Infrastructure Australia published its June 2022 update to the Infrastructure Priority List – a national guide to the top investment opportunities for developing Australia’s cities and regions over the next 15 years. Here, we break down some of the key additions to the List, including two new investment-ready proposals in New South Wales and the Northern Territory.

A mid-year update to Infrastructure Australia’s (IA) Infrastructure Priority List will continue to steer Australia’s infrastructure sector towards critical projects for the next fifteen years. The 30 new entries to the List include 25 early-stage proposals (Stage 1), three potential investment option proposals (Stage 2), and two investment-ready proposals (Stage 3).

A statement from Infrastructure Australia emphasised that this update reflects a greater focus on “delivering resilient rail and road connections in regional Australia, enhancing the efficiency and connectivity of our transport networks, and promoting development in northern Australia.”

The transport sector is well-represented in the update, with 23 of the 30 new additions relating primarily to the transport sector. The Infrastructure Priority List is a credible pipeline of unfunded nationally significant proposals. A living and collaborative document, the list is open to proposal submissions at any time and is guided by IA’s Assessment Framework.

Two new investment-ready proposals

A key outcome of this update is the inclusion of two new investment-ready proposals (Stage 3). The Stage 3 grading reflects that they are solutions recommended for Federak investment following the development of a strong business case independently assessed by Infrastructure Australia.

1. Australia-Asia PowerLink (Sun Cable)

The first of the new proposals is the Australia-Asia PowerLink project, a $35 billion investment that would establish an international solar export industry in the Northern Territory. Singapore-based Sun Cable has laid forth its plans to establish a giant solar PV farm and battery energy storage complex on a 12,000-hectare site in the Northern Territory. The solar farm would have a generational capacity between 17GW and 20GW, with the storage system sized between 36GWh and 42GWh. The solar complex will link with Singapore through a 5,000km transmission network, including a 800km overhead transmission line from the solar complex to Darwin and a 4,200km submarine cable from Darwin to Singapore.

The Australia-Asia PowerLink project is expected to generate enough renewable electricity to power more than three million homes a year – or up to 15 per cent of Singapore’s electricity needs. The listing of the Australia-Asia PowerLink project as a Stage 3, investment-ready project ready for Federal support could spark a world-first project in intercontinental electricity trade, while also establishing a major growth industry for the Northern Territory in large-scale, dispatchable renewable energy exports. Sun Cable hopes to reach financial close on the project by early 2024, with construction to start in the same year. The first electricity is expected to be supplied to Darwin in 2027, with the project to be fully operational by 2029.

2. Circular Quay Renewal (NSW Government)

The second of the two new investment-ready proposals is the Circular Quay Renewal project, a project from the New South Wales Government that would transform an iconic gateway to Sydney’s many cultural destinations. Despite Circular Quay’s strategic importance, the transport infrastructure is aging and non-compliant, amenity is poor and public spaces are disjointed, detracting from the experience for the millions of people who visit and travel through the area every year.

The Circular Quay Renewal project would revitalise Circular Quay as both a vital public transport interchange as well as a popular public space. The renewal involves updating the transport infrastructure and amenities, activating public spaces, and improving retail offerings and the overall quality of the public domain.

The three aims of the Circular Quay Renewal project are to:

1. Strengthen Sydney’s location as a ‘destination of choice’ that activates the public domain, growing the local and tourist economy
2. ‘Celebrate Country’ by renewing Circular Quay under a shared vision that welcomes everyone and highlights the historical and cultural significance of the area
3. Integrate sustainable, whole-of-life initiatives into the form, function and operation of Circular Quay

Key deliverables in the proposal include: five new finger wharves and a new Wharf 1, an upgraded Circular Quay Station, 14,500m2 of additional public space, conservation of heritage items and views highlighting the cultural significance of the area, and a new program of major events. The funding proposal for the Circular Quay Renewal project would see the New South Wales and Federal governments each contribute $486.5 million.

The indicative delivery timeframe for the proposal would see works commence in 2022, before start of Construction in January 2025, with project completion by Q2 2028. The full list of all 30 new proposals added to the Infrastructure Priority List in June, is provided on the next page.

Stage 1: 25 Early-stage Proposals

New South Wales zero emissions buses – NSW Government

Greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution, and noise pollution associated with diesel-powered public buses in NSW

Greater Parramatta and Olympic Peninsula transport connectivity – NSW Government

Poor connectivity to and from precincts in Greater Parramatta and the Olympic Peninsula, limiting ease of movement

NSW heavy vehicle rest stops provision – NSW Government

Insufficient or inadequate infrastructure to allow drivers of heavy vehicles to stop and rest across NSW

NSW Inland Rail interface improvements – NSW Government

Ensuring interoperability between the Country Regional Network and Inland Rail to maximise productivity and efficiency of freight movements from regional NSW to domestic and export markets

Sheahan Bridge (Hume Highway) upgrade – NSW Government

Strength limitations on the northbound Sheahan Bridge at Gundagai are constraining High Productivity Vehicle movements on the Hume Highway

Mulgoa Road upgrade – NSW Government

High levels of congestion and safety risks on Mulgoa Road in Western Sydney

Parramatta North health and innovation precinct (Stage 1) – NSW Government

Opportunity to redevelop Government-owned land in Parramatta North, capitalising on the redevelopment of Westmead and the Parramatta Light Rail

Greater Parramatta and the Olympic Peninsula (GPOP) growth area enabling infrastructure – NSW Government

Opportunity to co-ordinate delivery of infrastructure to support sustainable growth in Greater Parramatta and the Olympic Peninsula

M1 Pacific Motorway northbound capacity (Wahroonga to Mt Colah) – NSW Government

Extreme congestion on the M1 Pacific Motorway between the existing North Connex portal and Mt Colah

Melbourne intermodal terminal capacity – VIC Government

Existing intermodal terminal capacity in Melbourne is unable to service Inland Rail trains (1,800m long, double-stacked)

Melbourne middle and outer suburban transport connectivity – VIC Government

Melbourne’s monocentric urban form is constraining the economic potential of Melbourne’s middle and outer suburbs

Ipswich City Centre cross river connectivity and network resilience – Ipswich City Council

Strong forecast population growth and a single river crossing is expected to place increasing pressure on the transport network in Ipswich

Southern Gold Coast-northern Tweed transport connectivity – QLD Government

Limited route choice and public transport options, as well as high car dependency will exacerbate existing congestion with population growth

South East Queensland intermodal terminal capacity – QLD Government

Existing intermodal terminals in SEQ are restricted in their ability to service Inland Rail trains (1,800m long, double-stacked)

Active transport connections across the Brisbane River – Brisbane City Council

Within the inner-city, current and forecast employment and housing growth exacerbate traffic congestion as a high proportion of short trips are by private vehicles. This is partly due to the Brisbane River being a physical barrier to journeys between strategic centres, including the Brisbane CBD

Sunshine Coast transport connectivity – Caloundra- Maroochydore – QLD Government

Strong population growth, a constrained road network and limited transport options are contributing to congestion between Caloundra and Maroochydore

Pilbara energy transmission and storage infrastructure – WA Government

A lack of energy transmission and storage infrastructure across the Pilbara in WA

Western Australia Coastal hazards adaption – WA Government

Increasing coastal erosion and inundation risks across WA

Great Eastern Highway improvements – WA Government

Deteriorating road conditions, increasing travel times, aging bridges and relatively high road maintenance costs on the Great Eastern Highway

Ord East Kimberley irrigation expansion – WA Government

Opportunity to upgrade and extend irrigation channels to expand irrigated crops in the Ord River Irrigation Area in North-West WA and the Keep River Plains in North-East NT

Perth active transport improvements – WA Government

Worsening road congestion, high private vehicle use and a lack of dedicated active transport connections that link key strategic centres in Perth

Fremantle to Murdoch and Cockburn Central transport capacity – South West Group

Limited high priority public transport services to connect employment centres and tourism hubs with major residential and commercial developments. This proposal is an expansion to the previous Fremantle to Murdoch transport capacity listing.

Adelaide’s outer ring and inner-city capacity improvement – SA Government

Increasing population growth in Adelaide is expected to increase congestion and travel times in the suburbs surrounding inner-Adelaide, to the CBD, as well as impact freight productivity and safety for pedestrians and cyclists. This proposal is an expansion to the previous Adelaide’s outer ring capacity improvement listing.

Disaster Early Warning & Communications Infrastructure – Infrastructure Australia

As the frequency and severity of natural disasters increase due to climate change, early warning systems present an opportunity to improve the safety and wellbeing of communities in high-risk zones

Regional road and rail freight corridor resilience – Infrastructure Australia

During severe natural disasters, regional and remote communities are often isolated due to corridor closures on the National Land Transport Network (NLTN)

Stage 2: 3 Potential Investment Option Proposals

M1 Pacific Motorway capacity; Eight Mile Plains to Tugun – QLD Government

Options analysis for the section between Daisy Hill and Loganholme aligns with the requirements of the Infrastructure Australia Assessment Framework

Great Northern Highway improvements: Broome to Kununurra – WA Government

The proponent has demonstrated that a program of road upgrades to the existing highway is the most appropriate response to the problems and opportunities they have identified

Land transport access between Karratha and Tom Price – Manuwarra Red Dog Highway – WA Government

The proponent has identified and assessed a wide range of options to improve land transport access between Karratha and Tom Price.

Stage 3: 2 Investment-ready Proposals

Australia-Asia PowerLink (updated from the existing listing for NT large-scale solar generation) – Sun Cable

The public outcomes to the Australian community from the Australia-Asia PowerLink proposal are highly positive. The benefits are premised on the proposal being largely developed on a commercial basis with private funding. The realization of benefits is dependent on the proponent achieving contracted energy supply

Circular Quay precinct renewal (new listing) – NSW Government

The proposal demonstrates alignment with local and state government strategies and priorities, and embeds a place-based, holistic approach to investment that activates the broader precinct. We consider the economic appraisal to provide a thorough assessment of the economic merits of the proposal, and that, on balance, it is expected to deliver net economic benefits to society

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