Australia Infrastructure including IA discussion

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Infrastructure funding puzzle solved: Aust can borrow what it needs

[ozbob]

Deputy Premier, Minister for Transport, Minister for Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Jackie Trad

Infrastructure Australia Audit proof the Federal Government needs to invest in infrastructure

If Prime Minister Tony Abbott needs any more proof his government must urgently invest in public transport infrastructure, then he only needs to read the Infrastructure Australia's Audit that he released today.

Mr Abbott should heed the report as a warning his government must invest in critical road and public infrastructure projects to ease congestion, including a second rail river crossing and Sunshine Coast rail duplication.

Speaking from the Transport and Infrastructure Council Meeting in Sydney, Deputy Premier and Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Jackie Trad said she welcomed any report that highlighted the importance of investing in infrastructure for Queensland.

"Queenslanders expect all levels of government to work together to fund priority infrastructure," Ms Trad said.

"If Mr Abbott is serious about being an Infrastructure Prime Minister he must do more than release a report. He must invest in critical infrastructure projects and work with the state governments to ensure priority projects are funded.

"It is disappointing that Mr Abbott is still steadfastly refusing to commit to support the vital infrastructure projects Queensland needs to ease congestion like a second river crossing.

"In its last priority list, Infrastructure Australia confirmed a second river crossing in Brisbane was the number one priority project for the nation and second river rail crossing is a key public transport infrastructure project for South East Queensland."

Ms Trad said roads were one part of the solution and that government must also invest in public transport infrastructure to ease congestion on our road networks.

"An efficient and integrated transport network is critical to grow productivity and ease congestion in Queensland's cities," Ms Trad said.

"A second rail river crossing is a vital infrastructure project for Queensland. It is estimated that the South East Queensland population will grow by 1.5 million people over next 15 years – with 80 percent of people choosing to live outside the Brisbane local government area.

Ms Trad said the audit was a warning to the Abbott Government to invest in urban public transport improvements such as a second rail river crossing and Gold Coast Light Rail to support the growth of South East Queensland.

"It's been eighteen months since the government published an infrastructure priority list and in that time the problems of congestion and population growth have only gotten worse," Ms Trad said.

[ozbob]

IA > Australian Infrastructure Audit

The Australian Infrastructure Audit takes a strategic approach to assessing our nation's infrastructure needs. It examines the drivers of future infrastructure demand, particularly population and economic growth.

The Audit provides a top-down assessment of the value-add, or Direct Economic Contribution of infrastructure; considers the future demand for infrastructure over the next 15 years, and delivers an evidence base for further gap analysis, long term planning and future investment priorities.

The Australian Infrastructure Audit has found that without action Australia's productivity and quality of life will be tested, with population and economic growth set to cause increasing congestion and bottlenecks.

Major reforms are needed to improve the way we plan, finance, construct, maintain and operate infrastructure to ensure it can underpin gains in Australia's productivity in the decades ahead, and contribute to economic growth ...

[ozbob]

Railway Technology --> Raw deal: Australian railways face funding slash

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Questions raised over infrastructure spending

[ozbob]

Radio National --> Why fund rail when roads are our future?

[ozbob]

Speaking with: Crystal Legacy on the politics of transport infrastructure

--> http://theconversation.com/speaking-with-crystal-legacy-on-the-politics-of-transport-infrastructure-46409

===============

Time the time to listen to this.   

[ozbob]

RN Rear Vision --> Infrastructure in Australia: roads to nowhere or a shiny new future?

Transcript available.

[ozbob]

http://blogs.crikey.com.au/theurbanist/2015/09/23/wheres-the-4-5-billion-cut-from-public-transport/

Where's the $4.5 billion cut out of public transport funding?

Alan Davies | Sep 23, 2015 10:29AM

The Opposition reckons Malcolm Turnbull should reinstate the $4.5 billion Tony Abbott "cut" from urban public transport. Trouble is the money never existed

Where the $4.5 billion in "cuts" came from

Now that Malcolm Turnbull's been made captain, the Opposition's never-ending supply of free kicks on issues like public transport looks likely to come to an abrupt halt.

Bill Shorten's immediate response is to demand the new Prime Minister put his money where his mouth is. Here's the Opposition Leader on Q&A on Monday night:

    In terms of public transport infrastructure, one thing Mr Turnbull could do is it's good to catch the train but what's more important is reverse the four and a half billion dollars worth of cuts that they took away from public transport infrastructure.

And then in response to a follow-up question he kicked harder:

    The reason why I spoke about public transport infrastructure in the big cities is there's four and a half billion dollars which the current Liberal Government have cut; if you really believe in public transport rather than just social media memes, what we need to do is see some of that money come back into public transport.

The Shadow Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Anthony Albanese, conveniently provided a list on Twitter yesterday of the projects the Opposition says suffered funding cuts under the Abbott Government (see exhibit).

It's good to see both major parties now openly acknowledging the Commonwealth has a crucial role in funding urban public transport; Tony Abbott's policy was hopefully a two year aberration.

However there's a big problem with the Opposition's strategy; all or most of the $4.5 billion was never "cut" from public transport because it never existed in the first place; it was merely notional.

I noted a couple of years ago (What does the budget say about transport?) that Wayne Swann's 2013/14 budget claimed to provide funding for three major rail projects: (1)

    $3.0 billion for the $11 billion Melbourne Metro rail tunnel.

    $0.71 billion for the Brisbane Cross River Rail.

    $0.5 billion for Perth Light Rail (or construction of a new rail link to the city's airport).

I commented then that it looked like smoke and mirrors because hardly any of the money was committed in the practical sense of being within the budget's four year outlook to 2016/17.

The subsequent release of more detailed information confirmed that suspicion. In particular, of the $3 billion supposedly allocated for Melbourne Metro in the 2013/14 budget, a mere $25 million was budgeted in 2015/16 and $50 million in $2016/17.

The then Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, subsequently laid it out clearly; in 2013 she said she would provide $3 Billion for Melbourne Metro if she won the 2013 election.

She acknowledged the bulk of the funds would not become available until circa 2020. At the time, that was after three Federal elections!

The reality is the great bulk of the promised funding was notional. Governments can and will promise anything on the never-never, especially if they're feeling desperate.

There's another fact that can't be conveniently overlooked; voters resoundingly repudiated the Gillard/Rudd program.

However misguided he might've been, Mr Abbott won the election despite making it crystal clear the government he led would not fund urban public transport.

Now that the Abbott Aberration has passed, the Commonwealth can and should resume funding urban public transport infrastructure. But there's no bucket of real money cut from public transport projects that Mr Turnbull can draw on.

He's going to have to find the funds in the customary way i.e. by foregoing other expenditure priorities and by increasing revenue. That'll be a particularly hard job on his side of politics.

And let's not be fooled if one day he too starts promising to fund glamorous projects where the money doesn't flow until after three elections; right now that could be as distant as 2022-2025.

[ozbob]

The New Daily --> The biggest challenge facing Australian cities

Australian cities could "grind to a halt" unless there is a major rethink on urban transport, a report from the Australian Council of Learned Academies (ACOLA) has predicted.

The report, titled Delivering Sustainable Urban Mobility, called on people – not cars – to be prioritised in future planning of urban areas, in order to sustain a high quality of life.

Traffic congestion is already costing the economy dearly ...

More --> http://thenewdaily.com.au/news/2015/10/06/biggest-challenge-facing-australian-cities/

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> How the 'lucky country' is blowing its luck

Australia, we have a bloody big problem. Unless we change the way we develop our cities, particularly Melbourne, Sydney and Perth, we are going to turn one of the most liveable nations into a gridlocked, polluted urban mess, with millions of people blocked from opportunity in under-serviced and isolated sprawl as our population surges. And surge it will.

A high-level report to the government, released today, indicates the extent to which the legendary "lucky country" is, well, at risk of blowing its luck.

A key jeopardy is that the sort of growth in this photo will just go blindly on and on and on, rather than us using existing suburbs and infrastructure, particularly public transport, in a much better way ...

Read more: > http://www.theage.com.au/comment/how-the-lucky-country-is-blowing-its-luck-20151005-gk1odq.html

[ozbob]

Sydney Morning Herald --> Turnbull's city focus on the money

[ozbob]

The Australian --> Firms gear up for urban rail project boom

[ozbob]

Statement of Expectations
For the Board of Infrastructure Australia
For the period 1 November 2015 to 30 June 2017

>> http://infrastructureaustralia.gov.au/about/files/Statement-of-Expectations-2015-17.pdf

=================

http://paulfletcher.com.au/media-centre/media-releases/item/1485-new-statement-of-expectations-issued-to-infrastructure-australia.html

New Statement of Expectations issued to Infrastructure Australia

Media Releases Monday, 02 November 2015

The Australian Government has issued a new Statement of Expectations to Infrastructure Australia for the period 1 November 2015 to 30 June 2017.

Minister for Major Projects Paul Fletcher said the new Statement confirms Infrastructure Australia's ongoing work programme.

"It also encourages Infrastructure Australia to continue to focus on improving strategic infrastructure planning by providing robust, independent and evidence-based advice to governments on Australia's infrastructure needs," Mr Fletcher said.

"Since the last Statement of Expectations was issued, Infrastructure Australia delivered a landmark report – the Australian Infrastructure Audit – which provides the evidence base for the development of the Australian Infrastructure Plan.

"The Australian Infrastructure Plan is presently being developed by Infrastructure Australia. It will set out Australia's priorities across road, transportation, energy, water and telecommunications infrastructure at a national and state level.

"It will clearly identify short and long-term productivity gains, as well as any complementary projects required to fully maximise productivity gains."

Mr Fletcher said that the Plan will also include a top-down infrastructure priority list of nationally significant initiatives and project proposals.

"The priority list will be used to inform government decision making on funding allocations by identifying and prioritising projects of national significance. Projects on this List will come from the Audit and the Plan."

Infrastructure Australia is expected to complete the Australian Infrastructure Plan and deliver it to Government in time for public release in early 2016.

The full Statement of Expectations is available at: http://infrastructureaustralia.gov.au/about/files/Statement-of-Expectations-2015-17.pdf

[ozbob]

Sydney Morning Herald --> The way we justify investments in road projects like WestConnex doesn't add up

[Stillwater]

So, Infrastructure Australia will produce the Australian Infrastructure Plan in early 2016 and the Queensland Government has promised its own list of major infrastructure projects (not just PT).  What coordination is occurring within government to ensure that both shopping lists match?  And will we see a political bunfight if they don't.  For instance, would Qld knock back an offer of a bucket of money from Canberra for a project because it had a different priority in mind?

[#Metro]

Top-down. Why not phone up each state and territory and get them to put in the priorities, that way projects will appear on both lists.

[ozbob]

Sydney Morning Herald --> Hong Kong rail operator MTR Corporation seeks to strengthen presence in Sydney and Melbourne

[ozbob]

Twitter

PT Not Traffic ‏@PTNotTraffic 15h

.@AlboMP calling for rational, properly assessed infra spend = not #EWLink #WestConnex https://sslcam.news.com.au/cam/authorise?channel=msite&url=http%3a%2f%2fwww.theaustralian.com.au%2fnational-affairs%2fopinion%2flets-return-to-rational-infrastructure-spending%2fnews-story%2f382a9f28ea94401d76ff4066ffacd945 ...

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> Infrastructure is about providing a service not about 'building big things'

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> C'mon, let's get a move on!

[ozbob]

IA --> The Australian Infrastructure Audit and Plan

[ozbob]

Twitter

Political Alert ‏@political_alert 3m

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull will launch the Infrastructure Australia Plan at Brisbane Airport, 10.25am (AEST) #auspol

[ozbob]

Australian Infrastructure Plan

>> http://infrastructureaustralia.gov.au/policy-publications/publications/Australian-Infrastructure-Plan.aspx

[ozbob]

Twitter

Anthony Albanese ‏@AlboMP 2 minutes ago

Holding a press conference at 11.40am in Sydney on the Infrastructure Australia report released today: http://bit.ly/1Xwqp54

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

17th February 2016

Infrastructure Australia confirms what we know ... fancy that!

Greetings,

RAIL Back On Track welcomes the Infrastructure Australia (IA) Plan.

With respect to Queensland, it confirms that Cross River Rail, and the upgrade of the Sunshine Coast Line are key projects.  A point we have made constantly for years.

It is concerning that IA is still waiting for a business case for CRR and for the Sunshine Coast Line upgrade.

The IA plan is a sad indictment on under performing Governments.   It is time now for action, not more plans and delays.

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

References:

1. Australian Infrastructure Plan

>> http://infrastructureaustralia.gov.au/policy-publications/publications/Australian-Infrastructure-Plan.aspx

2.  Infrastructure Australia: Queensland

>> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=12015.0

[ozbob]

Twitter

Political Alert ‏@political_alert 3m

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull will launch the Infrastructure Australia Plan at Brisbane Airport, 10.25am (AEST) #auspol

Twitter

Johanna Marie ‏@JohannaMarie_ now

The Prime Minister welcomes the Australian Infrastructure Plan while inspecting Brisbane Airport development

[ozbob]

Twitter

Aust Railway Assoc ‏@AustRail now

Media statement | Rail a key part of #InfrastructurePlan and better future for the nation http://bit.ly/249ajmz

MEDIA STATEMENT
17 February 2015

Rail a key part of Infrastructure Plan and better future for the nation

The Australasian Railway Association today welcomes the release of Infrastructure Australia's 'Australian Infrastructure Plan
and the Infrastructure Priority List' setting out priorities and areas of reform for the benefit of the entire nation.

The Australasian Railway Association's Chief Executive Officer, Danny Broad, describes the Plan as "offering rigorous reform
that will set the nation on a path to a stronger, more resilient future. The Plan reflects a holistic approach to infrastructure
planning and decision making, and will go a long way in providing innovative solutions to a number of significant
infrastructure problems (such as congestion in the transport sector) which are holding Australia back," said Mr Broad.
"The Plan makes a number of key recommendations that reinforce the very issues that the Australasian Railway Association
has raised for some time, including longer term planning, reform in the funding of transport infrastructure, protection of rail
corridors for future public transport and freight projects, and the nation's ability to make informed decisions on
infrastructure projects based on evidence.

"In order for Australia to truly progress, it is crucial that this independent, objective and thorough Plan be turned into reality.
The Plan promotes economic growth and improved liveability of cities while highlighting the crucial role freight and
passenger rail will play in our future.

"I call on State and Territory governments to develop business plans for key projects on the Priority List. It is essential that
passenger rail projects such as the Cross River Rail and metro style services in Melbourne and Sydney, the electrification of
the Gawler Line in Adelaide, the new and extended light rail services in Canberra, Parramatta and Adelaide, as well as the
North Corridor in Perth, all receive Commonwealth and state funding. In addition, the Australasian Railway Association urges
government to seriously examine the option of value capture and innovative funding mechanisms to provide part funding for
these, and other infrastructure projects.

"The Plan presents a strong case for more freight on rail; a position echoed by the Australasian Railway Association. The
efficient movement of freight in Australia is crucial for our domestic economy and our ability to compete internationally.
Freight projects such as the Inland Rail, freight rail connections to ports and upgrades to regional rail are crucial. All tiers of
government need to be a part of decisions in the freight area, along with key representatives from the private sector. The
proposed National Freight and Supply Chain Strategy is an important element in this regard, one that will foster high levels of
collaboration.

"Infrastructure Australia is showing great leadership –and independence– in recommending bold and fearless reforms.
Australia must continue to have an ongoing public dialogue about the state of the nation's infrastructure - the services it
delivers, the cost to the nation and how Australia will pay for it.

"In saying all this, the Plan will only be as good as the commitments and leadership that follow. It is up to the Australian
Government to provide strong leadership by setting policy objectives and providing appropriate funding and incentives to
encourage other governments to take action. We stress the need for cohesion among the States and their respective
infrastructure bodies. This strategic document must be turned into a well-led and carefully articulated action agenda," said
Mr Broad.
-ENDS-

[ozbob]

Malcolm Turnbull MP --> Australian Government welcomes release of fifteen year infrastructure plan

The Australian Government has welcomed the release of Infrastructure Australia's 15-year Australian Infrastructure Plan, which sets out an 'Infrastructure Priority List' of more than 90 potential projects around the country and an extensive set of recommendations relevant to all levels of government about reforms to improve the delivery of infrastructure nation-wide.

Infrastructure Australia is an independent statutory body with a board of recognised industry experts. Infrastructure Australia has a mandate to advise government on nationally significant infrastructure, including through a 15 year rolling Infrastructure Plan to specify national priorities.

The Australian Infrastructure Plan is the first long-term national infrastructure plan, based on a top down audit of the nation's assets, developed in the nation's history.

The Infrastructure Plan follows extensive consultation by Infrastructure Australia with governments and other stakeholders, will be a key tool to inform decisions by the Commonwealth Government and State and Territory Governments about which reforms to progress, and over time which projects will be funded.

The Government has an extensive infrastructure investment programme – with a record investment between 2014-15 and 2019-20 – and a strong infrastructure policy agenda.

Today the Turnbull Government is also announcing a set of funding and financing principles that will guide the Commonwealth's approach to funding major projects, particularly in the way we engage with states and territories.

The Australian Infrastructure Plan includes extensive analysis of key infrastructure policy challenges, across transport, energy, telecommunications and water infrastructure, and makes a number of recommendations, including:

    Governments should make greater use of well-regulated market based solutions to improve the efficiency of Australia's infrastructure and support productivity growth

    State and territory governments should deliver long-term regional infrastructure plans

    Australia needs a National Freight and Supply Chain Strategy

    Governments should routinely consider value capture opportunities in all future public infrastructure investments.

The 15 Year Infrastructure Plan provides a major contribution to strategic, long term thinking about Australia's infrastructure needs and how that can be best met.

This Plan contains many recommendations – to both the Commonwealth and state and territory governments.

We expect the 15 Year Australian Infrastructure Plan will spark vigorous debate about our national policy settings – including how we get the best from our existing infrastructure, and how to make wise decisions about potential new infrastructure.

The Turnbull Government will carefully consider the recommendations, and have regard to public debate, before announcing our response to them in due course.

A copy of the Australian Infrastructure Plan and the Infrastructure Priority List is available at http://infrastructureaustralia.gov.au/policy-publications/publications/Australian-Infrastructure-Plan.aspx

[ozbob]

" ... how we get the best from our existing infrastructure  .. "

Our submission to the State Infrastructure Plan was to include bus reform.  A relatively low cost option, utilising present infrastructure for a much better network.  Let's see how it goes ..

[ozbob]

The Guardian --> Charge drivers for their road use and build more metro rail, report urges

[verbatim9]

Do you think Governments will take up that initiative of road user pays per km instead of fuel taxes/excises and registration? It would have to be a slow migration to a system like that, alot of areas are without PT. Like Toowoomba to Brisbane corridor except for Greyhound bus. Plus PT very inadequate in Brisbane at the moment for quick mass transit around town. People will not stand going from Jindalee to Cannon Hill taking at least 90mins by PT. While by car its 30mins

[ozbob]

http://www.aurizon.com.au/news/news/infrastructure-australia-reforms-could-be-game-changers-for-australian-transport

Aurizon Media Release

Infrastructure Australia reforms could be "game changers" for Australian transport

Proposed transport policy reforms outlined in Infrastructure Australia's 15-Year Infrastructure Plan could be "game-changers" for the efficiency of the nation's freight transport sector, according to Australia's largest rail-based transport company Aurizon.

Priorities in the plan include the protection of key freight corridors and road freight reform to drive better supply chain efficiency.

Aurizon has long advocated for the user-pay road infrastructure charges for heavy vehicles that would increase funding streams for the nation's critical freight infrastructure corridors, and underpin productivity improvements and more competitive transport freight markets.

"Many of these reforms are long overdue and have potential to be game changers in the Australian transport sector," Aurizon Managing Director & CEO Lance Hockridge said.

"We can unlock significant productivity upside and deliver benefits to consumers and Australian producers through more competitive freight pricing, lower transit times and improved customer service.

"Research released by the Australian Logistics Council shows that just a 1% percent improvement in our supply chains would boost national GDP by $2 billion.

"The task now is for governments, policy makers and the transport industry to work collaboratively on a sensible and timely implementation plan for key reforms. This is especially important when the Australia economy is facing multiple challenges."

Key aspects of the report that Aurizon supports include:

    IA's recommendation for a National Freight and Supply Chain Strategy to drive a long term plan for the various components of our national and international supply chains.

    Australia should commit to full implementation of heavy vehicle road user charging that reflects the true costs imposed on the road network within five years.

    Infrastructure is a catalyst for regional population growth

    "Freight rail will need to play a growing role in the movement of goods between ports and inland freight terminals, and in the movement of containerised and general freight over longer distances."

    "The absence of effective heavy vehicle user charging distorts the efficient movement of freight across the economy and undermines the economics of freight rail for some cargo profiles, meaning modal choices and pricing outcomes for freight are not always optimal."

    Government should support a "transition to less emissions-intensive modes for freight modes where feasible; shifting freight from trucks to trains – especially for longer trips – reduces emissions and improves the efficiency of freight networks"

[ozbob]

Sydney Morning Herald --> New infrastructure plan is political pie in the sky

[ozbob]

Rail Express --> Albanese: Infrastructure report highlights Coalition's failings

[ozbob]

Inside Story --> In infrastructure, you get what you're willing to pay for

[ozbob]

Twitter

Crikey.com.au ‏@crikey_news 1m

[FREE] The only way to get people to ditch cars in favour of public transport: http://ow.ly/3zac4z

[Stillwater]

Queensland has only three projects on the IA 'near-term high priority' list.  NSW has eight and Victoria has 4.  Queensland projects are under-represented at the top of the list.  Why?  Because Queensland has not completed business cases for several key projects and is not keeping up the evaluation of projects according to criteria set by IA.  It seeks to make up for its lack of action by having pollies go into foaming mode from time to time shouting SHOW ME THE MONEY.  That is a little show for electors only.  It is no substitute for effective business planning for major projects.  Things might change when IQ is up and running.  Let's hope so.

[ozbob]

The Conversation --> Australian Infrastructure Plan has some way to go to give our cities what they need

[ozbob]

Urbanist Alan Davies --> Is the Australian Infrastructure Plan on the money?