Delivery of major projects in Australia – panel discussion
Delivery of major projects in Australia – panel discussion The need for a coordinated approach to project sequencing and an up-front analysis of project objectives were key themes of the Project Delivery Panel at Partnerships 2014. Chair: Michael Zorbas, Head of External Affairs, Lend Lease Panellists: • Jim Betts, Chief Executive Officer, Infrastructure NSW • Ken Mathers, Chief Executive Officer, Linking Melbourne Authority • Peter Regan, Chief Financial Officer, WestConnex Delivery Authority • John McEvoy, Bus & Train (BaT) Project Director, Projects Queensland
Key points: • The increasing trend toward longterm state infrastructure plans has provided a better opportunity to sequence projects across the national infrastructure market. • A shortage of experienced, high-quality project directors remains a challenge for all parties, but particularly the public sector. • A reinvigorated Infrastructure Australia offers the opportunity to better coordinate procurement policies and timing across jurisdictions. • Unsolicited bid processes have a role to play, but they should only be applied in selected circumstances.
38
futurebuilding
2080_Future Building v501.indd 38
Michael Zorbas (MZ): Can each panellist give a brief overview of the projects or initatives they are involved in? Jim Betts (JB): Infrastructure NSW (INSW) is an advisory body to the New South Wales Government that was established around three years ago, when the O’Farrell Government came to office. Our primary focus is to provide advice to the Premier and to the rest of the Government on the priority investments in infrastructure and that front-end selection and assurance function. At the moment, we are preparing advice for the Government in the context of the announcement that if re-elected in March 2014, it will enter into a long-term lease of 49 per cent of electricity transmission and distribution assets, which is expected to yield proceeds of around $20 billion. The Government has given some pointers around priorities that it wants us to have regard to in preparing that advice – things like the extension of rapid transit; single-deck, driverless trains through the
Volume 5 Number 1
31/10/14 4:38 PM
