Next year will mark the end of an era for Ventia’s M5 East operations and maintenance team.
After nearly a decade of supporting the M5 East, a vital link in Sydney’s road network, we’ll be handing it back to Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) to coincide with the completion of the ‘New M5’ as part of the NSW Government’s Westconnex project.
Nine years of keeping Sydney drivers moving
First awarded for a period of five years in 2011, the M5 East Operations and Maintenance contract has been extended twice. This is a great tribute to the team’s professionalism, dedication and, most importantly, their uncompromising commitment to safety. Avoiding any disruption to the M5 East is key as it affects thousands of drivers and has flow-on affects across the road network.
Operations and Maintenance Manager, Nadir Hashmi says the team’s focus is on making sure the maximum number of lanes are available and safe for users around the clock. That includes taking full advantage of M5 East’s four planned closures a month to fix issues and carry out major remedial work. During one shutdown, they even completed a full resurfacing of the eastbound and westbound Cooks River tunnel as well as open areas of the motorway.
Open communication and lessons learned
For our client RMS, Ventia’s ability to work hand in hand with their RMS counterparts has been key to achieving their vision of a ‘safe, comfortable journey’ for all road users.
Ventia’s M5 East team has always maintained high levels of safety standards, transparent processes, efficient management and open communication with RMS. This means that lessons learnt are assessed and incorporated to ensure our works remain safe
– Hassan Reslan, Project Manager, Motorway Operations, Roads and Maritime Services.
Getting the basics right is crucial – from site access and induction to thorough toolbox briefings, pre-starts and leadership interactions (Ventia’s LEAD process). This checks preparedness for the task ahead for our employees and our contractors.
Technology plays an important role, with the team using cloud-based applications to complete inductions and commercial compliance. Our CRPs are essential in strengthening our focus on keeping everyone safe, given M5 East maintenance routinely involves multiple risks and hazards at any one time.
Members of the M5 East team
According to Nadir, team spirit, close cooperation and diversity are at the heart of any long-running, whole-of-life maintenance contract like the M5 East.
That means not just a vigilant approach to operational safety, but also making mental health a priority. For example, the team have achieved program accreditation with ‘Mates in Construction’, an industry-focused charity.
What I love is their respect of each other’s cultural backgrounds. Though we are a very busy team, we work together seamlessly.
– Nadir Hashmi
Finishing strong
Like several of our other Transport contracts, the M5 East team has adopted ‘finishing strong’ as its unofficial motto for the transition period, and they are working closely with the client to ensure the handover is as smooth as possible. Plans are in place to redeploy team members to other projects, so we can continue to benefit from their experience and skill as we win more work in roads.
Come June 2020, the team will be able to look back and take pride in a job well done. For now, they’re getting on with keeping the M5 running safely and efficiently for the drivers, communities and businesses that rely on it every day.
