Transit Regional Office
Auckland

17 March 2003

MEDIA RELEASE

New Maintenance Contract Will Bring Innovative
Road Safety Approach

Transit New Zealand has awarded a long-term performance specified road maintenance contract to Transfield Services NZ for the Auckland North network which includes 158 kilometres of State Highway 1 and SH1A, as well as SH16 between Albany, Kumeu and Wellsford. The 10-year contract, which becomes operative from 1 April 2003, is valued in excess of $70 million.

Transit New Zealand regional maintenance engineer, James Burnett, says the long term maintenance contract is an innovative way of managing its State Highway networks and is intended to deliver greater safety and efficiencies to New Zealand road users.

“This is the fourth roading maintenance contract under our new model which is based on contractors accepting long-term responsibility for what happens on the roads. It allows Transfield to take a long term view and responsibility and they will be using their experience from other long term roading contracts to meet the needs of the North Auckland network.”

Tony Fisher, general manager of Transfield Services says an innovative approach has been taken with the 10-year contract that will create 20-25 new jobs.

“Transfield’s culture is based on no injuries to anybody at any time,” says Mr Fisher. “We put road users first and take a preventative approach to road safety instead of a reactive one. We will be working with Transit and the New Zealand Police to improve safety on this stretch of road and improve standards of maintenance.”

The performance specified maintenance contract (PSMC) provides for all products and services associated with maintenance of State Highways. Mr Fisher says one of the major differences motorists will notice is Transfield’s dedicated vehicle carrying road safety messages relating to speed, driver fatigue and the wearing of seat belts. Other changes will include improved response times, road markings, road signage and road surfaces.

He says New Zealand is leading the world in developing long-term road maintenance contracting models. “A recent conference in North America showed that New Zealand is ahead of the rest of the world when it comes to maximizing skills, expertise, innovation and systems in the road industry.”

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