Independent statutory body Infrastructure Australia (IA) last week released its first 15-year Australian Infrastructure Plan, which sets out an ‘Infrastructure Priority List’ of more than 90 potential projects around the country.
The plan also outlines IA’s recommended fundamental changes to the way Australia plans, funds and delivers its infrastructure.
Included in the plan is IA’s reinvigorated Infrastructure Priority List, which identifies 93 projects and initiatives.
“The Priority List is ultimately a platform for better infrastructure decisions—it provides rigorous, independent advice to governments and the public on the infrastructure investments Australia needs,” said IA Chairman Mark Birrell in a statement.
The list reflects a consensus of submissions provided from state and territory governments, peak bodies and the community, filtered through the independent and objective lens of IA’s board.
Some of the key investments recommended include new metro rail systems in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, road and rail initiatives to tackle urban congestion in Perth, public transport improvements in Adelaide and Canberra and more.
Mr. Birrell said that the plan sets out 78 recommendations for reform and provides a vision and roadmap to address infrastructure gaps and set the country up to meet challenges in the future.
The plan recommends reforming the funding and operation of transport infrastructure, completing the national electricity market, improving the quality and competitiveness of the water sector and delivering a telecommunications market that responds to user demand.
“By completing the major reforms to infrastructure markets the average Australian household will be almost $3000 better off every year,” he said.
To create the incentives for change, IA’s plan recommends linking Commonwealth payments to state and territory governments for infrastructure, to the delivery of national reform objectives.
“Some of the ideas will be tough to progress, but let that all be part of an open public dialogue about the infrastructure people want, the outcomes it should deliver and the best ways to plan and pay for it,” said Mr. Birrell.
“The public policy changes and major projects in the 15-year Plan, once delivered will drive our nation’s prosperity and maintain our quality of life.”
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