[3] PURPOSE, AIMS AND ORGANISATIONAL VALUES PURPOSE, AIMS AND ORGANISATIONAL PURPOSE, AIMS AND ORGANISATIONAL VALUES PURPOSE VicRoads purpose is to serve the community and contribute to the social, economic and environmental development of Victoria and Australia by managing the Victorian road network and its use as an integral part of the overall transport system. AIMS >> Achieve ongoing reductions in the number and severity of road crashes and the resultant cost of road trauma. >> Assist economic and regional development by managing and improving the effectiveness and efficiency of the road transport system. >> Facilitate greater integration of road-based public transport with other transport modes to maximise choice, accessibility, safety and reliability for all users. >> Minimise the impact of roads and traffic on the community and enhance the environment through responsible planning and management of the transport system. >> Build effective, equitable and efficient relationships with all customers by providing them with convenient access to services that meet their needs and enable VicRoads to deliver cost-effective services to the community. ORGANISATIONAL VALUES >> We put our customers’ and stakeholders’ needs first >> We develop as individuals and contribute as members of a team >> We are open, honest and fair >> We take pride in our success and continuous improvement >> We take responsibility for our actions >> We take a commercial approach to our service delivery [4] BELOW: VICTORIAN MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT, MR PETER BATCHELOR, LETTER TO OPENS THE $3.1M PARK AND RIDE THE MINISTER IN DONCASTER. THE HONOURABLE PETER BATCHELOR MP MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT LEVEL 26, NAURU HOUSE 80 COLLINS STREET MELBOURNE VICTORIA 3000 Dear Minister VicRoads 2002–03 Annual Report I have much pleasure in submitting to you, for your presentation to Parliament, the annual report of the Roads Corporation (VicRoads) for the period 1 July 2002 to 30 June 2003. Yours sincerely David Anderson CHIEF EXECUTIVE [5] ABOUT VICROADS ABOUT VICROADS VicRoads is the registered business name of the Roads Major Projects is responsible for managing the implementation Corporation, a statutory corporation within the Victorian of designated major infrastructure projects, developing Government infrastructure portfolio. environmental management policies, and developing major VicRoads serves the community by managing the Victorian projects to address and secure the necessary planning and road system and its use as an integral part of the overall environmental approvals. transport network. Commercial Services provides technical, information and engineering services to VicRoads and other organisations In 2002–03, the organisation had an annual program expenditure on a fully commercial basis. These services include land (both capital and recurrent) of $1.3bn and collected approximately information and survey, materials technology, road and $2.2bn for the State Government and the Transport Accident bridge design, bituminous surfacing, international project Commission through licensing, registration and other fees. co-ordination, property acquisition, building and facilities VicRoads has some 2300 staff who work in partnership with other management, publishing and graphics and business information. government agencies, local government and the private sector to Organisation Support is a group of business areas that support provide cost-effective products and services to the community. management of the corporation as a whole. The areas include VicRoads has four core businesses – Road System Management, contract services, corporate planning, corporate publications, Traffic and Road Use Management, Road Safety, and Registration media and events, legal counsel, executive services and the and Licensing – which provide a clear focus for the provision corporate secretariat. of its services. To reflect VicRoads emphasis on the State VicRoads provides its services to the Victorian Government’s aim to create a fully integrated transport system, community through a statewide network of offices and Traffic and Road Use Management will change to Traffic and agencies. The network comprises seven regional offices Transport Integration on 1 July 2003. located at Burwood East and Sunshine in metropolitan The Business Operations Division comprises the four core Melbourne, and in Ballarat, Benalla, Bendigo, Geelong business departments. It is responsible for developing policy and Traralgon in regional Victoria; 38 registration and recommendations, program strategies and purchasing services. licensing offices; seven project offices; telephone It also includes three departments that provide corporate-wide information services (located in Kew and Ballarat); financial, human resources and information technology and and the Traffic Management Centre. telecommunications services. Registration and licensing services are also provided at Regional Services is responsible for delivering annual selected locations through approximately 1500 agents programs to meet core business goals and for managing including municipalities, Australia Post, Westpac, Bank of services provided on a regional basis. Programs are delivered Melbourne, Challenge Bank, pharmacies and Shell Touch through seven regions and one support group, using contractors kiosks, and through telephone and internet services such as and some in-house service providers. POSTbillpay® and Bpay. [6] HIGHLIGHTS ECONOMIC SOCIAL >> The opening of the 6.5 km Carlsruhe section of the Calder >> Following the devastating bushfires of summer 2003, VicRoads Freeway in April 2003 provided the final link in a continuous helped to rebuild communities in eastern and north-eastern freeway between Keilor and Kyneton on this strategic route Victoria by managing the re-opening of roads. During the connecting Melbourne with Bendigo, Mildura and southern bushfires, VicRoads regions installed variable message signs, New South Wales. monitored road closures, repaired roads, removed thousands of >> The Murchison East Deviation on the Goulburn Valley damaged and dangerous trees, assisted municipalities to assess Highway was opened to traffic almost 11 months early, fire damage and allowed staff time off to work with the delivering safer and more effective travel for road users by Country Fire Authority. VicRoads also co-ordinated information bypassing a number of dangerous spots on the old route. on the cost of replacing damaged infrastructure. Tougher speed enforcement by Victoria Police in metropolitan >> The $270m upgrade of the Geelong Road was completed >> and opened to traffic, ensuring a safer and more Melbourne, the Transport Accident Commission’s Wipe Off .5 comfortable journey for commuters, commercial vehicles advertising campaign and the development of the safety camera program by VicRoads, the Department of Justice and recreational travellers. and Victoria Police, contributed to the 83 lives that were >> Following the upgrading of 14 bridges in 2002–03, saved in Victoria in 2002–03 compared with the previous approximately 98 per cent of Victoria’s arterial road network is year. As part of the Victorian Government’s arrive alive! now accessible to high productivity freight vehicles. road safety strategy, these initiatives, as well as the effect of >> The Easy Merge–Safer Flow traffic management system is the blackspot projects completed under the Statewide being progressively installed at suitable freeway entrances, to Blackspot Program, had a significant impact on the improve safety and reduce travel times for road users. road toll. >> Reduced speed limits (from 60 km/h to 50 km/h) were implemented in 59 locations in rural townships and outer metropolitan activity centres by May 2003. >> The State Government’s Responsible Driving Package that introduced tougher penalties for drink driving, speeding and other unsafe practices, was implemented by VicRoads and Victoria Police to improve road safety outcomes for Victorians. [7] HIGHLIGHTS THE CARLSRUHE SECTION OF THE CALDER FREEWAY PROVIDES THE FINAL LINK BETWEEN KEILOR AND KYNETON.ABORIGINAL ARTEFACTS ARE COLLECTED ON THE PRINCES HIGHWAY.A CUSTOMER ENJOYS IMPROVED ACCESS TO REGISTRATION AND LICENSING SERVICES AT THE NEW HOPPERS CROSSING OFFICE.SAFER TRAVEL HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE OPENING OF THE MURCHISON EAST DEVIATION ON THE GOULBURN VALLEY HIGHWAY.A 50 KM/H SPEED LIMIT NOW FEATURES IN RURAL TOWNSHIPS AND OUTER METROPOLITAN ACTIVITY CENTRES.NEW LIFE BURSTS FROM BURNT EUCALYPTS LINING THE GREAT ALPINE ROAD (B500) BETWEEN BRUTHEN AND OMEO. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE RACV PHOTO COURTESY LEFT HALLAM BYPASS >> Of the 1115 projects approved for the Statewide Blackspot ENVIRONMENTAL Program, 1006 were completed as part of the Victorian >> In accordance with an agreement established with the Yorta Government’s arrive alive! road safety strategy, and the Yorta people for the Murchison East Deviation Project on the remainder were well advanced. Goulburn Valley Highway, an area of approximately 13 >> Victoria’s first alcohol interlocks were installed in the vehicles of hectares was reserved as a cultural heritage zone because of its certain re-licensed drink drivers, requiring these drivers to record significant historic and cultural value to the local indigenous a zero blood alcohol reading before their vehicle will start. community. This was the first time in Victoria that remnant >> Victoria was the first state to introduce laws for new inspection land from a road project had been reserved in this way.