Journey towards whole-of-life asset management

For both major asset upgrades and brownfield urban renewal, an important strategic consideration should be identifying opportunities to use a holistic water cycle management approach.

With whole-of-life asset management strategies, assets are not replaced on a like-for-like basis but designed to meet evolving conditions. This continuously improves the water supply chain and the network.

The result is better service delivery, more liveable outcomes and strengthened network resilience.

Some metropolitan and regional water utilities' asset management practices are already applying whole-of-life asset management approaches as they respond to the challenge of ageing assets. The regional New South Wales town of Parkes is one example (see Parkes case study).

Figure 6.3: Continuous improvement journey towards best-practice asset management