Infrastructure Australia Priority List shows need for investment to support cities development

The 2018 IA Priority List showcases the need for a greater focus on infrastructure investment, particularly in expanding transport network capacity to support our rapidly growing capital cities.

All of the projects identified as ‘High Priority’ are slated to improve transport infrastructure in our major cities.

“The report recognises the opportunities of Australia’s rapidly growing population, which is currently growing faster than any other developed country,” Denita Wawn, CEO of Master Builders Australia said.

“But to boost our productivity and living standards, we need to build vital infrastructure to meet the demands of this new population,” she said.

“Master Builders welcomes existing government commitments to infrastructure that are contributing to a surge in commercial activity over the next five years, with transport infrastructure investment expected to peak in 2019-20,” Denita Wawn said.

“This type of investment needs to be sustained to support population growth and the liveability of our cities,” she said.

“The Infrastructure Priority List provides governments with a pipeline of projects in different stages of planning, so governments can invest with confidence in critical projects that will help our cities to grow and prosper,” Denita Wawn said.

“Delivering these projects on-time and on-budget is critical if Australia is to meet its future growth potential. Master Builders is concerned that the merger, confirmed today, of the MUA and CFMEU, two of Australia’s most militant unions, is a threat to delivering this pipeline,” she said.

“Previous work by Master Builders has also shown that these major transport infrastructure projects are key to supporting greater housing construction. Federal government investment in these projects, as well as through its Cities Deals Program, is slated to support the construction of more than 100,000 new homes over the next five years by reducing the infrastructure chokepoints to new housing supply,” Denita Wawn said.