5 minute read
MEET THE BOSS - Matthew Wright. Makesafe Traffic Management (SA)
Makesafe Traffic Management (SA)
The business Matthew Wright runs started in 2011 as All Points Traffic Management. It was rebranded to Makesafe Traffic Management (SA) in 2014.
In 2018, the year Matthew joined as General Manager, the Directors established a management team (headed by Matthew) dedicated to maintaining the position of MTM (SA) as one of the largest, most compliant and innovative traffic control providers in the state.
As a result, the business portfolio has grown – there is a larger spread of clients and a much stronger focus on the relationship MTM (SA) has with them. In July 2019, MTM (SA) and Advanced Traffic Management in Victoria joined forces in a partnership between the two companies.
Matthew said: “The Directors of both businesses made this decision due to the changes currently facing the industry in safety, legislation and technology. There is also a real lack of service in regional South Australia and Victoria, and this partnership will allow us to open smaller depots between Adelaide and Melbourne.
“We now have a depot located in Mount Gambier and are looking at other opportunities. This positive customer service environment combined with a refresh of our traffic control teams, and our commitment to safety, technology and customer service, makes us an ideal business partner for our clients into the future.”
The MTM (SA) depot in Wingfield in Adelaide’s north houses more than 40 Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure (DPTI) compliant traffic control vehicles from utes to larger scale trucks for bigger jobs. The fleet is equipped with roof and vehicle-mounted arrow boards, reverse alarms, UHF radios and reverse cameras.
MTM (SA) employs over 90 staff. Its services are available all-year 24/7 (emergency calls can be received any time of the day or night). The office support staff comprises Planners, Project Managers, HSEQ (Health, Safety and Environment and Quality) Manager, Accounts Receivable Manager and Matthew himself.
The Management Team is working with the Traffic Management Association of Australia, industry partners and Austroads on the national harmonisation of the various state Manuals of Traffic Control Devices with a launch date this year.
Matthew’s first role in construction was running a landscape buusiness for 12 years. He then joined GLG Greenlife Group as Construction Manager, following which he held management roles with Fulton Hogan and Downer.
MTM (SA) works with local councils, DPTI, civil contractors, landscapers, paving gangs, telecommunication works, utilities (planned and emergency callouts) and events (small and large).
With any project, client liaison is key. “Understanding the works our clients are going to undertake is very important to ensure that our proposed Traffic Management Plan (TMP), permits, community and stakeholder notification are in place to ensure the works run smoothly,” Matthew said.
MTM (SA) has an in-house Planning Department responsible for assessing incoming jobs; drawing the appropriate Traffic Guidance Scheme (TGS); as well as managing permit applications and their lodgement with council, police and DPTI.
It assists clients in the provision of TMPs to aid with tender submissions if required. Team members will attend site, assess what level of planning is required in discussion with clients and plan the job accordingly. For more complex construction sites or staged works, MTM (SA) will provide highly detailed staged traffic management plans.
ONE TO REMEMBER
A memorable project was the Tanami mine site in the Northern Territory. Due to its remoteness, MTM (SA) sent three vehicles, two pallets of additional signage and eight Traffic Controllers there in 2018 and 2019. The site requirements were extensive – full medical, police clearance, and drug and alcohol tests prior to authorisation to attend site.
“All our vehicles had to be ‘mine site spec’,” Matthew said. “To get to site our vehicles had to be floated in as the roads in were not in a good condition. Our crews had to fly to WA and then to site. The conditions were very hot at times (up to 45 degrees), and ensuring everyone had plenty of fluid and shade was a priority.
“The crews would be D&A tested each morning prior to works starting. The roster would be three weeks on one week off. If anything did go wrong/break on the site it wasn’t like we were around the corner to
get it fixed. The crews from MTM (SA) and our client did a fantastic job on this project, hence why after 2018 we were both awarded more works in 2019.”
Matthew said that managing a Traffic Management business is consistently challenging. “Our clients often make changes to their programs that require additional resources, last-minute permit changes and/or late jobs and reactive or emergency works. Ensuring that we have enough Traffic Controllers and vehicles to meet our clients’ demands and that our clients receive service 24/7 requires a positive teamwork environment.
“Our Team is what makes our company great. We are so proud that we employ 90 South Aussies. Our Team come from such varied backgrounds and range in age from 18 to 70. Leading, training and educating the Team is a challenge but is also extremely rewarding.”
Summing up, Matthew said: “The Traffic Management industry is a vital cog in the provision of workplace safety. Our purpose is to ensure that worksites on or near the roadway have the required levels of safety to ensure the protection of workers, road users, pedestrians and the vulnerable.
“Many of the road users appreciate and understand why our people are on the roadway and are polite and positive.
However, there are still many days when motorists refuse to drive at the worksite speed limits, refuse to stop when legally required and get angry at Traffic Controllers for delaying their travels – not understanding that our role is to protect everyone from road hazards that are sometimes not obvious.”
Written by John Satterley
