PRODUCT NEWS
wish list Infrastructure Australia’s list of priorities for 2021 include six projects labelled as ‘high priority’
Inset above: The next stage of the Sydney Metro and the M12 motorway and airport in western Sydney have been identified high priority projects by Infrastructure Australia
Government agencies must engage with industry immediately to plan the delivery of these projects.
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list of priority projects released by independent government advisory body Infrastructure Australia has been praised by transport and construction groups. Infrastructure Australia’s list is divided into four sections – high priority projects, priority projects, high priority initiatives and priority initiatives – and is used to shape government thinking and spending. The high priority projects identified are a new motorway and airport in western Sydney, the next stage of Sydney’s Metro, the North East Link and an upgrade to the M80 ring road in Melbourne, and the development of Brisbane’s Metro network. Five new projects and 39 initiatives have been added to this year’s list, while another 10 projects from last year’s list have already started construction. Civil Contractors Federation (CCF) South Australia chief executive Rebecca Pickering says the list had the highest number of new proposals for that state in its five-year history. She also welcomed the news that a submission by CCF had led to projects making the list, while hoping that goals such as clearing South Australia’s road backlog would become a reality and deliver economic benefits. “The Federation has been advocating for this for several years and future Budget allocations could see a large improvement in SA’s road safety,
while creating jobs in our state and building our local economy,” says Pickering. “Earthmovers, road constructors, pipelayers, road maintenance, traffic control, mobile plant operators and other civil business are digging deep for South Australia to deliver these projects, and the industry’s uptake of new civil apprenticeships is evidence of this. “Government agencies must engage with industry immediately to plan the delivery of these projects and those already listed as part of the record $16.8 billion committed in principle by government to SA’s future infrastructure needs.” National and state-based projects and initiatives feature on the priority list; however its release was met with disappointment by the National Farmers Federation (NFF) over the absence of any regional projects being labelled as high priority. “Regional Australia needs transformational infrastructure, just like the Western Sydney Airport development, to finally capture all the benefits and economic potential of our regional communities and economies,” says NFF president Fiona Simson. “The NFF also acknowledges Infrastructure Australia’s efforts in identifying regional initiatives; however they need to be fullycosted and shovel-ready.”
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