Victoria

Download the Full Report Here

Victoria's 2010 Infrastructure Report has been released. To download the full report please click on the links below:

A Ratings Summary is available below.

Media Information

Updated Report Card on Victoria's Infrastructure

The release today of the Engineers Australia 2010 Victorian Infrastructure Report Card, indicates progress in some areas of Victoria's infrastructure over the past 5 years, but the overall picture clearly shows that the majority of infrastructure categories fall within the areas of concern of having either not improved, or have gone backwards.

What is the Infrastructure Report Card Project?

The Infrastructure Report Card for Victoria examines key infrastructure sectors, evaluates the status of assets and planning processes and assigns a rating. Detailed ratings are given for:

  • Roads, rail, ports and airports
  • Potable water, wastewater and stormwater
  • Electricity and gas
  • Telecommunications 

We have made recommendations to government to ensure that Victoria's infrastructure is sufficient to deliver our essential services, drive economic growth and support our social needs.

Previous Report

 

Ratings Summary

The table below show the ratings summary. To download this summary in PDF format please click here.

 

Infrastructure Type Grade Comment
Roads overall
National Roads
State Roads
Local Roads

C+
C+
C+
C-

 This rating recognises that the metropolitan road infrastructure is increasingly under stress due to demand rising faster than supply. Without introducing methods to significantly reduce the gap between supply and demand, congestion will continue to rise even further. Roads in regional areas are mostly just maintaining their existing quality, but will decline unless investment increases.
Rail D This rating recognises that that there has been no fundamental improvement to the metropolitan rail network since 2005, although there are a number of projects underway that should deliver improvements. Over the long-term, a complete modernisation of metropolitan rail is required to meet the significant increase in demand expected from rising population and public transport use. While important regional rail segments have improved, quality is still below what is needed for rail freight to increase its market share. Less used elements of the regional rail network remain inadequate. The quality of the tram network is improving but is still inadequate in terms of average speed and capacity. 
Ports C+ This rating recognises that while infrastructure upgrades have occurred, and port land-use and strategic plans have been developed, there are many significant access and congestion problems remaining at and around ports.
Airports B This rating recognises the considerable improvement in capacity and quality of infrastructure at Melbourne Airport, and the maintenance of Melbourne Airport's curfew-free status. Integration of commercial/industrial developments pursued by Melbourne, Essendon and Moorabbin airports with those developed by nearby local governments is unsatisfactory as is access by public transport to all airports. The ongoing viability of smaller regional airports is a concern.
Potable Water C This rating recognises that Victoria's water supply has been directly impacted by the significant decline in rainfall and growing population. The construction of the desalination plant will future-proof Melbourne's water supply for the next decade, although at high energy and financial costs. This plant may not have been needed had other sources of water supply been pursued seriously since the 1990s. Planning is still not evident to achieve major changes in water supply and use, which means that additional desalination plants may be needed due to population growth and climate change. Ensuring water sustainability will also be a challenge in a number of regional areas. 
Stormwater C- This rating recognises that there has been slow improvement in the quality of stormwater flow due to the installation of gross litter traps and other devices. However, there has been no substantial improvement in the widespread exploitation of the stormwater resource.
Wastewater B- This rating recognises that Melbourne's sewerage and treatment infrastructure is efficiently managed and effective, and the upgrading of the Eastern Treatment Plant will produce much better environmental outcomes. However, failure to use its recycled water is a waste of a valuable resource. Insufficient attention is being given to biosolid management and to changing the centralised model of wastewater collection and treatment to allow for more local treatment and reuse. Wastewater treatment infrastructure in some regional areas is considered inadequate.
Irrigation C- This rating recognises the increased investment in irrigation modernisation and efficiency. Projects like the Wimmera Mallee Pipeline and the Northern Victoria Irrigation Renewal Project will lead to dramatically improved irrigation efficiency, however, much of this infrastructure is yet to be delivered. Substantial irrigation planning and investment is required across the rest of the State.
Electricity C- This rating recognises that investment in gas and renewable generation has increased, and transmission and distribution assets are in a reasonable condition. However, the demand-supply balance remains tight, and the future of coal-fired generation is uncertain due to both the future carbon price and the practicality of clean coal technology. The transmission and distribution system is also vulnerable to extreme weather events that are predicted to become more frequent due to climate change. Insufficient attention has been given to demand management as a way to reduce peak demand.
Gas C This rating recognises that improvements are being made to the operation of the gas market and the quality of gas planning information. However, asset quality has not significantly improved and the Principal Transmission System remains vulnerable to single points of failure. Significant expansion in gas-fired generation will require additional investment in gas transmission pipelines.
Telecommunications C This rating recognises that telecommunications have become an essential service for business and the community, and while voice and mobile phone services are almost universally available, this is not the case for fast, affordable broadband across the State. Specifically, there is under-provision of fixed broadband infrastructure at exchanges in Melbourne and across Victoria, as well as under-provision of backhaul fibre in regional Victoria. Overall, there is a lack of an integrated strategic plan for telecommunications. 
Victoria's Results

 

What are the Report Cards?