Major infrastructure projects go under review

THE federal Labor Government has started a review into all major infrastructure slated to be built over the next decade, but a Victorian Liberal Senator is claiming local projects worth hundreds of millions of dollars could be cancelled.

Earlier this month, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King announced her government would run a 90-day review into the collective $120 billion of projects in the Infrastructure Investment Program.

The $120 billion of funding over 10 years will remain in the program but Labor says a review is needed to decided what projects on the list should stay.

Labor says the number of projects in the Infrastructure Investment Program has grown enormously from 146 when the party last held government to now, with the previous Coalition government increasing the list to 738.

Ms King said many of the projects announced by the previous Coalition government were uncosted and underfunded – there are 162 with a federal government commitment of $5 million or less.

There is reportedly no target or estimate of the number of projects that will need to be cut.

“A properly functioning infrastructure investment pipeline means projects can be delivered with more confidence about timeframes and budgets,” Ms King said.

“Easing the pressure on the construction sector will help drive inflation lower and deliver more predictable investment and delivery outcomes from governments.

“Communities will benefit from national significant infrastructure with shorter and safer travel, more livable cities, suburbs and regions, while the economy benefits from the certainty brought by a smoother delivery of investment matched to project timelines.

“Importantly for industry, projects under construction will proceed and we have committed to maintain significant infrastructure investment for the medium term.

“It is time to clean up the mess left by the Liberals and Nationals clogging the pipeline with ‘press release projects’ – announced but unable to be delivered.

“This review will put confidence back into the investment pipeline, benefitting the states and territories and the communities we all serve.”

Victorian Liberal Senator Sarah Henderson said as many as 100 Victorian projects worth more than $11 billion were at risk.

She said the $4 billion Geelong Fast Rail “appeared destined for the scrap heap” and also cited a list of projects from the Geelong region and their total cost (comprising federal and state funding) that could be cut, including: • Grubb Road upgrade, Ocean Grove – $5 million• Stage 2 of the Barwon Heads Road upgrade – $250 million

Surf Coast Highway, Reserve Road and Felix Street intersection – $2.1 million

Geelong-Portarlington Road and Wilsons Road intersection – $2.5 million

Corio-Waurn Ponds Road, Separation Street bridge improvements – $4.2 million

Murradoc Road upgrade – $5 million

Western Rail further planning – $130 million, and

South Geelong to Waurn Ponds rail duplication – $893 million.

“After almost 12 months in office, Labor is showing its true colours as the party of the capital cities, rather than for all Australians, with its infrastructure hit list,” Senator Henderson said.

“In Corangamite, I am appalled that funding for critical road safety projects such as Grubb Road in Ocean Grove and Murradoc Road on the Bellarine Peninsula, for which we fought so hard, are in the firing line.