Local governments in Canada have embraced the IPWEA’s National Asset Management Strategy (NAMS).
The Town of Shellbrook, in Saskatchewan, unveiled an asset management plan at a Chamber of Commerce meeting in October, according to the
Shellbrook Chronicle.
The town had joined other communities in Saskatchewan, including Macklin and Humboldt, in a NAMS pilot program.
Humboldt Finance Manager Steve Brown is spearheading infrastructure asset and financial management across
Saskatchewan.
“A key success has been the participation of not just technical staff at the NAMS workshops but also finance staff and elected members, most often the Mayor,” he said.
The Shellbrook asset management plan showed that the community will need around C$450,000 (A$ 437,000) every year over the next 10 years to maintain and replace current infrastructure.
The local government’s current road budget is C$75,000 (A$72,852) per year – meaning it will need to secure an additional C$376,000 (A$365,000) in funding.
“That is the shortfall but there are things you can do as a council to mitigate some of that – things like local improvement tax,” said. Mayor George Tomporwoski.
The town reportedly has 20 kilometres of road infrastructure with a total replacement cost of C$5.3 million (A$5.14 million).
“Now we have some concrete numbers that tell us where we are and I think we now have a pretty good vision of where we want to be,” Tomporowski added. “Now it’s just a matter of figuring out how we’re going to get it done and that’s not going to be an easy task.”
Meanwhile,
Asset Management BC (British Columbia) – also in Canada – has published testimonials in its
Asset Management Newsletter from councils in that province that have undertaken NAMS training.
Wally Wells from Asset Management BC explains that their primary objective is knowledge transfer and the “learning experience”.
“In searching for the best educational process to integrate the technical and financial aspects of asset management, and provide municipal staff with tools on their desk, we focused on the success of the IPWEA and the NAMS workshops. The response and value added to our communities is substantial.”
A spokesperson for the City of Nanaimo said: “The training was practical, hands on and well thought through. The trainers were engaging and we felt a connection. As asset managers, we all have common stories and it felt as though they were telling our stories through their experiences.”
Similarly, a spokesperson for the Town of Golden said: “While continuing to comply with [accounting standard] PSAB 3150, NAMS has provided our small community with many additional asset management tools.
“It has helped us to, for example, develop actual replacement costs, adjust life cycles based upon local circumstances and add risk considerations and projected operational costs into the mix.
“Most importantly, NAMS helps us to differentiate between renewal costs necessary to maintain an asset’s existing service levels versus costs of discretionary improvements or additions not necessary to maintain existing service levels.”
Finally, the City of Burnaby said: “NAMS training helped make asset management real and understandable. In-class exercises were logical, attainable, and applicable.
“Burnaby is sending more people to the next NAMS workshop. The material was the best part. It was simple and immediate.”