From the CEO

State Infrastructure Strategy response signals go-ahead

Following more than 2 years of engagement with hundreds of stakeholders and extensive analysis of material, IWA has welcomed the WA Government’s formal response to Foundations for a Stronger Tomorrow the State Infrastructure Strategy.

Of the 93 recommendations, there was 98% overall support with 58% supported in full, 40% in part or in principle, and only 2% of recommendations not supported.

With the response to the Strategy now handed down the focus shifts to implementing the supported recommendations.

This milestone provides the go-ahead for agencies and trading enterprises to align their strategies, plans, policies and major infrastructure initiatives with supported recommendations.

IWA will lead implementation of a number of recommendations ourselves, which include accelerating digital transformation and improving planning and coordination of infrastructure, while also providing high-level assistance to agencies.

We’re also busy finalising a monitoring and reporting framework, which will underpin the Strategy’s implementation over time.

To learn more about the Strategy’s response and its implementation and future activities, please visit our website. 

You can also read the WA Government announcement online. 

Advice aims to bolster Budget proposals 

As deadlines for WA’s 2023-24 State Budget process fast approach, IWA is busy reviewing a range of infrastructure-related business cases with a financial value of $100 million or more.

It’s part of our Major Infrastructure Proposal Assessment (MIPA) function, which involves our team providing advice to agencies and working with them to ensure the quality of proposals aligns with the state’s needs and high-level infrastructure outlook. 

With both infrastructure planning and project assessment experience behind us, our team also look to ensure the social, economic and environmental value of proposals are maximised before they are considered in the State Budget process.

To help agencies develop the best possible business cases, IWA is refining our MIPA Guidelines, which outline how all proposals will be assessed. If you have any input into the MIPA process, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Reconciliation Action Plan comes together 

Improving outcomes for Aboriginal people and communities is a commitment that’s flowed throughout our work for the past 3 years and it’s now being formalised as we continue our work towards finalising our draft Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).

IWA’s inaugural RAP will provide a framework for IWA’s reconciliation journey over the coming 12 months.

Working closely with our RAP co-chair and Aboriginal engagement lead, IWA is planning to strengthen relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people throughout the state.

It will also map the steps IWA will take to drive our vision for reconciliation forward to not only enrich the way we work, but ensure IWA stays on the right path, accountable and focussed when it comes to improving outcomes for Aboriginal people and communities.

The next step for our draft Reflect RAP is to progress for review and endorsement by our Board and Reconciliation Australia. 

Keep an eye on our website News for its release.

Market capacity solutions emerge 

After extensive consultation, robust discussion and in-depth investigation, we’re finalising our capacity review of the construction sector, ready to present to the WA Government in February. 

The report will capture the input and perspectives of government, industry, unions and others, and is expected to include a number of recommendations aimed at tackling market capacity challenges to improve the long-term sustainability of the state’s infrastructure delivery processes. 

Recommendations will centre around the following key themes:​​​​​​​

• Public sector infrastructure pipeline transparency
  
• Industry culture and wellbeing
• A more sustainable commercial environment, including greater collaboration, increased productivity, and innovation.

Board welcomes fresh faces 

We are pleased to share 2 new members have joined the IWA Board – the Hon Jay Weatherill AO and Dr Richard Walley OAM. 

As former Premier of South Australia, Hon Weatherill brings a wealth of relevant experience to the IWA Board, including 16 years as an elected member of Parliament leading a range of portfolios including Treasury, State Development, Education and the Environment. 

Dr Walley is a Nyoongar man of the South-West region and statesperson who offers rich knowledge and insights as a cultural consultant and lecturer on Aboriginal culture at the University of Western Australia. 

As these 2 new esteemed members join our Board, we say thank you to 2 departing members – Wayne Zekulich and Andrea Sutton – who have both made significant contributions to IWA’s work.