understanding the risks. 

Political parties have a habit of announcing transport projects before engineering investigations had been completed. 

This discussion will explore the role that engineers have in providing advice at the front end of a project, and what we do well and could do differently to enable improved decision-making on progressing a project.

Wayne Stewart – principal project director, WSP

GRADING AND MAINTENANCE OF UNSEALED ROADS

• mitigate the risks of increased heavy vehicle usage
• tactical investment decision making
• asset management as it applies to low volume roads

Simon Hunt – strategic asset manager, Fulton Hogan

UNDERSTANDING WEATHER BARRIER: A CURING AGENT FOR CHIPSEAL BITUMEN EMULSIONS

In this round table presentation, we will delve into the innovative Weather Barrier product by Road Science, designed to enhance the curing process of bitumen emulsions under challenging weather conditions. Weather Barrier significantly improves productivity by extending sealing windows and seasons, enabling effective chip sealing even in colder temperatures and high humidity. This presentation will highlight the product’s benefits, including better chip retention, reducing environmental risk and increased efficiency in sealing operations.

Nik Vishwanath – product manager - new business, Road Science

CHANGES TO STATE HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE: Q&A AND EXTENDED DISCUSSION

This Round Table provides a follow-up discussion to Andrew’s presentation on Day One.

The new Integrated Delivery Model (IDM) for state highway maintenance is set to be rolled out in early 2025. Significant changes are afoot, with a focus on efficiencies and a closer working relationship with local communities.

• how the IDM works and what this means for your organisation – contractor, consultancy, local government, supplier

Andrew Clark – national manager maintenance and operations, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi

NETWORKING LUNCH IN THE EXHIBITION HALL

DOES SUSTAINABILITY MEAN HIGHER COST?

When assessing the viability of transport projects, the various desired outcomes can sometimes seem in conflict. This can lead to significant trade-off.  

Stiffer, smoother roads cost more upfront but deliver lower risk, lower maintenance assets. They also provide significant sustainability benefits. Higher upfront carbon emissions can reduce project life emissions significantly.  

This presentation will discuss the relationship between the economic viability and sustainability of common NZ pavement treatments, looking at areas of alignment and trade off, and how they can contribute to the bigger economic and sustainability picture. 

Mark Cruden – director, Meyer Cruden Engineering 

PANEL DISCUSSION: YOUTH LEADERSHIP 

The New Zealand roading sector competes for talent like any other sector, and labour is mobile. Particularly the project-based nature of some of the work done in the sector makes attracting, retaining and advancing youth a priority for management. 

In this panel we question what makes the sector attractive to work in and how we can improve as an employer of choice across local government, consultancy and contractors?

• the perception of the infrastructure sector as an employer within educational institutions 
• internships, apprenticeships, young leaders’ programmes – what works? 
• what is the next generation looking for from their employer? Current challenges or gaps they see 

Panelists:
Shyamal Ram – Waitomo District Council
Jessica Long – Porirua City Council
Siddharth Rana – Ventia

Facilitator:
Cara Lauder – Ventia

CASE STUDY: EXTENDING YOUR ROAD LIFE. WHEN TO USE REJUVENATORS AND WHEN TO LET A ROAD GO 

The key to using rejuvenation products is knowing when to apply them. If applied at the right time you can add 5-10 years to your road life and achieve considerable cost savings over the lifecycle of your road. 

• what products and processes are involved in rejuvenation 
• when to ‘let a road go’ vs fix it 

Steve Guy – city streets maintenance manager, Christchurch City Council 

PRIZE DRAWS

CONFERENCE WRAP-UP AND CLOSE 

Sarah Sinclair – MinterEllisonRuddWatts