All state highway construction projects, network maintenance area and bridge maintenance contracts will develop an environmental and social management plan (ESMP).
The purpose of an ESMP is to:
ESMPs are an essential tool to manage environmental and social risk during construction (for a capital project) and during operation and maintenance activities for a maintenance contract. We have guidance material on what the minimum requirements for an ESMP are including templates for different contract types. The Environment and Urban Design team can also assist you. ESMPs are a living document and require review and updating to ensure they remain relevant to the contract.
The responsibility to produce an ESMP rests with the physical works contractor. The professional services consultant ensures the plan is prepared, maintained and recommended as fit for purpose to the NZ Transport Agency. However, it is becoming common practice for RMA or other environmental permit application to include a draft ESMP which is usually prepared by a professional services consultant as part of the consent application. The consenting strategy will determine whether an ESMP is lodged with the RMA application.
Higher risk or more complex environmental and social aspects will need a sub-management plan due to the specialist level of management detail required. For example, pest plant management, construction noise, archaeological and heritage management plan etc. These sub-management plans will be integrated with the overall management plan framework.
Use this guideline [PDF, 731 KB] if you are preparing an ESMP for an environmental permit application, for a state highway construction project, a network maintenance area contract (network outcomes contract) or bridge maintenance contract. In addition refer to the relevant templates and guides.
An e-learning module on environmental and social management plans is also available(external link). Completing this module will give you an overview of the purpose structure and contents of an ESMP which will meet the Agency’s requirements. More specific guidance relating to the type of project you are working on is outlined below.
If you are developing an environmental and social management plan for capital works use this template [DOCX, 349 KB] and have a look at these examples:
If you are developing an environmental and social management plan for a Network Outcomes Contract (NOC) use this template [DOCX, 351 KB] and have a look at this example and presentation:
If you are developing an environmental and social management plan for a bridge maintenance contract use this template [DOCX, 351 KB] and refer to this methodology and example:
Higher risk environmental and social aspects will have a sub-management plan due to the specialist level of management detail required. For detailed guidance on management on particular environmental and social risks, refer to the technical disciplines pages. Sub management plan templates may be available eg a Construction noise and vibration management plan template is available under the noise and vibration pages.
For further information contact environment@nzta.govt.nz.
