Engineers Australia embraces the reforms announced by Infrastructure Australia and supports the focus on an effective and efficient plan for the delivery and maintenance of infrastructure assets.
Mark Monaghan, Engineers Australia General Manager Northern, welcomed the recent Infrastructure Australia report which recognised four NT projects as being “nationally significant”.
Key projects highlighted in the Australian Infrastructure Plan which will assist to develop the North are: the Tanami Road upgrade (Alice Springs to Halls Creek in Western Australia), North East Gas Interconnector and the Darwin region water supply infrastructure upgrades. The fourth project was the development of infrastructure in remote Territory communities.
“It is very encouraging to see a broader approach to infrastructure planning for our communities, as many are in remote areas,” said Mr Monaghan.
“We need greater accessibility in our regional areas and a long-term pipeline of infrastructure projects to assist to connect the Territory.”
The approach being taken by Infrastructure Australia is in line with key infrastructure principles recently outlined in Engineers Australia’s The State of the Profession publication.
“We cannot rely on our current infrastructure assets to fuel productivity growth,” Mr Monaghan said. “We need to consider that infrastructure is fit for purpose as it is essential to preserve and improve our standard of living.”
Chief Minister of the Northern Territory Adam Giles also welcomed the report in a recent statement. “In our submission to Infrastructure Australia, the Northern Territory Government emphasised the importance of taking a broader, regional approach towards assessing infrastructure needs in remote communities rather than just focussing on one-off projects," said Mr Giles.
“I’m pleased that message has been heard with the plan highlighting the need for better roads and essential services in communities like Wadeye, the Tiwi Island and Jabiru to drive social and economic growth.”
“We want to open up the Northern Territory. We want to connect people, communities and businesses to grow jobs for the future, and it’s important policymakers in Canberra understand the need to make a long term commitment to develop the north,” Mr Giles said.