Opinion piece by Keely Quinn, Division Manager, Engineers Australia Canberra.
520 000.
In anyone’s language that is a pretty impressive number.
It is also the projected population of the ACT by 2031.
That is an increase in only 15 years of over 100 000 people, and with that comes the challenges, including housing, education, jobs, transport, energy and all the additional tests that an ever-growing city has to face.
Canberra is a wonderful city to live in. It has had constant growth over the last twenty-five years, one of the highest standards of living in the country and out paces many other states and territories as a return to the national GDP per capita. In 2015 alone, the ACT contributed 2.2% of the country’s GDP, while only making up 1.6% of the national population. Engineering alone contributes over $500 million to the ACT’s economy and accounts for approximately 5% of Gross Territory Product through projects and related services.
It’s our quality of life that will drive over 100 000 people to make Canberra their home over the next 15 years.
This growth will be an ongoing challenge to Canberrans and to the government, but while there will be challenges, there will also be great opportunities if we do things right.
Our city of 2031 could be one of the most connected centres in the nation, with a strong and efficient public transport system and divested commerce centres close to shopping hubs and schools, accessible to every Canberran. We could be connected by world best technology and leading education, health and hospital facilities.
The outlook for Canberra over the coming decade and a half is one where we can see growing investment in Woden, Belconnen and Tuggeranong, turning these centres into commercial hubs that are great places to work.
Canberra does not want to look like Sydney, with thousands of people squeezing into a limited CBD like meat into a grinder. We are looking to expand, while keeping our very unique Canberran way of life.
In the 2010 Engineers Australia ACT Infrastructure Report, the infrastructure in the territory was rated as the highest in the country. We cannot, however, rest on these laurels. Future capital projects need to be found and funded to replace or refurbish existing infrastructure.
Long-term infrastructure planning and development are the enablers for our vision of a future Canberra and the catalyst for productivity and growth, and will be responsible for much of the future improvements in our standards of living.
To do this right, we must not only look at our funding, we need to ensure that we get the right people in the right place at the right time to undertake the work.
Engineers are problem solvers, critical thinkers and practical innovators, playing a pivotal role in modern society and contributing to the long-term prosperity of the ACT.
Professional engineers have the real time, real life, technical knowledge and expertise to ensure projects are delivered for the benefit of the public, through whole of lifecycle expertise. Engineering is a whole-life approach, encompassing design, cost, procurement, delivery, construction, asset management, maintenance and remediation. No other profession covers the whole life cycle like engineering does.
Putting the right engineers in the right parts of the process is critical to ensuring that in the future, we develop a Canberra that continues to be an attractive, vital and prosperous city.
The success of our current and future infrastructure relies upon the development of more sophisticated projects, requiring specialists to ensure all the components come together. We cannot develop infrastructure that is vital to our community on a “no worries…it’ll be right on the night” approach.
Since 1919 Engineers Australia has been the voice of one of Australia’s most trusted professions*. Engineers Australia is a not-for-profit professional association for engineers, governed by a Royal Charter that constitutes Engineers Australia and its members advance the science and practice of engineering for the benefit of the community.
*Morgan polling
Main image: stock image of Canberra.
Thumbnail image: Keely Quinn, Division Manager, Engineers Australia Canberra