Recent revelations in the Sydney media that NSW doesn’t have the money for long-term road projects like the M4 East come as no great surprise. These reports do, however, underline the fundamental flaws in our approach to the planning, funding and management of our transport infrastructure.
The reality is that local and state governments have the principal responsibility for delivering our transport solutions, but the least ability to fund or plan them independently.
Underlying this, of course, is the fact that the planning and funding process is all too often hostage to the short-term political cycle, and with it the annual appropriation and budget approval cycles.
None of this makes for a consistent, reasoned allocation of responsibility and resources in the long-term national interest.
The recent Henry review offers some hope that we can revisit these arrangements.
Henry calls for COAG to take a firmer grip on the wheel, scoping out the objectives, outcomes, outputs and incentives to drive governments in the use and supply of road infrastructure.
Henry also argues for a stronger link between investment decisions and user needs and value - a view long shared by road industry stakeholders.
Ideally, all levels of government should now come together to review the constitutional and administrative processes and responsibilities, with a view to ensuring that as a nation we can deliver affordable, effective, sustainable transport infrastructure well into the future.
The road industry is ready, and willing, to constructively support such a review. The question is, are our governments?
Ray Fisher
President, Roads Australia
Submitted by Mark Bowmer on Thursday June 10th 2010 11:00am