Invest in Brisbane Australia for Infrastructure

Brisbane is driving forward a strong program of major infrastructure works, bringing together public and private sector expertise in extremely successful partnerships.

Real infrastructure construction activity in Australia has strongly increased since 2001, particularly in the areas of transport and energy infrastructure. To the end of 2009-10 major infrastructure industries accounted for 9.8 per cent of GDP and employed over 853 000 Australiansⁱ.

Queensland’s average infrastructure spend over the past 10 years is 75% higher than the average of other states and territories combined at $1021 (AUD) per capitaⁱⁱ. This spend will continue to increase exponentially with the projected growth in Queensland’s economy and population.

Brisbane’s competitive advantage

Expanding infrastructure

South East Queensland (SEQ) is Australia’s fastest growing region, approximately 2.99 million people currently call SEQ home, and this is expected to grow to 4.4 million by 2031ⁱⁱⁱ. To manage this significant increase and secure the regions prosperity and lifestyle Queensland has committed $134 billion (AUD) in the Queensland Infrastructure Plan (QIP) to planning and delivering infrastructure projects to 2031. Coupled with the Brisbane City Council’s long term commitment to infrastructure, this represents the largest public infrastructure spending program in Australian history.

Demand for resources

In addition the large investments being made by the public sector, there are currently $142 billion(AUD) of resource projects planned across Queensland^iv. With the significant increase in demand for coal and liquefied natural gas (LNG) from both China and India, the resources boom in Queensland is creating a requirement for extra port and rail capacity and the need for key infrastructure developments across water, energy and communications. As Queensland’s capital, Brisbane is well placed at the heart of this boom.

Public Private Partnerships

In Brisbane, Government at all levels is committed to establishing and maintaining partnerships with the private sector to ensure the success of major infrastructure projects. With substantial investments in mining and infrastructure planned for Brisbane there is ample opportunity for international infrastructure contractors with the procurement and delivery option - Public Private Partnerships (PPP). PPP’s provide incentives for innovation in the design, construction, operation and management of substantial investments.

Opportunities

Road

In 2011-12, $3.931 billion (AUD) was invested in critical arterial and motorway infrastructure and improving the integrated public transport system. Ongoing investment is paramount to reducing congestion and upgrading key freight and commercial routes.

Future projects include:

$745 million (AUD) Logan Motorway (Ipswich Motorway - Pacific Motorway) upgrade
$1.27 billion (AUD) Eastern Busway Stage 3: Buranda to Capalaba
$500 million (AUD) to widen the Pacific Motorway through Logan

Rail

Rail plays an important part in the resources industry supply chain. Queensland is benefiting from major investment in rail projects from the public and private sector.

Future projects include:

$7 billion (AUD) Brisbane Underground Metro Rail Project (Cross River Rail)
$1.15 billion (AUD) Moreton Bay Rail Link
National High Speed Rail Network (under feasibility)
Approx $2 billion (AUD) 495-kilometre Galilee Basin standard gauge rail corridor,expected completion by 2013
Approx $2 billion (AUD) Goonyella to Abbot Point (Gap) Expansion Project. Northern Missing Link, new 69km rail link 175km rail link

Water

Future projects include:

$326 million (AUD) Nathan Dam (880,000 megalitre dam, 260km pipeline)
$2.6 billion (AUD) Connors River Dam and Pipelines (49,500 megalitre dam and 398km pipeline)

Energy

Queensland energy consumption is growing at a strong 5.27% per annum for the three years to 2013-14^v. Demand continues to increase due largely to the growing number of projects in high energy consuming industries such as metals, mining, oil and gas. To keep pace with demand new and improved infrastructure and at least 341 megawatts (MW) of new generation is required each year. Queensland is also pursuing a greener future with a focus on the areas of:

low emission coal technology
gas
solar
wind
biomass
Hydro
Geothermal

Coal seam gas

Queensland’s coal seam gas (CSG) industry has experienced remarkable growth over the last ten years. There are currently eight liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects planned or proposed for Queensland worth more than $50 billion (AUD) in capital expenditure. As at June 30 2010, Queensland’s proven and probable (2P) reserves of CSG were 27,992 petajoules (PJ). In the six months ending at the 30 June 2010, 1048 wells in Queensland were reported to be producing CSG^vi.

Future projects include:

$35 billion (AUD) Australia Pacific LNG Project
$7 billion (AUD) Gladstone LNG Project
$15 billion (USD) Queensland Curtis LNG Project

Health

With changes in population and advances in medical technology there is increasing opportunity in the areas of health infrastructure. $7.33 billion (AUD) is being invested in health infrastructure across Queensland in the four years to 2014 alone^vii.

Education

With over $2 billion (AUD) spent on education building projects in the past three years it is clear the Government at all levels has committed to investing in education infrastructure across Queensland^viii.

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 worth over $43 billion (AUD).

^{“ Brisbane is our location of choice into the Asia-Pacific market”

Ana Lopez-Tulloch

Commercial Country Manager, Obrascón Huarte Lain, S.A (OHL, Spain).}

For more information please contact Steven Silvester, Acting Director - Investment Attraction by email or phone +61 7 3006 6239

^{i Department of Infrastructure and Transport: Australian Infrastructure Statistics, Yearbook, 2011

ii Queensland Infrastructure Plan, 2011

iii Queensland Infrastructure Plan, 2011

iv Queensland Infrastructure Plan, 2011

v Budget Paper 3, State Budget 2011-12, 2011

vi Queensland Infrastructure Plan, 2011

vii ‘Health Planning and Infrastructure Division’, Queensland Health, 2010 http://www.health.qld.gov.au/cwamb/default.asp

viii ‘Information for contractors’, Department of Education and Training, 2009}