City Deal lines up with Infrastructure Australia priorities

Image from the Infrastructure Australia report.

Greater South East Melbourne welcomes today’s publication of Infrastructure Australia’s Reforms to Meet Australia’s Future Infrastructure Needs, a major report on Australia’s infrastructure needs over the next decade.

GSEM Chair Simon McKeon said:

“Infrastructure Australia’s priorities line up almost perfectly with the projects that GSEM has been advocating for on behalf of the southeast Melbourne region.

“For instance, the Infrastructure Australia report states: ‘Specific reforms have been identified for local governments that will require higher levels of collaboration across local government boundaries, and with other levels of government.’

“The South East Melbourne City Deal, which the Federal Government committed to before the last election, is a perfect vehicle for local, state and federal governments working together in the manner envisaged by Infrastructure Australia.

“GSEM looks forward to working with all levels of government to bring the investment, infrastructure, skills jobs and sustainable initiatives that the 1.5 million residents of Greater South East Melbourne need.”

The Infrastructure Australia priorities are:

·       Place-based outcomes for communities – unlocking the potential of every location

·       Sustainability and resilience — balancing infrastructure outcomes in an uncertain future

·       Industry productivity and innovation — facilitating a step change in productivity

·       Transport — delivering an integrated network

·       Energy — enabling an affordable transition to a net zero future

·       Water — prioritising safety and security

·       Telecommunications and digital — ensuring equity in an era of accelerating digitalisation

·       Social infrastructure — supporting economic prosperity and quality of life

·       Waste — accelerating Australia’s transition to a circular economy

 Mr McKeon said:

GSEM is working on projects in each of Infrastructure Australia’s priority areas.

“Among GSEM’s most pressing priorities are water and waste.

“Each year 123 billion litres of Class A recycled water from Melbourne’s Eastern Treatment Plant is discharged into Bass Strait. In an era of climate change and increasing water-supply insecurity, this is a resource we can no longer afford to waste.”

“In February this year Infrastructure Australia included southeast Melbourne recycled water supply infrastructure upgrades on its 2021 Infrastructure Priority List.

“From 2025, there will be no landfill site available in the southeast Melbourne region. GSEM Councils are well advanced in assessing advanced waste processing facility proposals for the region that will accelerate the region’s transition to a circular economy.

However, the region needs assistance from both the Federal and State Governments to ensure the optimum solution is implemented, affordably for consumers and in a timely manner.”