Government streamlines Australia’s infrastructure projects

By Jennifer Perry

As of last Friday, industry and private investors have access to one “pipeline” of infrastructure projects on a website called The National Infrastructure Construction Schedule (NICS) (www.nics.gov.au).

Federal minister for infrastructure and transport Anthony Albanese said the NICS is a response to industry’s call for greater transparency and fulfils a commitment made in the government’s 2011-12 budget.

“Until now, [industry and investors] have had to deal with a multitude of separate often out-of-date lists across the various levels of government,” Albanese said.

“Listed on the web-site and attached to each project will be all associated information such as the feasibility studies and planning stages. Also on the site will be Infrastructure Australia’s priority list.”

Albanese said it is “hard” to overstate the value of the NICS.

“Finally investors, both local and international, will have the knowledge and clarity they need to invest in Australian infrastructure. They will be able to see precisely what projects governments are funding, with a detailed forward program of works presented in a clear timeline,” he said.

“It will also be of enormous help to governments who will be able to structure their projects to even out peaks and troughs in the procurement timeline. All up, we can expect more efficient procurement, increased investment and greater market place competition. It will also be an invaluable tool for Austrade in its efforts to entice overseas companies to invest here.”

The rail projects currently listed on the NICS include:

• Queensland’s Moreton Bay Rail Link (tender open)
• South Australia’s Rail Revitalisation – Gawler Line Electrification (tender open)
• SA’s Rail Revitalisation – Outer Harbor Electrification (tender open)
• SA’s Train Protection System (tender open)
• The Federal Government’s Moorebank Intermodal Terminal project.