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Pressures grow on the adequacy of WA's infrastructure
The release today of the Engineers Australia 2010 Western Australia Infrastructure Report Card found that the condition of WA’s infrastructure is generally adequate (but needing major changes) to good (needing minor changes), and growing pressures remain on keeping up with demand and fixing many inadequacies.
The Engineers Australia WA infrastructure report card committee spokesperson, Chris Fitzhardinge, said, “While Western Australia continues to benefit through many economic opportunities and population growth, sustaining the momentum will not happen without more integrated, long-term planning and commitment to funding of infrastructure to underpin the State’s future.”
The 2010 report card reviewed infrastructure categories across energy, telecommunications, transport and water and assigned ratings *, and provides many comparisons with the initial 2005 WA Infrastructure Report Card. The 2010 report card also includes ratings for the additional categories of Roads Overall, Airports and Telecommunications.
Across the 14 report card categories – six fall within the good “B” rating range (needing minor changes) and eight are within the adequate “C” ratings (but needing major changes).
The report shows that since 2005 marginal improvements have been made in the area of Wastewater (B), and the ratings have remained the same for National Roads (B -), State Roads (B -), Rail (C +), Ports (B -), Potable Water (B -), Irrigation (C +) and Electricity (B -). However, the ratings for Local Roads (C -), Stormwater (C) and Gas (C +) have all slipped.
Ratings for the three new categories were: Roads Overall (C +); Airports (C +): and Telecommunications (C -)
Recommendations of the Report include:
The Engineers Australia WA infrastructure report card committee spokesperson, Chris Fitzhardinge, said, “While Western Australia continues to benefit through many economic opportunities and population growth, sustaining the momentum will not happen without more integrated, long-term planning and commitment to funding of infrastructure to underpin the State’s future.”
The 2010 report card reviewed infrastructure categories across energy, telecommunications, transport and water and assigned ratings *, and provides many comparisons with the initial 2005 WA Infrastructure Report Card. The 2010 report card also includes ratings for the additional categories of Roads Overall, Airports and Telecommunications.
Across the 14 report card categories – six fall within the good “B” rating range (needing minor changes) and eight are within the adequate “C” ratings (but needing major changes).
The report shows that since 2005 marginal improvements have been made in the area of Wastewater (B), and the ratings have remained the same for National Roads (B -), State Roads (B -), Rail (C +), Ports (B -), Potable Water (B -), Irrigation (C +) and Electricity (B -). However, the ratings for Local Roads (C -), Stormwater (C) and Gas (C +) have all slipped.
Ratings for the three new categories were: Roads Overall (C +); Airports (C +): and Telecommunications (C -)
Recommendations of the Report include:
- The Western Australian Government produces an overarching infrastructure plan for the next forty years which meets the needs of the rapidly growing State and addresses the interactions between land-use, water, energy, transport and telecommunications.
- Long-term regional infrastructure plans are prepared for each of the nine regions to facilitate private sector investment by providing an understanding of the commitment of governments and the sequencing of projects.
- Sector infrastructure plans, such as the metropolitan freight, state transport, metropolitan transport and Perth bicycle network plans, need to be prepared as outlined in Directions 2031 and Beyond.
- Infrastructure planning should lead rather than follow the development of new urban areas and redevelopment of existing areas.
- The Western Australian Government closely monitors the performance of the urban housing infill targets in relation to the infrastructure requirements for the Perth metropolitan area.
- Governments and the private sector in partnership increase expenditure on infrastructure based on the priorities established in the State and regional infrastructure plans.
- Greater effort be given to managing and reducing demand for infrastructure services through changes in lifestyle, land-use planning, local employment, use of smart technology and pricing as it is recognised that it is often not practical nor financially viable to continually increase supply, particularly for peak demand.
- The income derived from the shift to real cost pricing of water, electricity and other infrastructure services is directly linked to investments to improve reliability and quality of service.
- The Infrastructure Coordinating Committee needs to improve its engagement with industry and the community to establish processes and priorities for the provision of major infrastructure and the accompanying private sector investment.
- The Western Australian Government’s approach to Australian Government initiatives, notably Infrastructure Australia, needs to be more effective so as to increase its share of national investment as this would better reflect the infrastructure requirements of the State.
Further Information: Summaries of each infrastructure type, grade and comment and a copy of the full report is available at www.engineersaustralia.org.au/ircwa. This report card is the sixth released in the new series that will be completed for all States and Territories by November 2010.
(* The ratings have been based on an assessment of asset condition, asset availability and reliability, asset management and sustainability. An “A” means very good and the infrastructure is fit for its current and anticipated future purposes; “B” is good, with minor changes needed to meeting current and future needs; “C” is adequate, but major changes required; “D” is poor, with critical changes required; and “F” is inadequate).
Media Contact: John Bright - 0407 234 490 / jbright@engineersaustralia.org.au Engineers Australia is the common name of The Institution of Engineers Australia with over 93,000 members
