Skip to main content

Australia’s infrastructure spending plans

In its federal budget announced on 13 May 2014, the Australian government announced plans for new infrastructure projects costing US$117.04 billion to keep the economy going after the mining boom ends. The new funding and existing projects are expected to boost infrastructure investment to US$47 billion by end of the decade. The government will invest US$11 billion to fast track infrastructure projects including US$3.4 billion for road projects, US$4.6 billion to asset-recycling fund for states and US$2.
May 14, 2014 Read time: 2 mins
In its federal budget announced on 13 May 2014, the Australian government announced plans for new infrastructure projects costing US$117.04 billion to keep the economy going after the mining boom ends. The new funding and existing projects are expected to boost infrastructure investment to US$47 billion by end of the decade.

The government will invest US$11 billion to fast track infrastructure projects including US$3.4 billion for road projects, US$4.6 billion to asset-recycling fund for states and US$2.7 billion for western Sydney's infrastructure plan. It already offered the New South Wales (NSW) government a concessional loan of US$1.8 billion to fund the WestConnex road project in western Sydney. Territories and states will get another US$4.6 billion in financing if they sell public assets and allocate them to productive infrastructures.

Meanwhile, the state government of Western Australia will invest US$22.19 billion over the next four years to build road networks, two fire stations, new hospitals and 19 new schools. The amount will include US$1.7 billion for public transport infrastructures and services. The state government expects to spend around US$277 million in 2014/2015 fiscal year and will allocate US$229 million in 2014 to acquire 124 buses and 22 three-car B-series railway wagons. The Perth Busport costing US$196 million is scheduled to be completed in 2016 and US$337 million Perth City Link project will be ready in 2014.

Related Content

  • Australia ‘must choose an electric car charging norm’
    September 19, 2013
    According to Professor Thomas Braunl, director of the renewable energy vehicle project at the University of Western Australia, it’s time for Australia to choose a standard for vehicle charging connectors. When the university started Australia’s first electric vehicle trial in Western Australia in 2010, there were no manufacturer-built cars available and locally built conversions had to be used. As of today, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Holden and Tesla offer electric cars in the Australian market. Nearly all inte
  • IBTTA commends new report on infrastructure planning
    October 3, 2014
    The International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association (IBTTA) has responded to the joint report by the Eno Center for Transportation and the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), which highlights the benefits of life cycle cost analysis in planning transportation infrastructure projects. Executive director and CEO Pa trick D. Jones said: “We commend ENO and ASCE for issuing an important report, Maximizing the Value of Investments Using Life Cycle Cost Analysis. This report is especially timely
  • FTA says Highways Agency new name reflects importance of role
    December 10, 2014
    A government announcement has revealed that the UK’s Highways Agency will be replaced with Highways England and will be a government-owned company from April 2015. In support of the changes, the Freight Transport Association (FTA) has said that “the new name reflects the importance of its new role.” In its first strategic business plan, Highways England sets out how the new body will deliver the Government’s US$23.5 billion road investment programme over the next five years. The plan envisages spend
  • ITS Australia Global Summit 2023: super-sized
    December 2, 2022
    Four-day Global Summit will be held on 28-31 August, 2023 in Melbourne: accelerating smarter, safer, sustainable transport is focus of next year's expanded event for whole ITS community