Australia's National Local Government Newspaper Online

Young cities planning for infrastructure replacement

Cities where infrastructure has been installed in a relatively short period of time face a difficult problem when it comes to asset management according to Darwin City Council's Director of Corporate Services Marten Tieleman.

Marten said cities such as Darwin run the risk of major infrastructure reaching the end of its lifespan simultaneously, incurring costs which cannot be met. "We need to look at the long term scenario so that we are in a position to provide replacement infrastructure when necessary," he said. "A simultaneous breakdown of crucial infrastructure which cannot be immediately replaced could be disastrous."

He said with $394.5 million of assets which could reach the end of its lifecycle around the same time, Council would be unable to fund replacement. "We would not even be able to borrow the amount necessary," he said. Marten said in older cities, Councils are already in a cycle of funding replacement infrastructure. This is still in the process of implementation at Darwin.

Darwin is currently in the early stages of planning for future asset management. This is further complicated by the City still sharing some assets with the Territory Government. He said issues of drainage are particularly critical in Darwin where monsoonal rains require good run off.

Increasing density as the City grows is putting an extra burden on the stormwater system as increased paving associated with development adds to the amount of run off.

Included in the proposed plan to manage asset replacement is a development contribution component. "If we can demonstrate to a developer that their development will have an impact on infrastructure downstream, we can ask for a contribution towards that infrastructure requirement," he said.

Marten said Council now needs to ascertain the full extent of its assets, their condition, stage in their lifecycle and funding needed to maintain and replace them if necessary. He said, while a crisis is not imminent at this stage, a forward plan completed by the year 2000 will ensure Darwin can meet its commitments in the future.

For further information contact Marten Teileman, telephone (08) 8982 2537.

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