A new independent body, Infrastructure Victoria, is being set up to plan for the Australian state’s future infrastructure projects, including prescribing port development.
Describing the creation of the body as a “a landmark reform”, the Victorian government said the aim of its creation was to remove short-term politics from infrastructure planning while ensuring there was a full pipeline of major projects to develop the economy.
A key role of Infrastructure Victoria will be the public release of a 30-year infrastructure strategy outlining short, medium and long-term infrastructure priorities. Government progress in developing a five-year Infrastructure Plan, inclusive of setting project priorities and funding commitments, will be assessed against this 30-year strategy.
Minister Gavin Jennings said that evidence and transparency had been secondary considerations with infrastructure, and the public expected critical decisions should be based on priorities, not politics. Infrastructure Victoria is expected to consult widely in setting its project priorities.
