In this edition:

• A message from our CEO, Romilly Madew AO
• Infrastructure Priority List 2022 update
• Resilience principles
• Refreshed website homepage

Message from our CEO

Dear colleagues, 

I am pleased to share this update with you, our first since the Albanese Government was elected in May and the Hon Catherine King MP was appointed as Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government.

I'd also like to take this opportunity to congratulate Jim Betts on his appointment as Secretary of the Department of Infrastructure Transport, Regional Development and Communications. On behalf of the Infrastructure Australia team, we look forward to working with you both as we continue providing independent, evidence-based advice on infrastructure planning, policy and priorities to benefit all Australians.

Below we share details of the most recent Infrastructure Priority List proposals. These proposals, and the broader Priority List present the key investment opportunities for Australia's cities and regions that should be further developed over the next 15 years.

As detailed below, the 2022 update includes proposals at various stages of development, including 25 new Early-stage proposals (Stage 1), three new Potential investment options (Stage 2) and two new Investment-ready proposals (Stage 3).

The Priority List has been developed in collaboration with state and territory governments, industry and the community and draws on our independent research, including the 2021 Australian Infrastructure Plan and 2021 Infrastructure Market Capacity report.

Finally, it is with a heavy heart that I announce our Chief of Policy and Research, Peter Colacino, will be leaving Infrastructure Australia in August to take up a role as Partner with Avista Strategy.

Peter has had an incredible impact on Infrastructure Australia during his time with us, previously working on the 2015 Australian Infrastructure Audit and Northern Australia Audit, before rejoining Infrastructure Australia to lead development of the 2021 Australian Infrastructure Plan, the Infrastructure Market Capacity program and countless other deep-dive papers including this year's release of  Delivering Outcomes and Regional Strengths and Infrastructure Gaps.

Many of you will know Peter from one of the thousands of engagement opportunities he has facilitated - he has played a key role in driving a culture of collaboration with stakeholders across Australia and abroad.

On behalf of Infrastructure Australia's Board and staff, we wish Peter well for his next opportunity.

Kind regards,

Romilly Madew AO

Chief Executive

Infrastructure Priority List

Infrastructure Priority List 2022 update

The Infrastructure Priority List presents the key investment opportunities for Australia's cities and regions that should be further developed over the next 15 years.

The June 2022 update publishes proposals at various stages of development that are not yet fully funded, including:

• 25 new Early-stage proposals (Stage 1)
• 3 new Potential investment options (Stage 2)
• 2 new Investment-ready proposals (Stage 3)

This update to the Priority List highlights a need for greater focus on delivering resilient road and rail connections in regional Australia, enhancing the efficiency and connectivity of our transport networks and promoting development in northern Australia.

The Priority List has been developed in collaboration with state and territory governments, industry and the community and draws on our independent research, including the 2021 Australian Infrastructure Plan and 2021 Infrastructure Market Capacity report.

The June 2022 additions to the Infrastructure Priority List, as well as all the existing proposals, can be viewed here. 

Further information on how Infrastructure Australia assesses proposals and develops the Infrastructure Priority List is available here.

Two new Investment-ready proposals

The 2022 Priority List includes two new proposals which are recommended for Commonwealth investment following the development of a strong business case, which has been independently assessed by Infrastructure Australia: Australia-Asia Power Link and Circular Quay Renewal. 

Australia-Asian Power Link

Australia-Asia Power Link is a private proposal from Sun Cable, which proposes to develop large-scale dispatchable renewable energy in the Northern Territory that would provide zero emission electricity to Darwin and Singapore. 

Set to be the largest solar farm, largest battery and longest undersea electricity cable ever developed globally, the proposal would deliver lower electricity prices for the NT and develop a new renewable energy export industry for northern Australia. 

Sun Cable is continuing to develop the project, including by securing environmental approvals, commercial agreements to underpin demand and final funding arrangements.

Circular Quay Renewal

The NSW Government’s proposed Circular Quay Renewal project seeks to transform one of Australia’s most recognisable and historic places. 

With major transport upgrades, delivery of modern and well-integrated public spaces and greater recognition for First Nations cultures and history, the proposal offers substantial community and economic benefits.  

The NSW Government and the proposal’s industry partner are continuing to develop the planning and design of the proposal with the view of receiving approval and progressing to delivery in 2025 (subject to State and Australian Government funding approval).

Resilience Principles

Our resilience principles

We have published our Resilience Principles on our website, which outlines Infrastructure Australia's approach to resilience and how resilience informs our work program. 

We are committed to ensuring that infrastructure assets and networks are designed, delivered and maintained to help improve Australian communities’ resilience.

Since the summer of 2019, Australia has faced the COVID-19 pandemic, a record-breaking bushfire season, extensive flooding and drought, geopolitical risks and cyber-attacks on critical infrastructure networks. These events showed just how critical infrastructure is for safeguarding communities, ecosystems and the economy.

The high levels of exposure and vulnerability of our infrastructure and communities, along with the compounding impact of the disasters that Australia has experienced over the last two years, is a warning sign for the uncertainty and risk to our safety, livelihoods and economy that lies ahead.

The following Resilience Principles guide our work and promote resilient communities:

• Resist: Robust, fail safe and safe-to-fail
• Absorb: Prepared and ready to respond
• Accommodate: Spare capacity, variety and sufficient reserves
• Recover: Restoration and response  
• Transform: Future focused, foresight and reflective
• Thrive: Integrated, flexible, innovative and inclusive
• Effective: Production of desired or intended result, place-based planning and engagement
• Timely: Accountability, transparency and promptness.

You can also read our Sustainability Principles on our website, and see how Sustainability and Resilience are considered through the 2021 Australian Infrastructure Plan.

Website updates

Based on user feedback, we have updated our website homepage to focus on our core reports and products. This work is in addition to the significant enhancements to the online Infrastructure Priority List, launched earlier this year.

The refreshed website proudly includes an Acknowledgement to Country on each page, featuring our Reconciliation Action Plan artwork Moving Along Pathways by Sydney based artist Dennis Golding, a descendant of the Kamilaroi / Gamillaraay people from the north west of NSW.

Other content and reports can still be accessed through the website menu.