A Smarter Approach to Road Prioritisation
Effective road asset management is a challenge faced by councils across Australia. With limited budgets and growing infrastructure demands, how can local governments prioritise road maintenance and upgrades in a way that reflects both technical data and community needs?
Moree Plains Shire Council is leading the way by adopting a smarter approach. In partnership with Engagelink, the Council is transforming road asset management through an innovative, community-influenced prioritisation process that integrates data from Austroads’ Telematics Analytics Platform (TAP), engineering insights, and community feedback.
Harnessing Data to Guide Decision-Making
At the core of this project is Engagelink’s Community-Influenced Asset Prioritisation Matrix, which combines multiple data sources to create a transparent and effective prioritisation framework.
Key components include:
Austroads’ Telematics Analytics Platform (TAP):
Provides vehicle journey and traffic count data, offering an accurate baseline for asset utilisation.Community Feedback:
Captures residents’ concerns and priorities through surveys and engagement tools, ensuring the community’s voice guides decisions.Engineering Data:
Integrates technical assessments, such as road condition reports and safety metrics.
By combining these datasets, the Council can create a delivery schedule that prioritises roads based on real-world usage, technical needs, and community concerns.
Innovative Tools for Community Engagement
One of the project’s standout features is Engagelink’s interactive community engagement tools, which simplify the process of gathering and analysing feedback.
Key features include:
Interactive Mapping:
Allows residents to easily pinpoint and prioritise specific roads.AI-Powered Insights:
Extracts actionable themes from survey responses, reducing manual processing time.Transparent Communication:
Shares prioritisation outcomes with the community via a public-facing portal, fostering trust and understanding.
This approach not only increases engagement but also ensures data accuracy by directly linking feedback to road assets.
The Impact: Delivering Better Outcomes for Moree Plains Shire
Through this partnership, Moree Plains Shire Council is making data-driven decisions that reflect the community’s priorities. The result is a comprehensive, community-influenced delivery schedule that:
- Enhances transparency and accountability.
- Optimises resource allocation for maximum impact.
- Strengthens trust between the Council and its residents.
This innovative methodology is setting a new standard for road asset management in regional Australia.
Why It Matters for Local Governments
Councils across the country face similar challenges in balancing technical requirements with community expectations. Engagelink’s solution offers an affordable and scalable way to address these issues, making it ideal for both small councils and larger organisations.
By adopting this community-influenced approach, local governments can:
- Prioritise projects more effectively.
- Improve transparency and community satisfaction.
- Justify funding applications with robust, data-driven insights.
Discover How Engagelink Can Help Your Council
Ready to transform your road asset management process? Learn how Engagelink’s innovative tools can support your council in making smarter, community-driven decisions.