Is the central question of Asset Management; we have limited resources, how should we allocate them?

Should we instead be asking, can technology allow us do deliver better services, with the same or fewer resources?

Both of the above photos were taken in McDonalds Road, Epping. The badly cracked concrete footpath shown in the photo on the right is located just beyond the end of the gravel footpath shown the other photo.

As a pedestrian I personally find the cracks in the footpath to be far less annoying than the overhanging grass, or the mud and puddles I have to dodge in the gravel section of the path after a bit of wet weather.

At the other end of the gravel footpath there is a section of newer footpath in really good condition. I wonder if it has been constructed to a higher standard because of the obvious defects in the older footpath, or history is destined to repeat itself?
I believe that a decision to change construction practices, as a result of an asset failure, would be a fantastic story to capture in a Council's corporate memory.

My personal thoughts are that replacing the gravel footpath with a concrete one is a higher priority than fixing the cracked section, even though this breaks the "renew before new" rule. Having said that I think there is a good argument for carefully investigating the reasons for the cracks in the older footpath before constructing the new one, so perhaps that is a good rationale for carrying out a repair.

I have several questions with regard to this scenario.

1. What would other Councils do in this situation?
2. How would you conduct an investigation into the causes of the concrete footpath failure?
3. Do you see this as a good sort of question to ask, as a part of community consultation?

Q.1. How do you determine asset lives?

WSC: We follow the NSW Reference Rates Manual for determining the Asset Lives and Replacement Cost. That manual was published by the Ministry of Energy and Utilities, NSW.

Q.2. How do you depreciate your assets i.e. straight line or use other methodologies?

WSC: We use parabolic equation for calculating depreciation for ASI (Actual Service Index) 1 to 4, when ASI is greater than 4; we use a straight line equation. The Asset Condition categories are as follows:
1 Excellent
2 Good
3 Average
4 Poor
5 Very poor

Q. 3. What type of Service Index you are using for Condition Assessment?

WSC: Already mentioned in the above.

Q. 4. Which methodology you are using to prepare the Estimated Cost to bring to Satisfactory level for Special Schedule No 7?

WSC: Determining the replacement cost for all the assets which have ASI greater than 3.

Mahmud Kaiser
Asset Management Engineer
Water and Waste Services
Wyong Shire Council
P.O. Box 20
WYONG NSW 2259
Tel: 02 4350 5753
E-mail: ua.vog.wsn.gnoyw|resiaK.dumhaM#ua.vog.wsn.gnoyw|resiaK.dumhaM
WWW: http://www.wyong.nsw.gov.au/

Visit [http://www.michaelsampson.net] and have a look at "User Adoption Strategies".

Lots of good information and things you might need to consider in rolling out, say an asset management system to end users.

Darron Passlow

I would like to build a portfolio of these standard pictures/images that could be used across Council boundaries.
This would help standardise how we all talk about condition of assets and then we could move to standard practices for improving/changing the condition.
It may aslo let us tie standard conditions to levels of service (as seen by our communities). This would be a nice and worthwhile outcome.
I look forward to your contributions. I will set up a "place holder" (if not already there), under Condition Assessment for Visual Condition Assessment. (Darron Passlow)

I have created an Activity Types page and I would love to get a discussion going about specific activities and if they are renewal, maintenance or operation. It is always a bit of a hot topic here at Bundy and I presume it probably is elsewhere.