13 May 2010
Intermodal terminal precinct
The Federal Government has committed to establishing an intermodal terminal precinct at Moorebank “to address the critical shortage of intermodal capacity in Sydney”.
The Moorebank project will now move into a “detailed planning and approval phase”. The Government has budgeted $71 million to conduct planning for the relocation of Defence facilities and to establish a project office.
Construction of the terminal is expected to commence in 2013, with the terminal being fully in operation by early 2016.
More information is here.
State infrastructure fund
The Commonwealth will proceed with its “State Infrastructure Fund”. The intention of this fund is to “make infrastructure spending a permanent feature of Commonwealth and state budgets, and support state investment in the national-building infrastructure necessary to support improved livings standards.”
The 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.
Aviation strategic plan for the Sydney region
The Federal Government will provide $8.5 million in 2010-11 to jointly develop with the NSW Government an Aviation Strategic Plan for the Sydney region. The plan will consider options for additional aviation capacity in the Sydney region, including the identification of potential sites and an evaluation of investment strategies. The plan will also consider future planning, zoning and the release of land at the Commonwealth’s Badgerys Creek site.
The NSW Government is expected to make a similar overall contribution toward the cost of the plan.
Population strategy
The Federal Government will provide $1.3 million in 2010-11 to support the development of a “comprehensive population strategy” that will guide the formulation of policies to meet Australia’s future population needs.
The strategy will consider “policies to ensure the economic and developmental opportunities this will create are harnessed”. The strategy will also consider “the challenges of population growth for the environment, water and urban congestion”.
