Infrastructure Australia confirms Australian Government priorities

I welcome Infrastructure Australia’s announcement today that they have assessed the business cases of four major projects and included them in the Infrastructure Priority List.

The list identifies projects that are sound investments to address our nation’s infrastructure gaps and to help to meet the transport challenges of the future.

Infrastructure Australia’s Board categorised the $1 billion M80 Ring Road Upgrade in Melbourne as a high-priority project, and gave ‘priority’ status to:

• the Perth–Forrestfield Airport Rail Link (Western Australia);
• the Moorebank Intermodal Terminal (New South Wales); and
• the Adelaide–Tarcoola Rail Upgrade (South Australia).

Work on the Sunshine Avenue to Calder Freeway section of the M80 Ring Road Upgrade in Melbourne got underway less than a week ago.

The Australian and Victorian governments are each contributing $150 million to that section of the upgrade.

The Australian Government has committed a further $350 million to the $700 million total estimated cost of completing the remaining three sections. This funding is conditional on the Victorian Government agreeing to provide a matching contribution.

The 2016–17 Federal Budget also included $490 million towards the Forrestfield Airport Link, as well as funding for the Moorebank Intermodal Company to progress the Moorebank Intermodal Terminal. The Government has also committed funds to Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) to fast-track the Adelaide–Tarcoola Rail Upgrade.

With these business cases assessed, we can be assured that these projects are well-placed to meet Australia’s transport challenges and will deliver significant economic and productivity benefits, improved safety and better connectivity for our communities.

I look forward to continuing work with state and territory governments across Australia to develop priority infrastructure.