Work category 121: Environmental maintenance

Introduction

This work category A type of activity – not confined to a particular activity class, e.g. new roads (work category 323) appears in:

* activity class 12 – local road improvements
* activity class 13 – state highways improvements provides for the routine care and attention of the road

corridor to maintain safety, aesthetic and environmental standards.

Examples of qualifying activities

Examples of qualifying activities include, but may not be limited to:

• snow clearing and ice control
• vegetation control (see conditions of funding below)
• litter collection on rural roads
• removal of, and protection against, graffiti on road structures
• maintenance and removal of effluent from stock-truck effluent disposal facilities – see Stock-truck effluent facilities
• any special treatment of run-off from the road to maintain water quality
• sweeping The removal of loose material from the carriageway. loose chip and detritus from road intersections
• removal of rocks and minor slip material from the road or catch fences
• maintenance of rest areas
• maintenance of protection planting, including maintenance pruning
• non-recoverable costs arising from clearing the carriageway That portion of the road devoted particularly to the use of travelling vehicles, including shoulders That portion of the carriageway outside the traffic lanes. . of damaged vehicles, crash debris and spillages that are not the responsibility of emergency services, and
• non-recoverable costs associated with removal of abandoned vehicles from road reserves.

Other potential activities that are not in the above list should be discussed with the Transport Agency for eligibility.

Exclusions

This work category A type of activity – not confined to a particular activity class, e.g. new roads (work category 323) appears in:

* activity class 12 – local road improvements
* activity class 13 – state highways improvements excludes:

• Aesthetic treatments (such as flower gardens) on berms The edge of a road reserve between the kerb A border of rigid material, usually raised, which is formed at the edge of a traffic lane or shoulder. or surface water channel and property boundary, exclusive of footpath. , shoulders That portion of the carriageway outside the traffic lanes. , medians A raised or flush divider separating traffic. and traffic islands – these are not eligible for funding assistance.
• Maintenance of the area between the kerb A border of rigid material, usually raised, which is formed at the edge of a traffic lane or shoulder. and the road reserve A legally described area within which facilities such as roads, footpaths That portion of the road reserve set aside for the use of pedestrians only. and associated features may be constructed and maintained for public travel. boundary in urban areas An area within a permanent speed limit of less than or equal to 70 km/h. – this is not eligible for funding assistance.
• Control of noxious plants declared in terms of the Biosecurity Act 1993 within the road reserve A legally described area within which facilities such as roads, footpaths That portion of the road reserve set aside for the use of pedestrians only. and associated features may be constructed and maintained for public travel. – this is not eligible for funding assistance unless it is included in a regional pest management strategy agreed by the Transport Agency as applying to road reserves.

Conditions of funding for vegetation control

Vegetation control of roadside berms The edge of a road reserve between the kerb A border of rigid material, usually raised, which is formed at the edge of a traffic lane or shoulder. or surface water channel and property boundary, exclusive of footpath. , medians A raised or flush divider separating traffic. and traffic islands is eligible for

funding assistance subject to the following conditions:

• In urban areas An area within a permanent speed limit of less than or equal to 70 km/h. , grass cutting to lawn standard or maintenance of alternative low-cost ground cover treatments in medians A raised or flush divider separating traffic. and traffic islands is accepted.
• In rural areas, maintenance and grass cutting of roadside berms The edge of a road reserve between the kerb A border of rigid material, usually raised, which is formed at the edge of a traffic lane or shoulder. or surface water channel and property boundary, exclusive of footpath. and unsealed shoulders That portion of the carriageway outside the traffic lanes. may only be sufficient to ensure:
  • adequate visibility
  • general safety
  • drainage
  • the elimination of a fire hazard or pest refuge.

Funding assistance rate

The usual funding assistance rate is:

• the Approved Organisation's normal FAR,
• the Approved Organisation's special purpose roads maintenance FAR, or
• 100% of the Transport Agency state highway costs

Applying for funding approval

Applications for funding approval should be made through the Maintenance module in Transport Investment Online (TIO The NZTA's web-based funding allocation system. ).