from Engineers Australia
Media Release 2 July 2013.

Engineers Australia today welcomed the release of Infrastructure Australia’s National Infrastructure Plan to secure Australia’s future infrastructure needs.

“Engineers Australia backs this 50 year National Infrastructure Plan to implement much needed infrastructure reform for Australia. Infrastructure planning requires a long term vision to deliver quality outcomes that will support Australia’s social and economic development,” said Stephen Durkin Chief Executive Officer Engineers Australia.

“Establishing a single national infrastructure funding model will help the transition from an infrastructure system that relies heavily on grant-funding to one that encourages private investment.

“Australia must avoid the boom/bust infrastructure cycles as seen in recent years.  Guidance from independent bodies such as Infrastructure Australia should be a central consideration to deliver outcomes for our communities, independent from the political cycle.

“Commitment to the infrastructure reform outlined in this Report will address many of the issues Engineers Australia drew attention to in its Infrastructure Report Card 2010.

“Long-term infrastructureplanning will bring job security to the engineering profession. With a large engineering workforce employed in infrastructure delivery, even a small upturn can put pressure on the supply of skills.  Stability is the key to successfully delivering infrastructure for the future of Australia,” Mr Durkin said.