Frequently Asked Questions
Please click on the links below to view our Frequently Asked Questions:
- What is the focus of the report?
- Where do we get our information and who writes the report?
- How is the infrastructure assessed?
- What type of infrastructure do we cover?
- What sectors are covered?
- What are the ratings?
- How do we compare?
- How independent are the reports?
- What do we mean by strategic planning, coordination and integration?
What is the focus of the report?
The report assesses infrastructure in terms of its fitness for purpose now and into the future. The report takes a strategic view. It is NOT an audit of each piece of infrastructure in every State and Territory.
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Where do we get our information and who writes the report?
We engage a consultant to undertake research and draft a report. The report is based on publicly available information. There is consultation with stakeholders and infrastructure owners. Each chapter is reviewed by sector experts, who are usually members of Engineers Australia. The ratings and recommendations are developed by the Division Infrastructure Report Card Committee in conjunction with the sector experts.
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How is the infrastructure assessed?
The draft report outlines facts and figures and changes since last report.
The draft report is sent to sector experts for each infrastructure type (Peer Review). The experts provide input on the accuracy of the information in the report and develop an indicative rating. The rating includes consideration of improvements (or otherwise) since the previous report, and key elements such as infrastructure policy, regulation, planning, provision, operation and maintenance.
The final ratings and recommendations are developed by the Division Infrastructure Report Card Committee in conjunction with the sector experts.
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What type of infrastructure do we cover?
We only cover economic infrastructure - which means the structural elements of an economy that facilitate the flow of goods and services between buyers and sellers, producers and consumers. In this sense, infrastructure includes such assets as roads, railways, airports, ports, energy systems, telecommunications, water, wastewater and sewerage systems.
We do not cover social infrastructure, which is described more broadly to include the basic services of a country that make economic and social activities possible. This description includes housing, health and education services, together with other institutions that facilitate economic and social interaction.
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What sectors are covered?
Transport
- Roads (National, State , local)
- Rail
- Ports
- Airports
Water
- Potable water
- Wastewater
- Stormwater
Energy
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What are the ratings?
| Grade |
Designation |
Definition |
| A | Very Good | Infrastructure is fit for its current and anticipated future purposes |
| B | Good | Minor changes required to enable infrastructure to be fit for its current and anticipated future purposes |
| C | Adequate | Major changes required to enable infrastructure to be fit for its current and anticipated future purposes |
| D | Poor | Critical changes required to enable infrastructure to be fit for its current and anticipated future purposes |
| F | Inadequate | Inadequate Inadequate for current and anticipated future purposes |
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How do we compare?
The reports are being rolled out consecutively.
Each State can be compared with their previous 2005 rating (2003 and 2004 for NSW and Qld respectively).
Each state can also be compared with previous national results.
Individual State to State comparisons will be available progressively throughout the roll-out of the report cards, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2010.
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How independent are the reports?
The report cards are funded entirely by Engineers Australia. No sponsorship is sought or accepted. The consultant must be as free of conflicts of interest as is possible. Governments and industry are not consulted on the ratings and have no involvement in drafting the report, except to provide factual information where this is publicly available. We are careful to ensure our reviewers do not have a conflict of interest.
The Committee members and sector experts (chapter reviewers) are engineers and are generally members of Engineers Australia.
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What do we mean by strategic planning, coordination and integration?
A key theme of Engineers Australia when discussing infrastructure is strategic planning, coordination and integration. Infrastructure drives the productivity, liveability and sustainability of cities, towns and regions. Optimising all three is a considerable challenge that requires planning, coordination and integration. Strategic planning requires a long-term perspective which, for cities, can exceed 100 years. Coordination requires bringing together all stakeholders, including the owners, operators and builders of the infrastructure, the infrastructure users, and the community, in the planning process and negotiating mutually acceptable outcomes. Integration requires linking infrastructure plans with broader land-use objectives, as well as ensuring that plans of different infrastructures complement one another.
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