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Australia Infrastructure Priorities

Infrastructure Australia (IA) released its infrastructure priority list of 147 significant infrastructure proposals. IA has responsibility to strategically audit Australia’s nationally significant infrastructure and develop 15 year rolling plans that specific national and state level priorities.  The list can be found at www.infrastructureaustralia.gov.au

IA published its audit covering transport, energy, water, telecommunications and social infrastructure. The main challenges identified included:

  • Population growth which has placed increased pressure on ageing assets, rising road congestion, crowding on public transport and greater demands on social and infrastructure such as health, education and green space.
  • A large rise in network costs driving energy bills 35% higher over the past decade.
  • The rollout of The National Broadband Network.
  • Water security particularly in regional areas due to long-term drought.

In response to the challenges identified, Australia’s lhigh priority infrastructure projects can e grouped into the following five areas:

  • Town and city water security.
  • National water strategy.
  • Coastal inundation protection strategy.
  • National waste and recycling management.
  • National road maintenance strategy.

American companies offering engineering, consulting or technology solutions that could fit into any of these five priority areas are encouraged to contact the U.S. Commercial Service for assistance. Some foreign engineering companies have entered the market through acquisitions  but there are also opportunities to collaborate and partner with local firms on specific projects. The U.S. Commercial Service has been engaging with both American and Australian engineering firms and is in a good position to offer introductions to potential partners in Australia, especially for those partners looking to address infrastructure capability gaps.

For more information please contact your local U.S. Commercial Service or in Australia, email: john.kanawati@trade.gov