Statewide Capability Development Fund

The Alliance provides $600,000 each year through the Transport Infrastructure Development Scheme (TIDS) Statewide Capability Development Fund (SCDF). Funding is provided mostly on a matched basis to local governments to support targeted, specialised initiatives that build capacity and capability for RRTG members.

SCDF funds RRTG capability projects and supports local governments to access training to build their local capacity and improve road and transport stewardship capabilities.

The program also provides an opportunity for Queensland local councils and RRTGs to share best practice learnings, creating long-term value through collaboration.

Any unallocated SCDF is identified during a mid-year review and generally redistributed to Queensland local governments who provide access to Indigenous communities, participate in RRTGs and demonstrate a capacity to deliver additional projects within the financial year.

On this page:

• Improving capability and capacity
• Program evaluation and continual improvement
• Release of new SharePoint site for RRTGs
• Training and workshops funded by SCDF
• SCDF Project story: North West Queensland Regional Roads and Transport Group (NWQRRTG) – Infrastructure-related Legislative Training
• SCDF Project story: Bowen Basin Regional Roads and Transport Group (BBRRTG) – Best Practice Unsealed Roads Management Training Course
• SCDF Project story: Outback Regional Roads and Transport Group – Consolidation of the Preferred Supplier List
• SCDF Project story: South West Regional Roads and Transport Group – Collaborative relationship secures access to IPWEA e-Book subscriptions for small regional councils training

Improving capability and capacity

The primary focus for SCDF investment is to improve capability and development. It centres on the Alliance core functions, while also being responsive to local and regional priorities.

The Alliance core functions include:

• program development - training and other initiatives including contract administration and management, design, and staff development
• asset management - training in the creation of consistent practices, processes, and systems
• road safety - training and assistance for councils to meet their duty of care as a road authority
• joint purchasing and resource sharing - initiatives that encourage joint purchasing, resource sharing and knowledge sharing.

Program spend by core function

Core function	Program spend
Program development	$268,000
Asset management	$134,000
Road safety	$51,000
JP&RS	$2000

Note: Amounts are rounded.

SCDF funding by RRTG

Regional Roads and Transport Group	SCDF approved
Bowen Basin	$112,000
North West Queensland	$66,000
Scenic Valleys	$61,000
Outback	$45,000
Far North Queensland	$40,000
Rockhampton, Bowen Basin, Gladstone	$40,000
Gladstone	$29,000
Eastern Downs	$20,000
Northern SEQ	$15,000
Rockhampton	$14,000
Wide Bay Burnett	$3000
Brisbane	$2000

Note: Amounts are rounded.

Program evaluation and continual improvement

The 2024–25 financial year has seen a continuation in the high demand for SCDF support, with RRTGs applying for a wide range of capability training and project opportunities.

This year the SCDF program supported training of 576 staff from RRTG member councils. Feedback centred on the value of having trainers travel out to regional centres to deliver training face-to-face, as well as the benefits of participating with neighbouring councils to share learnings and experiences. This success has led to RRTGs seeking future training opportunities that involve multiple councils.

In addition to the delivery of 34 SCDF training initiatives, there were two capability projects funded by the SCDF in 2024–25:

• building the Consolidated Preferred Supplier List by Outback RRTG
• development of the TIDS program management tool by Far North Queensland RRTG.

The increasing use of SCDF for innovative RRTG-created capability projects and systems development is a strong reflection of how the SCDF continues to be valued and utilised more and more by RRTGs. The growing enthusiasm of councils to pursue joint-purchasing and resource sharing to achieve cost efficiencies in training proves the SCDF will continue to be relevant and well utilised into the future.

Release of new SharePoint site for RRTGs

The Alliance project team also supports the Alliance core functions through sharing learnings from successful training programs and recommendations between RRTGs across the state. A key improvement in the Alliance project team’s contributions has been the introduction of an online SharePoint portal, allowing latest news, announcements, forms and resources to be shared and updated promptly, ensuring consistent information is available for all RRTG participants.

Homepage for the RTA SharePoint portal

Training and workshops funded by SCDF

In 2024–25, the SCDF provided $448,000 across 34 projects with 11 participating RRTGs in Queensland to support capability and development initiatives. Many of these workshops, projects and training courses may not have proceeded without the funding support through TIDS SCDF.

Project name	Description	Participating RRTGs
Best practice unsealed roads training	Operational techniques that improve the construction and performance of unsealed roads, and ensure council is optimising its unsealed roads maintenance budget by implementing practical asset management principles	Bowen Basin
Erosion and sediment control - Levels 1 and 2	Direct installation and maintenance of various erosion, sediment and drainage control measures onsite in an effective and compliant manner with project and legislative requirements surrounding erosion and sediment control	Bowen Basin
Erosion and sediment control - Levels 1, 2 and 3	As above, plus design of erosion and sediment control plans	Bowen Basin
Traffic management design	Design, development and approval of Traffic Management Plans (TMPs) or Traffic Guidance Schemes (TGSs) in Queensland	Brisbane
Erosion and sediment control - Advanced	Erosion and Sediment control skills, including design of erosion and sediment control plans, to assist in construction and maintenance works on council roads	Eastern Downs
Construction procurement and contract management workshops	Develop and improve essential construction contract management skills to support consistency in the application of this documentation across the region	Far North Queensland
TIDS program management tool	Project will centralise road management information for the RRTG into one web-based database with GIS capabilities.	Far North Queensland
Unsealed roads and drainage for road design workshops	Design infrastructure works for appropriate stormwater run-off, in line with applicable guidelines, technical knowledge on materials, management and maintenance of unsealed roads in line with best practice and Australian guides	Far North Queensland
Engineering due diligence	Governance to manage safety, environmental, legal and financial issues to deliver projects, due diligence and legislative and regulatory compliance	Gladstone
Project planning, risk and control	Training in project planning, risk management and control practices to improve project outcomes	Gladstone
Unsealed roads workshop	Best practice operational techniques that improve the construction and performance of unsealed roads	Gladstone
Legislative training	Skills and knowledge with reference to the Native Title, Aboriginal Cultural Heritage, Land Management, Planning, Vegetation Management, and Nature Conservation Acts and risk management compliance requirements	North West Queensland
Roads pavements visual condition assessment and asset management	Effective road pavement condition assessment for the management of road pavements, improved maintenance planning, enhanced capital works project prioritization and improved asset management	North West Queensland
Supervisor workshop	Skills and knowledge in delivery; Planning, Estimating, Scheduling, Budgeting and Control	North West Queensland
Traffic management implementation course	Implementing requirements of traffic management plans including traffic guidance schemes, monitoring and reviewing	North West Queensland
Road safety audit workshop	Improve the knowledge and skills of staff in the area of road safety	Northern SEQ
Roads pavements visual condition assessment and asset management	Effective road pavement condition assessment for improved maintenance planning, enhanced capital works project prioritization and improved asset management	Northern SEQ
Sprayed sealing selection and design	Strengths and weaknesses of different types of sprayed treatments commonly used and how to address surface defects	Northern SEQ
Traffic management implementation course	Interpret and implement traffic management plans and install/remove signs and devices in accordance with traffic guidance schemes for roadworks	Northern SEQ
Unsealed roads workshop	Use of materials, maintenance practices and management of unsealed roads	Northern SEQ
Aerodrome reporting officer/work safety officer training course	RRTG member staff to undertake Aerodrome Reporting Officer / Work Safety Officer training	Outback
Consolidation of preferred supplier lists	Consolidating preferred supplier lists for plant and trade services to address the shortage of skilled operators and streamline procurement processes	Outback
Supervisor workshop	RRTG member staff to undertake IPWEA-QNT's supervisors' workshop	Outback
Traffic management design	Design or approve Traffic Management Plans and Traffic Guidance Schemes	Outback
Managing risk on lower order roads	Practical application of the Queensland Lower Order Road Design Guidelines	Rockhampton
Roads pavements visual condition assessment and asset management	Effective road pavement condition assessment for improved maintenance planning, enhanced capital works project prioritization and improved asset management	Rockhampton
Drainage for road design training	Hydrological and hydraulic calculations required for good road design, based on the Austroads Guide to Road Design Parts 5, 5a & 5b	Rockhampton Bowen Basin Gladstone
Road safety barriers training	Project development, road safety barrier design and maintenance	Rockhampton Bowen Basin Gladstone
Erosion and sediment control - Levels 1 and 2	Direct installation and maintenance of various erosion, sediment and drainage control measures onsite in an effective and compliant manner with project and legislative requirements surrounding erosion and sediment control	Scenic Valleys
Lead investigator training	Investigation of incidents and near-misses using the Incident Cause Analysis Method (ICAM) system	Scenic Valleys
Pedestrian and cyclist courses	Best-practice provision for pedestrians in the planning and design of tactile ground surface indicators infrastructure projects	Scenic Valleys
Traffic management design	Design and approval of Traffic Management Plans and Traffic Guidance Schemes	Scenic Valleys
Unsealed roads workshop	Best practice operational techniques that improve the construction and performance of unsealed roads	Scenic Valleys
Traffic management implementation training course	RRTG member staff to undertake the traffic management implementation training course provided by Warp Training Australia	Wide Bay Burnett

SCDF Project story: Bowen Basin Regional Roads and Transport Group (BBRRTG) – Best Practice Unsealed Roads Management Training Course

Submitted by Alicia Ruhl, BBRRTG Technical Coordinator, GBA Consulting Engineers.

Banana Shire Council, Central Highlands Regional Council and Isaac Regional Council’s collectively manage over 10,000km of unsealed roads. These roads make up a significant portion of each region's transport network, playing a vital role in supporting local communities and economies. Managing such extensive infrastructure presents unique challenges across the regions and represents a major portion of each council’s budget.

Given the scale of the unsealed network in the BBRRTG region, improving the construction and performance of these roads is a high priority to maximise service levels and stretch limited budgets. To support this goal, 20 crews from the three councils participated in the Best Practice Unsealed Roads Management Training Course led by Darren Shepherd of Unsealed Roads.

The training focused on reviewing current practices and introducing improved field techniques, as well as equipping supervisory staff with tools to better manage programming and budgeting. The program established consistent grading standards and quality assurance processes, introduced methods for gravel preservation and improving road longevity, and enhanced planning models and resource allocation strategies. It also strengthened community engagement practices related to road maintenance.

The course was a resounding success. Council staff found the training highly relevant and practical, particularly in addressing the often-overlooked aspects of unsealed road maintenance. It has provided a solid foundation for improved long-term performance of the region’s unsealed road networks.

BBRRTG extends its thanks for the SCDF funding support that enabled this valuable training for our councils.

SCDF Project story: North West Queensland Regional Roads and Transport Group (NWQRRTG) – Infrastructure-related Legislative Training

Submitted by Gerard Read, Technical Coordinator.

During development of the 2024–25 Capability Agreement and Action Plan, the North West Queensland RRTG Technical Committee identified a deficiency within staff of knowledge and obligations under various legislative topics relevant to infrastructure projects that councils deliver.

Investigations were undertaken and it was evident there was no “off the shelf” training programs which met the specified needs. Consequently, NWQRRTG negotiated with, and ultimately engaged, Preston Law, Cairns to develop an appropriate bespoke training package for the group. This training was delivered on 12–14 May 2025 in Cloncurry.

In summary, the training covered:

• Planning Act
• land management and native title
• cultural heritage
• Vegetation Management Act
• Nature Conservation Act
• risk management.

Twenty-five staff from 7 of the 10 NWQRRTG councils attended the training and found it very beneficial and advantageous. An example of some of the feedback received –

• “The trainers were very knowledgeable, and the training was not boring, but well planned and executed”
• “Well presented, great information pitched at the right level and would encourage this training again in the future”
• “The sessions provided clear overviews of the legislation and practical guidance on how it applies in the local government context”
• “The modules were informative and explained through real world examples”
• “The sessions were a great refresher and very applicable”.

While the overall perspective of the training was very good, attendees did offer some positive and constructive improvements to the training which was to be expected given the content was developed “from scratch” for NWQRRTG.

NWQRRTG would like to thank TMR’s Local Government Partnerships team for their support via the SCDF contribution which facilitated an increased number of staff in attendance – without it, the training may not have even proceeded at all. NWQRRTG would recommend this training to other RRTGs facing a similar need.

SCDF Project story: Outback Regional Roads and Transport Group – Consolidation of the Preferred Supplier List

Submitted by Leigh Frame, Regional Coordinator, GBA Consulting Engineers.

This project aimed to consolidate the preferred supplier list for the Outback RRTG to create a unified, transparent, and efficient procurement process that delivers greater value for member councils.

Implementation

With the project cost of $4,475.00 and SCDF support of 50 per cent being received, the project involved:

• conducting a full review of existing supplier engagements across ORRTG councils
• developing standardised evaluation criteria for supplier selection
• facilitating collaboration between councils to identify shared procurement needs
• establishing a centralised preferred supplier database accessible by all ORRTG members
• implementing basic tools for tracking supplier performance and contract compliance.

Key benefits gained

• Procurement efficiency

  Reduced duplication of effort and procurement turnaround times across councils.

  Streamlined access to vetted suppliers through a shared database, enabling faster response to regional infrastructure needs.

• Cost savings and value for money
  • Greater buying power enabled negotiation of more favourable terms and volume discounts.
  • Reduced administrative overhead by eliminating the need for repeated supplier assessments.
• Improved governance and transparency
  • Standardised procurement practices strengthened compliance with regulatory frameworks.
  • The consolidated list ensures consistency in how suppliers are evaluated and engaged.
• Enhanced supplier accountability
  • Performance tracking mechanisms help monitor service delivery and support data-driven decisions.
  • Strengthened relationships with key suppliers through consistent engagement practices.
• Foundation for future growth
• Created a scalable framework that can evolve as regional needs grow or change.
• Positions the ORRTG to explore joint procurement opportunities and strategic partnerships in the future.

Conclusion

The consolidation of the preferred supplier list has delivered measurable operational and financial benefits for the ORRTG. With a modest investment of $4,475.00, the project has improved efficiency, strengthened governance, and laid the groundwork for more strategic regional procurement practices—benefitting all participating councils and their communities.

SCDF Project story: South West Regional Roads and Transport Group – Collaborative relationship secures access to IPWEA e-Book subscriptions for small regional councils training

Submitted by Kerri Behrens, Manager - Strategy and Marketing, Shepherd Services.

In an outstanding example of regional collaboration, the South West RRTG has worked with the Institute of Public Works Engineering Australasia (IPWEA) to secure access to a vital digital resource - IPWEA’s e-book subscription service. This subscription provides councils with access to internationally recognised publications on engineering, asset management, and fleet services, empowering local governments with leading industry knowledge. 

The initiative emerged from a shared goal to build capability across remote and resource-limited councils. SWRRTG worked with IPWEA to create a new category designed to give access to small councils with populations under 5,000 - benefiting not only the SWRRTG region but small councils nationwide. IPWEA’s gracious agreement to introduce this new pricing tier has unlocked critical knowledge for smaller councils across Australia, enabling them to access the same technical standards and best practices as their larger counterparts. 

This achievement is a testament to the power of the Alliance and the strength of collaboration within RRTGs. SWRRTG has not only improved access to valuable resources but also demonstrated how regional partnerships can influence national change. 

Councils are strongly encouraged to take advantage of the IPWEA e-book platform, which supports smarter decision-making, builds internal capability and enhances infrastructure outcomes for local communities.

More information is available at IPWEA e-books.