New infrastructure projects to drive jobs and growth

New infrastructure projects to drive jobs and growthFour nation-building projects in Queensland and South Australia, added to Infrastructure Australia’s priority list last week, have been welcomed by the property industry as drivers of jobs and growth.Infrastructure Australia, the nation’s independent infrastructure advisor, has assessed business cases for the Bruce Highway upgrade and M1 Pacific Motorway-Gateway merge upgrade in Queensland, and the Eyre Infrastructure and North-South Corridor projects in South Australia.The Infrastructure Priority List identifies nationally significant projects and initiatives in every state and territory, and is updated as the Infrastructure Australia Board assesses new business cases from project proponents.”Infrastructure Australia is currently assessing a record number of business cases as Australian governments and industry embrace the need to better align project proposals with an identified infrastructure need,” says Infrastructure Australia chief executive, Philip Davies.Davies says the rigorous assessment of projects for inclusion on the Infrastructure Priority List enables better investment decision-making. Proposed projects are analysed to determine costs and benefits, as well as strategic fit, deliverability and economic, social and environmental impacts.Upgrading the Caloundra Road to Sunshine Motorway section of the Bruce Highway promises to ease congestion, improve road safety and enable significant freight movement within and between regions. The Gateway Motorway merge upgrade will provide additional capacity for the Pacific Motorway – the busiest road corridor in South East Queensland.”These two projects are critical pinch-points in the SEQ road network, which must be addressed to provide for the region’s future growth,” says the Property Council’s executive director in Queensland, Chris Mountford.”The local property industry will be encouraged by Infrastructure Australia’s decision to recognise these projects as national priority.”The Eyre Infrastructure Project addresses the region’s need for additional high-capacity port and rail infrastructure to enable mineral resources exports, while the upgrade of a 3.3 km section of Adelaide’s North-South Corridor is part of a broader $2.5 billion program of works between Gawler and Noarlunga.”South Australia needs its pipeline of planned infrastructure projects to align better with planning and infrastructure, and these two projects speak to that alignment,” says Property Council South Australian executive director, Daniel Gannon.”Infrastructure Australia’s assessment for South Australia is a green light for stimulus and activity for the state’s biggest private sector employer.”The updated Infrastructure Priority List is now available at www.infrastructureaustralia.gov.au