Chemical College

The release today of the Engineers Australia 2010 New South Wales Infrastructure Report Card finds that NSW’s infrastructure is generally in average to poor condition, with over three-quarters of the sectors needing major to critical changes.

The Chair of the Engineers Australia NSW infrastructure report card committee, Ian Pedersen, said, “The State’s infrastructure is under stress in many areas and needs major changes to rise above its generally average to poor condition.

“There remains a lack of strategic planning, coordination and integration and a commitment to existing plans and, with population growth driving further demands, the public and private sectors will need to invest a significant amount of money to bring NSW’s infrastructure up to a reasonable standard.”

The 2010 report card reviewed infrastructure categories across energy, telecommunications, transport and water and assigned ratings * within the scales of A – F, and provides many comparisons with the initial 2003 NSW Infrastructure Report Card. The 2010 report card includes ratings for the additional categories of Roads Overall, Ports, Airports, Irrigation, Gas and Telecommunications.

Across the 14 report card categories – only three get a good “B” rating (needing minor changes), but eight get “C” (needing major changes), and three get a “D” (needing critical changes).

The “B” ratings are for Airports (B), National Roads (B-) and Potable Water (B-). The “C” ratings are for Roads Overall (C-), Ports (C), Wastewater (C+), Stormwater (C), Irrigation (C), Electricity (C-), Gas (C) and Telecommunications (C-). The “D” ratings are for State Roads (D+), Local Roads (D+) and Rail (D-).

The 2010 report shows that marginal improvements have been made since 2003 in the areas of National Roads, Wastewater and Stormwater, with the rating for Potable Water remaining the same. However, the ratings for State Roads, Local Roads, Rail, and Electricity have all gone backwards.

Recommendations of the Report include:

1. Develop a long-term infrastructure vision and plan that accommodates the State’s projected increase in population by 2051.
2. Identify where the additional population will be accommodated, the location of major transport corridors, and the sources of water and other utility services.
3. Give greater attention to managing demand for infrastructure services, rather than relying on building additional infrastructure to meet growing demand.
4. Factor in the impact of climate change on the viability of regional and rural areas in infrastructure decisions.
5. Develop an independent planning infrastructure advisory group to coordinate infrastructure planning and funding advice and to provide input to Infrastructure Australia.
6. Improve cooperation and collaboration between all levels of government and business in the planning and provision of infrastructure.
7. Deliver more efficient infrastructure outcomes and develop innovative funding models to provide the required infrastructure.
8. Address the current disparity between rural, regional and urban infrastructure, and recognise that improved infrastructure in regional and rural areas encourages business and individuals to relocate from Sydney and other major cities.

The report includes comprehensive analysis and comment and includes a ratings table for the current and past NSW and National Report Cards.

Further Information: Summaries of each infrastructure type, grade and comment and a copy of the full report is available at www.engineersaustralia.org.au/ircnsw. This report card is the fifth 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 90,000 members
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