11 May 2010
The National Infrastructure Priority List, released with much fanfare last year, has been overlooked in this years budget process, according to the Urban Taskforce.
In last years budget, the federal government allocated funding to $4.5 billion of urban transport projects on the recommendation of Infrastructure Australia, Mr Gadiel said.
This included $3.2 billion for the Regional Rail Express in Melbourne, $365 million for Gold Coast rapid transit, $293 million for South Australias Gawler Rail Line upgrade and $291 million for the Seaford Rail Extension, as well as $300 million for the Northbridge Rail Link in Perth.
This was a good start, but it left eight key urban transport projects unfunded, each identified by Infrastructure Australia as part of a ˜priority pipeline of projects.
The projects, costed at $32 billion, included:
- $14.8 billion for Brisbanes public transport system;
- $13.1 billion for Sydneys public transport system;
- $2.6 billion in Queensland motorway improvements; and
- $700 million for the Mornington Peninsula Connector Road in Victoria.
Were disappointed that nothing in this years budget advances any of these projects, Mr Gadiel said.
This means that Sydney and Brisbanes public transport remain completely unaddressed by the Federal Government, despite the generous assistance extended to other state capitals.
The Federal Government needs to urgently commit to an annual rolling program of funding cities infrastructure, including expanded public transport and motorways.
The National Infrastructure Priority List was never supposed to be a one-off funding exercise.
˜It was historic, last year, to see the Federal Government funding public transport projects for the first time – it would be a tragedy if it was also the last time.
The recommendations of Infrastructure Australia must not be allowed to gather dust.
Mr Gadiel said the creation of a new Infrastructure Fund, with an initial $700 million deposit by the Federal Government was welcome.
However, the Federal government is saying that it will be biased to the infrastructure demands of resource-rich states, he said.
This wont be any comfort to the commuters of Sydney or Melbourne.
In any event, its modest size means it cant adequately address the infrastructure needs of either Brisbane or Perth.
Mr Gadiel said Federal Government involvement in the strategic planning of major cities was only of value if it was accompanied by significant urban infrastructure funding.
The Urban Taskforce is a property development industry group, representing Australias most prominent property developers and equity financiers.
Please see table of projects in the attached PDF below
