Announcements

RCAF members are invited to provide feedback on draft versions of two key environmental standards and tools Waka Kotahi uses to guide the implementation of their infrastructure projects.

The Screen and Standard are a requirement for any projects funded by the NLTF.

The former Z/19 Environmental and Social Responsibility (ESR) Standard and related ESR screen may be known to your organisation, as core resources stipulated in contract requirements for all Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency projects throughout project development, delivery and maintenance and operations. For many years, these resources have helped ensure Waka Kotahi has delivered great environmental, cultural and social outcomes on all its infrastructure projects.

The time has come to update these resources to better reflect the Government’s direction and our new strategic and policy frameworks focused on improving safety, providing real travel choices, supporting sustainable transport and reducing the impact travel has on our environment.

Over the past year they have reviewed and drafted:

• Updates to the former ESR Standard, now renamed the Draft Z/19 Environmental and Sustainability Standard, including widening the technical disciplines covered to include multimodal transport, climate change and resource efficiency
• Updating the factors covered in the corresponding Draft Environmental Screen which is applied during the early phases of project development

Waka Kotahi would be grateful for feedback on these revised resources. They are particularly interested in your views around the implementability of these requirements and their ability to assist them in achieving better environmental and sustainability outcomes on transport projects nationally.

Please send your comments back to [email protected].  Consultation closes 6th August 2021.