Infrastructure Planning Manual

New Zealand

Due to new legislative drives and increasing demands from customers, New Zealand local government organisations are taking on the challenge of gaining real community involvement in agreeing infrastructure service standards.

Maunsell was commissioned by the National Asset Managment Steering Group to develop guidelines to assist organisations providing local government infrastructure services in establishing what their customers value, and how to agree the level of service provision, and associated costs.

The guidelines have been developed and compiled by Maunsell into a Manual that is consistent with the New Zealand Local Government Act 2002. The Manual helps local authorities comply with the Act in respect of requirements for consultation, Long Term Council Community Plans, and defining levels of service for communities.

Specifically, the guidelines include guidance on the type and extent of consultation that should be undertaken in regard to infrastructure services, how to define levels of service based on community priorities and needs, how to cost service level options, and the process for turning consultation outputs into final decisions and outcomes.

The Guidelines also include 'how to' sections for water/wastewater, parks/aquatic facilities, transportation, stormwater/land drainage, property and solid waste. These sections include examples and case studies of levels of service, consultation plans and costing techniques.