Coronavirus: Picking priority roads for recovery
Fast-tracking projects will be essential for the nation’s economic recovery, Infrastructure Australia chief executive Romilly Madew says.
Fast-tracking projects will be essential for the nation’s economic recovery, Infrastructure Australia chief executive Romilly Madew says, as the group extends the potential investment pipeline to $64bn.
The government’s independent infrastructure adviser has added five projects to its priority list, including putting a “high priority” on the M12 Motorway in Sydney. The motorway would provide direct access to Western Sydney Airport, which is expected to be operational by 2026.
Rail developments in NSW and Western Australia have also been added to the priority projects list. Infrastructure Australia listed seven “priority initiatives” for potential road and freight projects in Queensland and the redevelopment of the Australian Institute of Sport in the ACT.
Priority initiatives are developments that Infrastructure Australia identifies as having potential but, unlike priority projects, they have not been subject to a business case.
Ms Madew said the priority list could act as a “critical tool” in Australia’s recovery from the pandemic. “It directs investment to the infrastructure projects that will kickstart economic growth and have the greatest returns for all Australians,” Ms Madew said.
“Australia is planning its recovery from a rolling series of crises: drought, flood, the bushfires and now COVID-19. As we look forward, the focus is on delivery and, as the nation’s infrastructure advisory body, we are continuing to improve our ability to move quickly to identify investments that will improve productivity. This is about expanding the pipeline, keeping the economy growing, helping to create jobs and attract investment.”
Infrastructure Australia is calling for submissions for the next edition of the priority list, which will be released in February.
Ms Madew said the pandemic had “significantly affected the use of infrastructure”. “We have been working collaboratively with the commonwealth government to provide advice on a staged response on COVID,” Ms Madew said. “One critical element of our advice is to maintain a pipeline of nationally significant infrastructure investments.
“We are encouraging jurisdictions to identify the infrastructure that will best lead to a COVID recovery. As important as large, major projects are on the road to recovery, we must not forget (smaller) projects.”
Ms Madew said she expected the pandemic to have an impact on which projects were put on the priority list in February. “You have been hearing a streamlining and fast-tracking narrative being used by the Prime Minister and other ministers, so we think what will be coming through in the coming months will be related to COVID,” she said.
In June, Scott Morrison flagged plans to fast-track 15 infrastructure projects and pour an extra $1.5bn into smaller developments.
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