Roads Australia, the national peak stakeholder group for the road industry, has welcomed the Brumby Government’s forward-thinking approach to the funding of the Peninsula Link.
“The Government deserves to be congratulated for thinking outside the square to ensure that construction of this critical road project can get underway this year,” says RA President, Ray Fisher.
“This is the first time the availability financing model has been rolled out for a major Australian road project, and it probably won’t be the last.
“With the current economic crisis making it so difficult to attract private investment into infrastructure, it’s contingent on all players - government and private sector - to explore new and innovative models to ensure we can deliver these economically vital projects.”
Roads Australia has this month formed a new policy group that brings together representatives from the private and public sectors to focus on this very question.
“This new policy chapter will examine not just the types of financing models that could be adopted for planned new road infrastructure in the current climate, but the broader question of how society pays for road construction and maintenance in the future,” Mr Fisher says.
“Projects like Peninsula Link are vitally important - not just in terms of creating jobs and stimulating the economy, but in relieving congestion and making Melbourne a more liveable city.”
Mr Fisher added that SEITA, with its recent experience of delivering EastLink, was well placed to manage the project and ensure positive outcomes for both the community and the private sector.
Submitted by Mark Bowmer on Tuesday March 31st 2009 1:31pm