Infrastructure audit sparks call for better leadership

摘要

The release of the first comprehensive national infrastructure audit by Infrastructure Australia (IA) has sparked calls for an informed and robust national debate that will ensure the upcoming 15 year infrastructure plan has widespread support from the public, funding bodies and all sides of politics. "I'd like to see the sort of public leadership that drives the debate about how our cities will look in 20 to 50 years time. Once we have that understanding and the recognition of the need to act, the path forward becomes easier," said Christian Griffith, chair of the new Transport Australia society (see article page 24). The IA audit, published last month, highlights the need for a strategic, evidence-based approach to infrastructure planning as our population grows and infrastructure ages. It predicts almost three quarters of population growth in the next 15 years will be concentrated in our largest capital cities. If no action is taken to rectify current bottlenecks in road systems, the cost of congestion is likely to blow out by almost 300% of 2011 costs to $53.3 billion in 2031.