Independent government advisory body releases 15-year plan for the future of the Australian infrastructure sector
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Supporting growth outside of Australia’s largest cities and increasing collaboration between industry organisations and the government are among the recommendations outlined in the 2021 Australian Infrastructure Plan released today.
Released by independent government advisory body Infrastructure Australia, the report calls for a wave of reform across the country’s infrastructure sector; providing a 15-year roadmap to drive economic growth and improve sustainability within the industry.
The plan also seeks to make use of record levels of infrastructure investment across the country which is underpinned by the Australian Government’s $110 billion infrastructure spend and the national recovery from COVID-19 and it’s various societal and economic ramifications.
Among the key opportunities outlined in the plan is support for growth outside major metropolitan areas, focusing on regional centres and norther Australia.
Transformative technology has also been identified as a key area for investment to deliver affordable and sustainable infrastructure services. Encouraging sustainable choices around infrastructure use is another area of opportunity, it says.
Reforms also include improved transparency and coordination of project pipelines to improve industry productivity as well as an increase to more collaborative models of infrastructure delivery between parties to support innovation and productivity.
Infrastructure Australia chief executive Romilly Madew says the report comes at a pivotal time for the sector.
“The 2021 Australian Infrastructure Plan is being delivered at a critical moment in our history. The pandemic, bushfires, drought, floods, and cyber-attacks have tested our collective resilience during recent years, while the most recent outbreaks have devastated our CBDs and put us at risk of a recession,” Madew says.
“The 2021 Plan outlines the reforms that will underscore future Australian economic growth. It is focused on identifying the actions required to deliver infrastructure for a stronger Australia and support our national recovery from the still-unfolding COVID-19 pandemic.
“Building back better requires collective action from governments and industry, which combines both investment and reform. We have seen significant investment in the infrastructure sector since the start of the pandemic, but to drive the next phase of the national recovery, we need to pursue reforms that unlock the full benefits of stimulus spending.”
The 2021 Australia Infrastructure Plan was developed in close collaboration with governments, industry and communities which engaged more than 6,500 members and industry stakeholders.
In order to support the plan, each reform has been allocated specific parties to sponsor, lead and support the opportunity in addition to a timeframe for the adoption. Community and user outcomes are paramount to each reform in balance with the associated costs and risks.
“While the Australian Government will respond to the 2021 Plan, many of the actions across water, transport, energy, waste and social infrastructure require action from state and territory or local government. Lasting reform will require increased collaboration,” Madew says.
Australia’s Civil Contractors Federation (CCF) – the peak voice for the civil construction industry – has welcomed the plan, with chief executive Chris Melham encouraging the collaboration between parties across infrastructure investment and the significant impacts the plan could have on the sector.
“I welcome the positive reforms set out in the Plan aimed at strengthening the infrastructure sector and building its capacity,” Melham says.
“In particular, a strong theme emanating from the Plan is the need for greater collaboration between industry and government to better manage project risks, and we look forward to working with jurisdictions to progress this much needed reform.
“Since the outbreak of the pandemic, CCF has consistently highlighted the importance of civil construction investment and reform as key measures to combat the economic effects of COVID-19. I commend the nation’s independent infrastructure advisor on delivering a positive roadmap that will help industry and government to deliver on these important objectives.”