Recent Forum Posts - LGAM Knowledge Base

Are Water Authorities considering the use of microbial fuel cells?

Wayne Eddy 10 May 2012 23:02
in discussion Hidden / Per page discussions » Microbial Fuel Cell

I am very interested to know if Water Authorities are taking an interest in microbial fuel cells?

I suspect they have the potential to revolutionise the wastewater industry. Not only could they reduce operating costs by powering Wastewater Treatment Plants, I'd imagine that with Craig Venter invloved in the development, we could see genetically modified microbes that are much more efficient at devouring sewage than current biological sewage treatment options, and that could lead to smaller cheaper treatment plants and less sewerage infrastructure in general. I know that some water authorities need to spend 100's of millions of dollars on their infrastructure in the not-to-distant future. Hopefully this technology will reduce that bill somewhat.

Wayne Eddy
Epping, Australia
LGAM Knowledge Base
Contact via Google+

Are Water Authorities considering the use of microbial fuel cells? by

Wayne Eddy, 10 May 2012 23:02

Is Asset Management a Zero Sum Game?

Wayne Eddy 12 Apr 2012 23:51
in discussion Asset Management / Asset Management Practices » Is Asset Management a Zero Sum Game?

Is Asset Management a Zero Sum Game?

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?

Wayne Eddy
Epping, Australia
LGAM Knowledge Base
Contact via Google+

Is Asset Management a Zero Sum Game? by

Wayne Eddy, 12 Apr 2012 23:51

Neighbourhood Best Practice

Wayne Eddy 10 Apr 2012 01:55
in discussion Hidden / Per page discussions » Neighbourhood Best Practice

The term World’s Best Practice is bandied around a lot, but I wonder how many Councils can even legitimately claim “Neighbourhood Best Practice”?

Do you know what the asset construction and maintenance practices of the Councils near you are?

If they are different to your practices, more-than-likely, one way of doing things is better than the other.
Have you or a nearby Council ever changed a practice because a neighbour does it better?

I’m guessing only a small number of Councils have even documented their practices well enough to pass them on to a neighbouring Council, and have them immediately understood.

I would loved to be proved wrong, so if you have any stories that contradict this hypothesis please let me know.

Wayne Eddy
Epping, Australia
LGAM Knowledge Base
Contact via Google+

Neighbourhood Best Practice by

Wayne Eddy, 10 Apr 2012 01:55

Footpath Question

Wayne Eddy 05 Apr 2012 00:22
in discussion Asset Management / Asset Management Practices » Footpath Question

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.

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

Wayne Eddy
Epping, Australia
LGAM Knowledge Base
Contact via Google+

Footpath Question by

Wayne Eddy, 05 Apr 2012 00:22

Reasons for Asset Management

Wayne Eddy 26 Mar 2012 22:29
in discussion Hidden / Per page discussions » Reasons for Asset Management

As I have indicated on the reasons for asset management page, it seems to me there are two main broad reasons for asset management:

To fulfil legislative, regulatory, audit and reporting requirements;
To strive to ensure that assets are managed in the most cost effective & ratepayer acceptable way possible.

At the risk of being cynical, I suspect that it is possible that some Council's grudgingly adopt a minimal set of asset management practices, not because they believe it will help their businesses, but becasue they believe they have to.

In my experience the two things that often get Councils motivated are:

the fear of getting an audit qualification;
the fear of being seen as less competent or progressive than neigbouring councils.

It seems to me for example, that the MAVs STEP program and similar programs elsewhere used motivator No.2 above a fait bit to nudge Councils down the AM path.

I am developing a presentation on Asset Management and I think nailing the real reasons for AM are a key to making it a really useful convincing tool for progressing asset management within an organisation, and any feedback anyone has in this regard would be greatly appreciated.

I am also interested to hear from anyone in the know, what the State & Federal Government's reasons for promoting and mandating asset management are.

Are they:
a) implementing AM in their own organisations, seeing the huge benefits and getting exited about it?
b) not implemented it in their own organisations, but hoping it will make Councils more efficient & financially sustainable anyway?
c) just doing it beacuse lobby groups with a vested interest in providing AM services to Councils are getting in their ears?

I really really hope the answer is (a) by the way.

Regards,

Wayne Eddy
Epping, Australia
LGAM Knowledge Base
Contact via Google+

Reasons for Asset Management by

Wayne Eddy, 26 Mar 2012 22:29

Drainage Hierarchy

Wayne Eddy 19 Mar 2012 00:01
in discussion Hidden / Per page discussions » Drainage Hierarchy

It seems to me that drainage assets exist to remove or reduce the risk of; council, community and private assets being damaged by localised flooding caused by rainwater runoff, and that this role should therefore be paramount when considering the drainage hierarchy, and the service levels associated with it.

Perhaps then a drainage hierarchy should be based on the number and type of assets that would be damaged if a particular drainage asset was to fail.

Wayne Eddy
Epping, Australia
LGAM Knowledge Base
Contact via Google+

Drainage Hierarchy by

Wayne Eddy, 19 Mar 2012 00:01

Ideal Bridge Hierarchy

Wayne Eddy 18 Mar 2012 23:30
in discussion Hidden / Per page discussions » Bridge Hierarchy

Has anyone adopted a bridge hierarchy that they believe works pretty well?

I am currently giving the issue some thought, and am leaning towards, separate hierarchies for road bridges and non-road bridges, with the road bridges inheriting their classification from the road hierarchy, and a simple two option classification (major / minor) for non-road bridges.

Wayne Eddy
Epping, Australia
LGAM Knowledge Base
Contact via Google+

Ideal Bridge Hierarchy by

Wayne Eddy, 18 Mar 2012 23:30

Asset Lifecycle Cost Tables

Wayne Eddy 12 Mar 2012 22:39
in discussion Hidden / Per page discussions » Lifecycle Cost Analysis

Given that Councils are being strongly encouraged by the higher levels of government to consider the ongoing maintenance & operating costs of new assets before building them, I am surprised and disappointed that the state or federal government hasn't published tables of typical asset types (escpecially buildings) and the average ongoing maintenance and operating costs associated with them.

The information would be extremely useful to Councils at budget time.

It might also help Councils justify the extra initial expense (?) of building energy efficient buildings.

If the information isn't immediately available perhaps some of the $25 million Local Government Reform Fund could be used to compile and publish the information.

If I am wrong, and someone out there has already compiled robust data about the lifecycle cost of local government assets, please let me and everyone else out there who is in dire need of the information know about it.

Wayne Eddy
Epping, Australia
LGAM Knowledge Base
Contact via Google+

Asset Lifecycle Cost Tables by

Wayne Eddy, 12 Mar 2012 22:39

Re: Australian Standards

Colin East 06 Mar 2012 04:37
in discussion Hidden / Per page discussions » Standards Australia Limited

Agree 100%! Government departments can always develop a standard and make it available under a Creative Commons license. A Creative Commons license allows the creator to keep copyright but allows others to copy and distribute the work provided they give the creator credit. Many public institutions across the world, including our Federal Government are using CC. I believe that charging to use a mandated standard is wrong and creates barriers to market entry. This ultimately reduces competition and drives up prices.

Re: Australian Standards by

Colin East, 06 Mar 2012 04:37

Building Type Definitions

Wayne Eddy 28 Feb 2012 05:27
in discussion General / Definitions » Building Type Definitions

I am currently working on tidying up WCC's building hierarchies, and as part of that process I have been trying to find authorative definitions for some common building types, but it is proving harder than you might think. Can anyone help?

Here are the terms I am chasing:

https://plus.google.com/u/0/#112425501657479935772/posts/hUbQ94Fzp4i

Wayne Eddy
Epping, Australia
LGAM Knowledge Base
Contact via Google+

Building Type Definitions by

Wayne Eddy, 28 Feb 2012 05:27

Asset Value for Money

Wayne Eddy 18 Jan 2012 02:33
in discussion Asset Management / Asset Management Plans » Asset Value for Money

Local Government Victoria's Sustaining Local Assets Policy requires that an Asset Management Plan justify the contribution of each asset in terms of value for money for the council.

This seems like a pretty tricky requirement to satisfy to me.

Can anyone out there share if & how they managed to satisfy it?

Wayne Eddy
Epping, Australia
LGAM Knowledge Base
Contact via Google+

Asset Value for Money by

Wayne Eddy, 18 Jan 2012 02:33

Re: Free TankSmart Application for Water Tank Capacity Estimation

Wayne Eddy 31 Dec 2011 22:09
in discussion Water & Wastewater / Water Reticulation » Free TankSmart Application for Water Tank Capacity Estimation

Hi, Kerry.

I have absolutely no problem with people posting relevant links on appropriate pages.

I have created a rainwater tank page. If you want to add a link to your calculator, feel free to add it to the "External Links & References" section.

Wayne Eddy
Epping, Australia
LGAM Knowledge Base
Contact via Google+

Re: Free TankSmart Application for Water Tank Capacity Estimation by

Wayne Eddy, 31 Dec 2011 22:09

Free TankSmart Application for Water Tank Capacity Estimation

Kerry Nufer 31 Dec 2011 03:04
in discussion Water & Wastewater / Water Reticulation » Free TankSmart Application for Water Tank Capacity Estimation

TankSmart is a free tank water estimation program used for the calculation of water tank capacities. It uses estimated water inflows including rainwater, mains water and other sources, versus water usage and loss from various user definable sources to determine the sizes of tanks needed.

The output of this process is a series of graphs and other information which shows the ongoing water balances over a period of time. A second aspect of this is that it allows the complication of water restrictions to be factored in. TankSmart is 'written' in MSExcel and comes with a comprehensive manual to describe how it is to be used.

TankSmart is freely downloadable from an Australian website. Since I am not allowed to post a link in this forum if you search for a Australian professional electrical engineer called Kerry Nufer on Google, and follow the 'download' page link on his default web page, you can download the application and manual free of charge.

Kerry Nufer

Free TankSmart Application for Water Tank Capacity Estimation by

Kerry Nufer, 31 Dec 2011 03:04

Re: Local Open Government Innovation Summit

MatrixIP 19 Sep 2011 10:50
in discussion General / Innovation » Local Open Government Innovation Summit

Ashish
Sorry for the delay but delve into the site and look at;
Presentations and you will see what went on.
I was there coordinating, so can give you more information if required.
Darron Passlow

Re: Local Open Government Innovation Summit by

MatrixIP, 19 Sep 2011 10:50

Useful life

shaun kelly 23 Aug 2011 04:45
in discussion Hidden / Per page discussions » Kerb & Channel

The reason there is a huge increase in kerb and channel failure rates is to do with construction methods, Pre 1965 all kerb was formed by hand using boards and concrete with a 40mm + slump which allows proper hydration and curing so the concrete gains in strength as it ages giving a useful life of 60 years + and this where council are basing their useful life figures from.

In the mid to late 60's the kerb machine was developed to save on labour costs and increase production rates, kerb machines use a low slump or nil slump concrete so it holds its shape when extruded from the machine it relies on the compaction unit in the machine to supply the strength required and a fine coat of slurry is applied as it leaves the machine which gives the nice finish.

Now This is where the problem lies there are too many varying factors in this process, which can alter the quality of the kerb hence a huge reduction in useful life of Kerb and channel if councils where to take a serious look at this issue they would find that their useful life of kerb and channel has dramatically fallen to between 5 to 25 years leaving councils with huge replacement costs.

My question is have councils lost the control of the monitoring or overseeing of infrastructure construction within their boundaries in which they become the beneficiary of but hold the liability of the maintenance costs.

Useful life by

shaun kelly, 23 Aug 2011 04:45

Business Needs Analysis

Wayne Eddy 09 Aug 2011 04:44
in discussion Hidden / Per page discussions » Business Needs Analysis

If there is anyone out there who has conducted successful Local Government business needs analysis, and would be willing to share how it was conducted, please let us know.

Wayne Eddy
Epping, Australia
LGAM Knowledge Base
Contact via Google+

Business Needs Analysis by

Wayne Eddy, 09 Aug 2011 04:44

Australian Standards

Wayne Eddy 01 Aug 2011 03:17
in discussion Hidden / Per page discussions » Standards Australia Limited

I had to purchase a couple of Australian Standards in the early 1980's when I was studying Engineering. I wondered at the time why something as important as national standards weren't freely available, and since then I have become more and more certain that it is wrong to lock standards away behind traditional copyright and a pay wall. I understand that a lot of time and effort can go into developing a standard, and that the process needs to be coordinated, and that this time and effort needs to be recognised, but I don't believe that user pays is the best model.

For those of you that need a bit of background, in Australia national standards are developed by Standards Australia a non-government organisation. Standards Australia is recognised by the Australian Government as Australia’s peak standards body. In 2003 it sold off its commercial businesses to SAI Global, and now all Australian Standards must be purchased through SAI Global. I have no problem with a private business charging for a product, but I believe the current system is flawed.

My biggest gripe is that many standards are referenced or mandated by Government legislation. If a government wants its citizens to do things a particular way it should give them all the information they need to do so, not require them to purchase copyrighted material from a third party. In my opinion governments should not mandate a "standard" in legislation unless the standard is freely available to the public.

Is anyone with me on this one?

Wayne Eddy
Epping, Australia
LGAM Knowledge Base
Contact via Google+

Australian Standards by

Wayne Eddy, 01 Aug 2011 03:17

Google+

Wayne Eddy 17 Jul 2011 22:48
in discussion Hidden / Per page discussions » Google+

It seems to me that Google Plus' hang out facility is a huge opportunity for Councils, especially rural ones.

Holding an inter-Council meeting using hang outs would have at least two big advantages.
1. No travel time - and for rural Councils this would be a huge cost saver.
2. It would be very easy to record the whole meeting. This would make minutes easier to take, and make them much more accurate.

These two points alone, should be a strong case for making computers with web cameras, and access to Google+ the standard for local government computers.

Wayne Eddy
Epping, Australia
LGAM Knowledge Base
Contact via Google+

Google+ by

Wayne Eddy, 17 Jul 2011 22:48

Useful tools & ideas

Wayne Eddy 20 Jun 2011 04:05
in discussion General / General » Useful tools & ideas

I attended a communication / team building / change management workshop last week. It wasn't too bad as far as that sort of thing goes, but I'm not sure that there was anything much that I can take away from it that will help me do my job better.

I would be really interested to hear from anyone who has attended a similar workshop and come away with an "idea" or "tool" that they have found really useful, and have used it over and over since then.

If you have an idea or tool that you find really useful, what is it?

Wayne Eddy
Epping, Australia
LGAM Knowledge Base
Contact via Google+

Useful tools & ideas by

Wayne Eddy, 20 Jun 2011 04:05

Re: Local Open Government Innovation Summit