Western Australia’s inaugural State Infrastructure Strategy

On Wednesday, 21 July Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan launched the draft of the State Government’s inaugural infrastructure strategy, ‘Foundations for a Stronger Tomorrow’. The delivery of the broad-ranging strategy is a key election commitment of the McGowan Labor Government.

The draft strategy seeks to implement recommendations from Infrastructure WA to support the planning and delivery of twenty-one infrastructure projects that maximise value to the community and industry.

The long-term infrastructure guide includes 88 recommendations, which if implemented impact projects already under construction by the State Government.

It is hoped the strategy will provide businesses with long -term support by providing planning clarity and supporting local industries, while creating jobs through investment in education and training.

Some recommendations consider possible options for projects that require further investigation and develop a roadmap for future work including METRONET.

The strategy also seeks to address key areas and requirements that frame and guide infrastructure processes, such as strategic planning, legislation and regulation, policy and decision-making tools.

The State Government has begun a consultation process for the community and stakeholders to seek feedback on the strategy. The draft Strategy sets out how you can contribute this process concludes on Wednesday, 15 September 2021.

The Strategy:

The strategy includes seven individual chapters providing detail on matters impacting infrastructure sectors. These chapters include detailed recommendations. The cross-cutting themes are:

1. Digital connectivity and technology.
2. Aboriginal cultural heritage, wellbeing and enterprise.
3. Climate change and sustainability.
4. Regional development.
5. Planning and coordination.
6. Infrastructure delivery.
7. Asset management.

The strategy also includes nine individual chapters providing detail on sector-specific matters. These chapters include detailed recommendations. The sectors are:

1. Energy.
2. Water.
3. Waste.
4. Transport.
5. Social and affordable housing.
6. Health.
7. Education.
8. Arts, culture, sport and recreation.
9. Justice and public safety.

Projects currently underway:

State Government initiatives already underway are reinforced in some of the recommendations in the draft strategy including:

• developing an Aboriginal Cultural Centre near the Swan River (Derbarl Yerrigan);
  • planning and preparing for a new container port in Kwinana – Westport;
  • building an additional desalination plant to increase the volume of desalinated water;
  • achieving WA’s target for net zero emissions by 2050;
  • increasing the capacity and quality of convention and exhibition facilities in Perth’s CBD
  • progressing possible next stage plans for METRONET and long-term road projects;
  • investing in social and affordable housing to meet WA’s long-term needs;
  • increasing participation of Aboriginal businesses in government projects;
  • investing in infrastructure to support WA’s growing hydrogen industry; and
  • exploring opportunities to expand carbon farming.

You can read the draft of the Western Australian Government’s Infrastructure Strategy here.

Further Information

Further Information For more information, please contact your Hawker Britton consultant Simon Banks, Managing Director on +61 419 638 587.