The National Code is an industry-lead initiative to define the roles of various stakeholders in a nationally consistent approach for the management of access to the transport corridors (road and rail) by utility operators. The beneficiaries of both transport and utility services are the economy and the community.
The Code seeks to provide a consistent and cooperative framework for Corridor Managers and Utility Operators, to manage the corridor while providing for the access rights of Utility Operators. The intention is to provide a set of guiding principles for Corridor Managers and Utility Operators.
Representatives of all utilities, local authorities, Transit and ONTRACK collaboratively developed the Code as the industry's own solution, a national code that would govern all aspects of utilities access to the road/rail corridors. While much of the development was done by a dedicated team of six Directors, comprising two representatives each for utilities and local authorities, and one each from Transit and ONTRACK, many others helped in working groups, and peer and sector reviews.
The draft Code was launched in February 2008 at a series of seminars across New Zealand, attended by over 450 delegates from across all sectors. The intention of the seminars was to provide the context and rationale for the Code. Subsequently NZUAG invited formal submissions on the content. Following review of the 39 submissions received, the Directors Group amended the Code.
Following release of the Advance Copy of the new Code, NZUAG invited further submissions, as a final quality check. Thirteen submissions were received and reviewed before the Code was released in March 2009 for implementation across New Zealand. Later in 2009, the code will be reviewed and a further opportunity for industry to make submissions. The final version of the Code will then be submitted to the Minister for approval in accordance with the Utilities Access Amendment Act, expected to be enacted late 2009/ early 2010.
