Transporting Australia – The Case for Megaprojects or Modernisation?

Australia is recording an unprecedented investment in transport infrastructure projects ranging from small-scale to megaprojects all over the country. Of that investment, megaprojects are making up a substantial portion of our transport infrastructure funding.  

Aligned with this theme of “Transporting Australia” through our transport infrastructure, on Tuesday 11th October 2022, Young Transport Professionals were excited to partner with AECOM to host a panel debate on the commissioning and delivery models of transport infrastructure in Australia. The key question on everyone’s minds was;  

Are Megaprojects the best solution to improving transport productivity across the nation or should we progressively improve existing infrastructure and increase its capabilities? 

Attendees had the opportunity to join online, or watch the debate unfold in person in the Melbourne and Brisbane AECOM offices. Even before the formal debate had commenced, the discussion and discourse between attendees and panellists had already started over food and drinks. 

We heard from Team Megaprojects and Team Modernisation on three key themes – 

• Cost Benefits – We heard about the cost benefits and risks associated with megaprojects requiring significant assumptions and long-term construction periods whereas modernisation offered a low-cost solution with minimal risk attached and quick ROI.

• Transport Infrastructure Resilience – Our transport planners provided insights into the best way to improve the resilience of our transport network, with team megaprojects arguing that new corridors create increased capacity and connections around our transport network, but team modernisation introducing “regulatory modernisation” through road vehicle peak hour charging, more efficient use of data for commuting patterns and the use of ITS.

• Environmental, Social and Governance – Both sides made a compelling case for environmental, social and governance considerations focusing on our transition to net zero carbon emissions. Using new infrastructure to solidify net zero targets, or re-purposing our existing infrastructure whilst improving the operational benefits.

At the end of the debate, we opened the floor to questions with some very interesting and relevant questions asked to the panellists. If your query was not answered, please stay tuned for please keep your eyes out for the upcoming October Newsletter where we will dive into the unanswered questions. 

This event was facilitated by the Events Coordinator Caitlin Skinner with the audience hearing from the panellists – Samuel Lombard from ConnellGriffin, Dean Hislop from SMEC, Alison Dilger from Aurecon and James Warfe, Grant Viljoen and Ainsley Nigro from AECOM. 

Young Transport Professionals would like to thank our Industry Partners, Subject Matter Experts, Venues and participants for making this an informative and fun event.