Infrastructure Australia has just released the 2019 Infrastructure Priority List, identifying a record 121 nationally significant infrastructure proposals and a $58 billion project pipeline which is set to foster the nation’s growth.
Each year Infrastructure Australia releases the Infrastructure Priority List to reflect emerging infrastructure priorities across Australia and to provide independent, evidence-based advice to the industry and governments on the projects that would greatly assist communities to meet the challenges of the future.
Infrastructure Australia Chair, Julieanne Alroe, states that this year’s list is the largest, most comprehensive and diverse list of investments that the agency has ever seen.
“The 2019 Priority List provides a credible pipeline of nationally significant proposals for governments at all levels to choose from. As an evidence-based list of opportunities to improve both our living standards and productivity, the Priority List reflects the diversity of Australia’s future infrastructure needs across transport, energy, water, communications, housing and education,” she said.
The Priority List is developed using data from the Australian Infrastructure Audit and submissions from governments, industry and the community.
This year’s list identified a total of 8 High Priority Projects, 10 Priority Projects, 29 High Priority Initiatives and 74 Priority Initiatives.
Ms Alroe explained that many of the projects and potential infrastructure solutions identified respond to the challenges of population growth in Australia’s largest cities and address the need for frequent and accessible public transport to reduce congestion and maintain Australia’s world-renowned liveability.
“Congestion in our cities and faster-growing regional centres not only has significant consequences for the Australian economy but has direct impacts on communities, reducing people’s access to education, health services, employment and other opportunities,” she said.
Several inclusions on this year’s Priority List also focus on getting the most out of existing infrastructure with smart technology (e.g. Intelligent Transport Systems).
This includes projects such as the Monash Freeway Upgrade Stage 2 and North East Link in Victoria, the Regency Road to Pym Street section of Adelaide’s North-South Corridor, and a proposal to improve the performance and efficiency of motorways in the Sydney CBD.
“The 2019 Priority List identifies regional road safety improvements as a national priority. Between 2008 and 2016, more than half of Australia’s road fatalities occurred in our regions – meaning that, relative to population size, the fatality rate was more than four times greater than for major cities,” Ms Alroe commented.
Aside from this, many new additions to the Infrastructure Priority List reflect the need for forward-thinking, ambitious solutions to support Australia’s future prosperity, such as the delivery of a national electric vehicle fast-charging network (which was identified as a High Priority Initiative).
Ahead of the upcoming New South Wales and federal elections, Infrastructure Australia is urging decision-makers to consult the 2019 Infrastructure Priority List before committing funding to a pre-defined project.
“Decision-makers at all levels will best serve all Australians by continuing to consult the Priority List as a source of informed analysis on the projects that represent the best use of our infrastructure funding,” Ms Alroe concluded.
New infrastructure initiatives in the 2019 Infrastructure Priority List:
National:
National Electricity Market (Future connectivity and reliability) – High Priority Initiative
National electric vehicle fast-charging network – High Priority Initiative
Regional road network safety improvements – High Priority Initiative
Remote housing overcrowding – High Priority Initiative
National Electricity Market (Near-term optimisation) – Priority Initiative
NSW:
Regional NSW road network safety improvements – High Priority Initiative
A3 and A6 corridor capacity – Priority Initiative
Picton Road safety and capacity – Priority Initiative
Prospect Highway capacity – Priority Initiative
Shoalhaven River crossing capacity – Priority Initiative
Sydney CBD motorways optimisation – Priority Initiative
Sydney cruise terminal capacity – Priority Initiative
VIC:
Cranbourne Line capacity – Priority Initiative
Hurstbridge Line capacity – Priority Initiative
QLD:
M1 Pacific Motorway capacity (Eight Mile Plains to Tugun) – High Priority Initiative
Broadbeach–Burleigh Heads public transport connectivity – Priority Initiative
Centenary Motorway capacity – Priority Initiative
Warrego Highway east corridor improvements – Priority Initiative
WA:
Canning Bridge crossing capacity and interchange – Priority Initiative
Land transport access between Karratha and Tom Price – Priority Initiative
Swan River crossing capacity – Priority Initiative
Tonkin Highway corridor capacity – Priority Initiative
Transport connectivity between Morley and Ellenbrook – Priority Initiative
SA:
Spencer Gulf crossing capacity – Priority Initiative
TAS:
Tasmanian irrigation schemes (Tranche 3) – Priority Initiative