Infrastructure
South-East Queensland is Australia’s fastest-growing region and covers 22,420 square kilometres. Approximately 2.95 million people currently call the region home and this is expected to grow to 4.3 million people by 2031. This economic and population growth is driving the need for new infrastructure, while the world’s growing demand for Queensland’s resources – coal, bauxite, zinc and copper – is also generating a need to upgrade port facilities, rail links, roads and energy networks to capitalise on emerging opportunities.
The Queensland Government has committed more than $134 billion (AUD) to planning and delivering infrastructure projects to secure Queensland’s prosperity and lifestyle. The South East Queensland Infrastructure Plan and Program 2010–2031 details future investment in transport, water, energy development, information and communication technology, and social and community infrastructure.
In Queensland, Public Private Partnerships (PPP) have emerged as an infrastructure procurement and delivery option that can offer the best value for money. This is achieved by introducing incentives for innovation in the design, construction, operation and management of substantial investments.
Sub-sectors
Road
TransApex is Brisbane City Council’s long-term plan to improve cross-city travel in Brisbane. It will provide new river crossings and connect existing motorways and major arterial roads. TransApex is the biggest urban road project ever proposed in Australia and will provide motorists with an alternative to current cross-city routes.
The following key infrastructure form TransApex:
- $2 billion Clem Jones Tunnel: North South Bypass Tunnel (completed March 2010);
- $370 million Go Between Bridge (completed July 2010);
- $4.8 billion Airport Link Tunnel project (expected completion 2012);
- $1.8 billion Legacy Way Tunnel (construction to commence late 2010);
- $1.2 billion six kilometre East West Link – tunnel linking Pacific Motorway at Buranda and Toowong (an upcoming project under study to be operational by 2026); and
- Inner-West Orbital Tunnel (completed by 2031).
Future projects include:
- Eastern Busway Stage 2b and 3: Buranda to Capalaba – valued at $1.27 billion (AUD) and currently in master planning. Expected completion by 2026.
- Northern Busway Stage 3: Kedron to Bracken Ridge – currently in master planning stage, with design and construction as part of Airport Link PPP. Expected completion by 2026.
- North South Motorway – including three sections namely the Centenary Motorway (Ipswich Motorway to Toowong), Inner Orbital (tunnel from Toowong to Everton Park) and North West Motorway.
- Port of Brisbane Motorway Expansion – valued at $334 million (AUD).
Rail
Future projects include:
- Brisbane Underground Metro Rail Project (Cross River) – a seven kilometre cross-river rail underground metro system with an estimated cost of $8 billion (AUD) (south to north corridor) and $6 billion (AUD) for a second stage (west to north corridor). By 2030, the south-east’s population will hit almost 4.5 million (bigger than Copenhagen, Montreal, Munich and Singapore who all have metros).
- Moreton Bay Rail Link (under feasibility) – a 12.7 kilometre dual track passenger rail spur line at an approximate cost of $1.1 billion (AUD). The project has Federal and State government funding in place with construction due between 2012 and 2016.
- National High Speed Rail Network (under feasibility) – 1,500 kilometres of rail infrastructure. The study will be conducted in two stages with the first to be completed by July 2011 and the second by the middle of 2012.
Water
The Queensland Government is delivering the $9 billion (AUD) South East Queensland Water Grid.
Future projects include:
- Future Desalination Site Studies – land will now be set aside for construction of new desalination plants at Lytton and Marcoola by 2017–2018. The 50-year Water Strategy identifies the duplication of the Tugun desalination plant and beyond that a site at Bribie Island. Scenario analysis shows that additional water sources are not likely to be required until around 2022. However, because of the growth pressures, potential sites need to be preserved now. All sites are publicly owned. The facilities will be constructed to minimise energy use and may potentially be powered by green energy.
- Ipswich Water Treatment Plans – this $400 million (AUD) project includes an upgrade of Bundamba, Goodna and Rosewood treatment plants and provides for a new treatment plant at Warrill Creek.
Energy
Electricity demand in Queensland is growing at twice the rate of that in other states of Australia. In 2009/2010, the Queensland Government invested $3.2 billion in the state’s electricity assets to keep pace with the demand placed on the system. The Queensland gas market is growing rapidly, with demand having doubled since 2000.
Future projects include:
- BG Group and Queensland Gas Company Ltd – proposed the development of an integrated liquefied natural gas project in Queensland. The capital expenditure for the first stage of this project alone is approximately $8 billion (AUD), requiring a workforce of 3,600 people at the peak of construction. It will provide approximately 820 permanent jobs during the operation phase.
- Primary Energy Pty Ltd – proposes to establish a dry milling ethanol bio-refinery on an existing industrial site at Pinkenba in Brisbane.
Coal seam gas
Queensland’s coal seam gas industry has experienced remarkable growth over the last ten years. During that time the number of coal seam gas wells drilled annually increased from a low of ten in the early 1990s to this year’s record high of approximately 600. As at June 2008, proved and probable reserves (2P) reached 10,680 petajoules (PJ). In 2007/08 production increased to approximately 125PJ, which represents more than 80 per cent of the Queensland gas market.
Future projects include:
- Australia Pacific LNG Project – in November 2010, Australia Pacific LNG (APLNG) achieved a significant milestone with the Queensland Coordinator-General’s approval for its coal seam gas (CSG) to liquefied natural gas (LNG) project. APLNG is a 50:50 CSG to LNG joint venture between Origin and ConocoPhillips and a site has been secured on Curtis Island near Gladstone to develop the $35 billion (AUD) LNG plant.
- Gladstone LNG Project – the Gladstone Liquefied Natural Gas Project (GLNG) project is led by Santos, Australia’s largest domestic gas producer, in partnership with PETRONAS, Malaysia’s national oil and gas company and the second largest LNG producer in the world. The project is valued at approximately $7 billion (AUD).
- Queensland Curtis LNG Project – in early November 2010, Queensland Curtis LNG Project announced that BG Group had taken the decision to commit US$15 billion to developing the Queensland Curtis LNG Project. It is the single biggest investment ever undertaken by the BG Group and involves building a liquefied natural gas plant at Gladstone, a 540 kilometre underground pipeline network and expanding production in gas fields in the Surat Basin around Chinchilla.
Health
It is projected that the number of hospitalisations over the next 15 years in Queensland will double as a result of changes in the population, plus the increasing burden of chronic disease. Co-locating and integrating the services of a variety of public and private ambulatory and community-based services is a more effective way of delivering health services to the community.
Future projects include:
- Ipswich Hospital redevelopment – valued at $122 million (AUD) and currently in master planning.
- Kawana Health Campus – private hospital opening in 2013 with approximately 200 beds.
- Sunshine Coast University Hospital – valued at $1.97 billion and currently in master planning with expected completion by 2016. It plans to open with 450 beds, expanding to 738 beds by 2021.
Education
Australia’s rapid population growth and increasing demand for access to education and training has led to the planning and construction of new education facilities. This has led to the development of new primary and secondary schools, redeveloping existing buildings and TAFE facilities.
Investment in key regional school projects includes:
- Education infrastructure – a $1.84 billion (AUD) investment will deliver new and improved facilities to help better educate Queensland children.
- Federal Government’s Building the Education Revolution – $1.168 billion (AUD) initiative to modernise Australian schools.
- Amberley, Ipswich – $149 million (AUD) to construct a replacement school.
National broadband network
In April 2009, the Australian Government announced the establishment of a new company, NBN Co. to build and operate a new super-fast national broadband network in Australia.
