Code of practice for utility service providers operating in road reserves

28/11/97

The State Government has produced a code of practice for utility service providers working within WA road reserves.

Aimed at maximising safety and minimising disruption to road users, the new document sets out guidelines to be followed by workers and co-ordinates planning procedures.

Transport Minister Eric Charlton said the new code of practice would be distributed to local government, Government, private contractors and others who might need to operate in road reserves.

Organisations like Main Roads, Perth City Council, the WA Municipal Association, AlintaGas, Western Power, the Ministry for Planning, the Water Corporation, Telstra, and the Institute of Municipal Engineering are members of the Public Utilities Services Committee which produced the new document.

The committee's key aim has been to define how works and allocation of space within the road reserves can be co-ordinated.

"Co-ordination of services is most important in metropolitan and urban centres but in recent times plans for the major gas pipeline and optic fibre communication cables impact on rural roads," the Minister said.

"The code of practice will not only streamline operations but it will also reduce the potential for damage to road and transport infrastructure through careless work practices."

Media contact: Doug Cunningham 9321 7333