Utility authorities install, maintain, upgrade or replace infrastructure in public road corridors to provide reliable utility services to customers, however there is currently no best practice standard or national consistency for the planning, installation, maintenance and upgrading of utility infrastructure within road corridors.

Austroads project AAM6327 is developing a Strategy and Action Plan to provide the roadmap to design and implement a national best practice standard that improves consistency, collaboration and coordination enabling the best outcomes for road authorities, utility authorities, road users and utility customers.

Austroads supports a national approach. Following AAM6327, Austroads will seek to develop a national code of practice. This code would detail specifications and procedures and be supported by a change plan to harmonise regulatory, planning and operational environments. This would provide all parties with a clear understanding of the requirements for managing utility services in Australian road reserves, and under or over roads. The national code of practice would provide long-term positive impacts on safety, adaptability, cost savings and innovation.

The current phase of the project will deliver a Strategy and Action Plan for the development and implementation of the intended national code of practice. Future public consultation paper will shape Austroads’ approach as the next steps.