From the Acting CEO
Our Planning and Strategy team are working hard to prepare IWA’s first annual Implementation Progress Report on the Foundations for a Stronger Tomorrow State Infrastructure Strategy 2022 (Strategy). This report serves as a vital tool for enhancing visibility around the implementation of supported recommendations, and will offer insights into related activities occurring across government.
In the preparation of this report, IWA is carefully considering the WA Government’s response to the Strategy, progress status updates provided by agencies and GTEs, and information within the government’s inaugural 10-year State Infrastructure Programme released in August.
The first report is expected to be finalised and published by the end of the year.
IWA is also responsible for leading 5 of the supported recommendations. As outlined in our recently published 2023/24 Annual Work Program this financial year we are particularly focussed on drafting a digital-first smart infrastructure policy in collaboration with the Department of the Premier and Cabinet’s Office of Digital Government and developing advice on embedding sustainability into asset management processes together with the Department of Treasury.
We have also recently reviewed our Major Infrastructure Proposal Assessment (MIPA) Guidelines to capture lessons learned from the first 18 months of operation and in consideration of targeted infrastructure programs. The revised Guidelines, which are currently with the Premier for final approval, will provide agencies and GTE’s with improved guidance on how to navigate MIPA requirements, the steps under which proposals are progressively assessed and the support available from IWA during the process. Once approved they will be published on IWA’s website, with a number of information sessions being planned for agencies to attend. To register your interest for one of these events please email proposals@infrastructure.wa.gov.au, noting we will also reach out directly to all agencies and GTE’s in due course.
In August, we proudly launched our first Reconciliation Action Plan joined by Noongar Elder Neville Collard, who extended a warm Welcome to Country to our team and shared some of his insightful stories and humour. We were also joined by representatives from Reconciliation WA and Development WA, Nani Creative, along with local artist William Peucker, who created a customised piece of art.
The artwork symbolises the recognition of history, connection to culture, Country, and land and how they incorporate themselves within the branching Indigenous communities across WA.
Owen Thomas
Acting Chief Executive Officer, Infrastructure WA
Another first for IWA
Since our last newsletter, IWA developed and piloted what is proposed to become an annual infrastructure portfolio appraisal process, which informed our advice to government and content for its’ inaugural annual State Infrastructure Programme (SIP), which was released on 11 August 2023.
IWA’s advice to help inform the SIP focuses on outlining anticipated significant infrastructure needs, opportunities, challenges and proposal options emerging over the 5–10-year period outside the current State Budget, and is intended to help inform future government planning and priorities.
As part of its work IWA identified four key strategic areas for ongoing focus:
- A more substantial energy infrastructure roadmap would be beneficial in supporting government to achieve the state’s decarbonisation goals.
- A balanced approach to housing supply is required to close gaps across the housing continuum.
- The sustainability and resilience of WA’s growing infrastructure portfolio will require increasingly careful management.
- Greater local construction sector capability and capacity is required to deliver the state’s infrastructure needs over the next decade.
Strategic Asset Plans on the right track
IWA continues to work with key stakeholders, including the Department of Treasury and the Department of Finance on opportunities to improve asset planning and management across the public sector. To support related activities across government, and effective implementation of the Strategic Asset Management Framework (SAMF), IWA reviewed thirty-six Strategic Asset Plans (SAPs) submitted as part of the 2023–24 State Budget process and continued its engagement with state government asset owners on these reviews and wider asset management activities.
The review work IWA undertakes, which aligns with key recommendations in the Strategy, is critical to building our own strategic planning knowledge, and supports information sharing across government.
Overall it was pleasing to see progress being made across most of the improvement areas identified last year, which is reflective of the efforts being made by various agencies across government. As an example most SAPs now align with SAMF and are becoming more cohesive and integrated with clearer logic and flow.
However, the greatest area of improvement relates to the asset portfolio review sections, including stocktake and evaluation. This indicates a better understanding of the current asset base, which aligns with recommendation 41 in the Strategy to improve asset management practices across the public sector, and will ultimately assist Government to make more informed asset investment decisions.
Ibodies unite
Decarbonisation of infrastructure and Aboriginal participation and engagement were hot topics at the latest infrastructure bodies Chairperson and CEO meeting in Sydney recently.
Infrastructure Australia (IA) provided an update on current Commonwealth decarbonisation work plans, highlighting recent developments including the announcement of sector decarbonisation plans. Our Chairperson and Independent Chair of Infrastructure Net Zero (InfraNZ) Nicole Lockwood gave an overview of the recently launched InfraNZ initiative, which is focussed on bridging the gap between climate change and emissions targets and projects.
The challenge of decarbonisation to Net Zero to 2050 is faced by all sectors and jurisdictions. Some of the emerging barriers to progress relate to duplication of effort and knowledge silos. Recognising this, the national I-bodies have agreed to collaborate and share information on different aspects of the problem, from establishing methods for measuring embedded carbon to carbon management in procurement. The key benefit will be a more unified and consistent approach at a national level, with better integration of lessons learned across states and sectors.
IWA is also collaborating with IA to drive First Nation outcomes through infrastructure by developing Aboriginal participation document guidelines for infrastructure planning and development processes. These guidelines will include recommending early-stage participation from Aboriginal representatives in the communities that government and private industry operate in. In an effort to share knowledge, aim for best practice and have impact through our sphere of influence, this important body of work will include cultural recognition and input into design, procurement and employment opportunities, heritage management and consideration for Aboriginal governance.
Global sustainability trends
Sustainability, innovation, resilience and critical issues that are facing the infrastructure industry were discussed at the Infrastructure Sustainability Council’s (ISC) Connect conference in Melbourne this month, attended by our CEO Phil Helberg. Attendees heard from a variety of Australian and international industry experts over the 3 days. Mike Kilburn (Director of Infrastructure Net Zero) and Dena Jacobs (Executive Director of Infrastructure NSW) joined other speakers to discuss the journey to Net Zero. With Infrastructure enabling close to 70% of emissions, coordination, policy development and emissions budgets will help the world on its journey of energy transition. The session on Embedding sustainability in infrastructure from the outset was also beneficial, promoting a focus on total life cycle outcomes and results.
Congratulations to the Office of Major Transport Infrastructure Delivery (OMTID) for winning the Industry Impact Public Sector Award. OMTID, a mixed team of both Main Roads WA and the Public Transport Authority, have championed the use of recycled materials for projects and developed a Materials Reuse Platform to list excess materials.
The South West Gateway Alliance (SWGA) won the Excellence in both Social and Economic Outcomes awards for the Bunbury Outer Ring Road. SWGA was commended for their focus on procurement and local business engagement and creating opportunities for lasting social and economic improvements within the South West and having a sustainable workforce strategy. SWGA’s Yaka Dandjoo program builds meaningful career pathways for young people, women, people over 45 years of age, and Aboriginal people. Since its launch in October 21, 60% of the graduates have been female and 60% have been Aboriginal. A really impactful program well done SWGA.
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