Media Statements - Industry leaders join State Infrastructure Strategy

6/01/06

Acting Premier Eric Ripper today announced that a team of industry leaders had been appointed to help develop a 20-year State Infrastructure Strategy for Western Australia.

Mr Ripper said former Clough Engineering managing director and Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA president Dr Brian Hewitt would head the group.

Other members would include Bill Reid from Alcoa World Alumina Australia, Norm Mitsopoulos from Alinta, Phil Mitchell from Rio Tinto Iron Ore and Dr Penny Flett from the Brightwater Care Group.

Major industry groups such as Engineers Australia (Janice Lake), the Chamber of Minerals and Energy of WA (Tim Shanahan) and the Master Builders Association of WA (Gavan Forster) would also be represented.

Mr Ripper said the group would be informed by public submissions and the work of infrastructure specialists from State Government agencies such as Western Power and the Water Corporation.

“Public and private investment in infrastructure is tipped to reach $650billion over the next 20 years,” the Acting Premier said.

“This is a very large amount of money but our huge State has many infrastructure needs and wise choices must be made about our priorities.

“The State Infrastructure Strategy will promote jobs and investment growth by providing greater certainty about the nature, timing and location of ‘big ticket’ infrastructure projects.”

The strategy, to be released for public comment as a Green Paper next June, will cover major developments in areas such as road, rail and ports, as well as health and education.

The State Infrastructure Strategy will:

engage the wider community and all tiers of government to identify existing and emerging infrastructure pressures throughout WA;
prioritise infrastructure requirements to provide greater certainty for private investors;
outline a plan for delivering major projects to allow for better-informed decisions in both the public and private sectors;
encourage the Commonwealth and local government to take responsibility for their fair share of infrastructure provision; and
ensure proposals for future investment are affordable and based on an appropriate mix of skills from both the public and private sectors.

Mr Ripper said the public would be given an extra month to make submissions to the strategy following requests from interested parties. Submissions will now close on February 28.

The final strategy is expected to be released as a White Paper in 2007.

More information on the strategy and guidelines for preparing submissions are available at http://www.stateinfrastructurestrategy.wa.gov.au

State Infrastructure Strategy Reference Group members:

Dr Brian Hewitt - Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA (chairman)
Bill Reid - Alcoa World Alumina Australia
Norm Mitsopoulos - Alinta
John Langoulant - Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA
Tim Shanahan - Chamber of Minerals and Energy WA
Patrick O’Connor - Churchill Capital
Tim Marney - Department of Treasury and Finance
Janice Lake - Engineers Australia (WA Division)
Ian King - Geraldton Port Authority
John Dastlik - Housing Industry Association
Travis McAuliffe - KPMG
Mick Lilley - Macquarie Bank
Gavan Forster - Master Builders Association of Western Australia
Joe Lenzo - Property Council of Australia
Ian Gay - Qantas
Kitty Prodonovich - Regional Chambers of Commerce and Industry
Dr Penny Flett - Brightwater Care Group
Phil Mitchell - Rio Tinto Iron Ore
Gavin Maisey - Royal Automobile Club of WA
Mal Bryce - WA ICT Industry Development Forum
Bill Mitchell - WA Local Government Association
Ross Hardwick - Western Australian Farmers Federation.

Acting Premier's office: 9222 8788