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Victorian infrastructure czar warns of population challenges

Melbourne Tram. Photo: RailGallery

Infrastructure Victoria chairman Jim Miller says population growth would be one of the great challenges to get right in planning for the next 30 years.

Miller, who was recently appointed by the state government to head the new entity, spoke at a Committee for the Economic Development of Australia lunch at Melbourne’s Crown Palladium.

Infrastructure Victoria has been asked to develop a strategy to cater for Victoria’s needs over the next three decades and the chairman told the gathering, that of all the impending challenges, population growth was the most obvious.

“Victoria is going to grow by 3.5m people over the next 30 years.

“These are the government statistics.

“Out of all the work that we do…. We’re probably likely to get that most right.

“In truth we will make assumptions that will be wrong, but on the population side, that is the one as I said we will probably be most right or closest to.

“So that is a big challenge: how do we fit another 3.5m people into this state in terms of looking at the infrastructure solution that satisfies the requirement.”

Mr Miller also explained some aspects of the role of IV notably that it had an advisory rather than an approval role, with state governments deciding for themselves how and if to act upon such advice.

He also indicated an announcement was imminent on an IV chief executive, albeit he gave away nothing on just who that person might be.

This story originally appeared in Rail Express affiliate Lloyd’s List Australia.