Development Response Getting Started

DR is essential on most projects, but the extent and scope of DR activities is defined by the needs of the community and how they will be impacted. Contractors will propose a way of working that they believe will best mitigate the adverse effects. Project leads will evaluate these and make procurement decisions based on the quality of the proposal.

Beyond project, or programme, coordination and ensuring effective city operations, project leads also have a suite of tools available, and expertise to draw on.

Project leads play a critical role in the success of a project. They have significant influence over how Development Response is factored into the project and how well the impacts on a community are managed throughout.

Their leadership should show that Development Response is a non-negotiable in the project, is delivered according to the needs of locals and is based on a thorough investigation into the likely impacts they will face.

How DR is implemented will vary from project to project, but it is always necessary to include understand impacts.

The Community Impact Assessment, whether large or small, tells project leads what to look out for and indicates the required effort for their DR approach.

How do we create a good impact assessment? Read the guide to creating a CIA.

How the project is experienced and perceived by the public and stakeholders is fundamental to the success of a project. Get involved in the early stages, through engagement and impact assessments. Visit the site, meet the locals, connect and understand.

Is the project timed appropriately?

Do you need to do the project now?

Will it align with community needs/patterns?

Have I done everything I can to understand the impacts on the community?

How do I know I’ve done enough?

Leads are responsible for shaping the Development Response approach for their project. They must have a clear picture of the needs of the community and the areas where disruption must be minimised. They need to know what DR tools are available, see Elements of DR.

At this point a Development Response Plan can be created. It describes the likely Development Response activities and deliverables specific the community. The plan allows them to work out what resources are required, determine costs and set expectations for contractors during the procurement phase.

[content note: Creating a DR plan is an important step. How can the toolkit support leads to build a plan?

The Development Response plan is where roles are defined.

Project leads need to prepare a project team with the capacity and capability the scale and complexity of the work and its community needs.

If there’s a high requirement for business support, a business advisor.

Wellbeing issues, you’ll need on street advisor.

Traffic – you’ll need a good TM.

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A constructability review of the proposed design will take these needs and disruption risks into account. This review may trigger changes to the design, so it’s important to revisit the impact assessment afterwards.

With design nearing finalisation and good documentation of community needs, prospective contractors should be well placed to develop a plan to minimise disruption. This is called the Construction Disruption Mitigation Management Plan.

Find out more about what to look for in a CDMMP.

At procurement, project leads will review contractor bids and the CDMMP - which outlines how the contractor will minimise disruption. You need to be satisfied that their plan will be effective.

Is the project resourced to achieve the desired DR outcomes?

Has enough been done to address how to mitigate impacts? If not why not?

Have impacts been addressed through methods and approaches of construction?

All projects are unique, and each may require a different mix of research, communication, relationship building and construction approaches to successfully mitigate impacts.

[A simple diagram/explanation]

[The detailed table from the Aecom doc which shows activities and phase organised by DR element.] Can we include this as an example timeline?