The NSW Government recently announced an injection of $73.4 million to address infrastructure ‘pinchpoints’ throughout Sydney. WGE’s Ben James highlights the challenge for delivery authorities in this piece recently published by the Property Council of Australia.
The ‘congestion busting’ NSW budget, announced in June, grabbed the headlines with its record capital spend of $73.3 billion over four years, including a $2.9 billion cash injection for the WestConnex, and the $12 billion for the North West and South West metro projects.
But the Baird Government has also allocated $125 million to projects that “improve traffic flow and reduce congestion across key corridors in Sydney”. And an extra $31.1 million will fund the Smart Motorway program, which plans to use technology to ease congestion.
“While most of the media coverage has focused on major infrastructure projects such as WestConnex, Sydney Metro and the second harbour crossing, there is a massive portfolio of smaller ‘enabling’ projects that provide huge opportunities for the industry,” says James, WGE’s infrastructure section manager in Sydney.
Without these enabling projects, the big-ticket infrastructure projects won’t work, James explains.
“These smaller projects are often complex and require innovative design approaches. Think intersection upgrades, road widening, new local roads and pedestrian links – these are all vital to connect new infrastructure into the existing network.”
These smaller infrastructure projects present a unique set of challenges, James warns.
“Managing multiple stakeholders and active community groups, working with existing utility infrastructure and integrating with existing networks all require inventive solutions.
“These projects are contingent on agile consultancies with expertise in planning and delivery of both simple and complex infrastructure works. The NSW Government can’t afford to get it wrong.”
WGE has experience working on a range of major projects, including Perth’s Elizabeth Quay, Sydney’s Barangaroo precinct and Brisbane’s Queens Wharf.
“We draw on our technical experts from across the country when projects require detailed coordination and integration,” James says.
“Our team applies advanced technology, such as point cloud scanning, building information and 3D modelling, to provide accurate, real-time visual representations of the project. This minimises risk and ensures project costs don’t blow out.
“The Baird Government has set itself an enormous infrastructure task – the challenge now is in the execution.”
