Western Australia’s first 20-year State Infrastructure Strategy, ‘Foundations for a stronger tomorrow’, was tabled in Parliament today.
The Strategy provides the first-ever outlook of Western Australia’s infrastructure needs over a 20-year horizon. There are 93 recommendations regarding infrastructure planning and investment, and CCIWA encourages our Members to consider how they could become involved in the implementation of the recommendations.
There is a focus on a range of challenges, including climate change and the transition to net zero carbon emissions by 2050; digital connectivity; and improving Aboriginal empowerment and wellbeing.
The majority of the recommendations relate to non-build initiatives, and the Strategy highlights the importance of managing the demand for infrastructure and getting the most out of the State’s infrastructure assets.
The State Government will now develop its formal response to the Strategy’s recommendations, which is due within six months of its tabling in Parliament.
The advice from Infrastructure WA is not binding and the Government’s response will outline the extent to which each recommendation is supported.
READ MORE: The full State Infrastructure Strategy is available online.
Overview
Foundations for a Stronger Tomorrow outlines the State’s significant infrastructure needs and priorities.
It provides a long-term vision and infrastructure outlook underpinned by six strategic opportunities and 10 strategy objectives and is divided into broad infrastructure types categorised as seven cross-cutting themes and nine infrastructure sectors. It reaches across WA’s 10 regions, to identify both build and non-build solutions such as policy reforms and priority projects and programs.
Throughout the development of the Strategy and its extensive consultation process, a number of core themes were identified that underpin Infrastructure WA’s (IWA) recommendations. These core themes include:
- Managing demand for infrastructure through prevention, early intervention and pricing.
- Improving the quality and consistency of strategic infrastructure planning and processes.
- Addressing climate change.
- Implementing data-sharing and other tools to support infrastructure planning and investment decision making.
- Optimising the existing infrastructure asset base.
- Identifying major infrastructure project and programs.
For more economic analysis see CCIWA’s Economic Insight page.
For general employee advice and guidance, contact CCIWA’s Employee Relations Advice Centre on (08) 9365 7660 or email [email protected].
