The Federal Government last night released the long-awaited infrastructure priority report from Infrastructure Australia (IA), announcing at the same time funding of $8.5 billion for major road, rail and port infrastructure projects.
The funding is part of a $22 billion commitment to nation-building projects in last night’s Federal Budget, and includes $3.4 billion for road projects.
Although not all the priority projects identified by IA made it into last night’s funding announcement, the Government said it would invest in the following:
In addition, the Government is contributing funds towards six projects in the 'pipeline' of projects identified by Infrastructure Australia:
Federal Transport and Infrastructure Minister, Anthony Albanese, said last night IA had established a pipeline of projects that would guide the long term investment decisions of both the public and private sectors.
He added that IA would continue to maintain and regularly update the Priority List, as well as continue to identify the regulatory barriers to even greater infrastructure investment.
The Infrastructure Australia National Infrastructure Priorities report can be downloaded at the IA website.
The Federal Government says it is investing $28 billion over six years (2008/09 - 2013/14) on roads, funded through the Building Australia Fund and the previously announced Nation Building Program.
The projects funded out of the Building Australia Fund as part of the 2009-10 Budget are the Hunter Expressway (NSW), Pacific Highway - Kempsey Bypass (NSW) and the Ipswich Motorway additional works (Qld) (see story above).
In addition, the Government says work will start in 2009-10 on a number of key projects being delivered under the existing $26.7 billion Nation Building Program.
These include:
The Nation Building Program will also fund initiatives designed to improve road safety:
Mr Albanese said councils would receive a record annual allocation of $940 million from the Program to help them maintain and upgrade the 657,000 kilometres of road under their control.
To access media statement and portfolio statements on transport infrastructure, go to the Department website.
The Federal Government has provided $3 million over five years to support the establishment and operation of the first ever National Road Safety Council.
Federal Transport and Infrastructure Minister, Anthony Albanese, says the Council will bring an integrated, national focus to addressing the major social problem of road trauma.
“The Council will be made up of community leaders and road safety experts, and will be tasked with advising Commonwealth, state and territory transport ministers on the effectiveness of road safety measures.
“It will also sponsor research in support of the implementation of the National Road Safety Strategy and action plans.
“The Council will be set up in partnership with state and territory governments, with its membership to be finalised in coming weeks.”
Roads Australia seeks a co-ordinated, ‘open book’ approach to the ongoing planning and roll-out of the major road and rail infrastructure projects announced in last night's Budget.
Ray Fisher, President of Roads Australia, said:
“We congratulate Infrastructure Australia and the Rudd Government on bringing this first round of projects to the starting line in such difficult economic circumstances. These projects have the potential to deliver enormous, long-term economic and social benefit to the country as a whole.
“However, we’d like clarity from the Government on which projects are fully funded and which depend on further contributions from the states and territories and/or the private sector.
“State and territory governments, in particular, already make a substantial financial contribution to the national road network, in addition to funding the construction, renewal and maintenance of their own arterial road networks."
Mr Fisher said it was imperative that the Federal Government continued to work closely with all stakeholders - government and private - to ensure timely, realistic outcomes in the delivery of its nation building agenda.
“In particular, we urge all governments - Federal, state and territory - to continue to plan and schedule these and future projects in such a way as to deliver a smooth, reliable pipeline of works around which the road industry can marshall its resources.
“We don’t want to go back to the ‘famine or feast’ cycle of infrastructure building. It doesn’t deliver the best value-for-money outcomes for the taxpayer, nor does it provide job surety for the industry.
“We hope all governments can build on the spirit of co-operation that’s evident through the Australian Transport Council (ATC) and Council of Australian Governments (COAG), and work together with industry to develop a transparent, co-ordinated national plan for delivering these works.”
Submitted by Mark Bowmer on Wednesday May 13th 2009 6:55am
© 2008 Roads Australia. Roads Australia does not warrant, guarantee or make any representations regarding the currency, accuracy, correctness, reliability, useability, or any other aspect, of the material presented in Roads Australia Insider, nor of material provided by others to Roads Australia and presented in this newsletter, nor of material provided by others and accessed from this site using links or connections to their Web sites or distribution services. The user accepts sole responsibility and all risk for using material presented on or accessed from Roads Australia Insider. Roads Australia does not accept any liability for any loss or damage which may be incurred as a result of using Roads Australia Insider or any material presented in or accessed from Roads Australia Insider.