A New South Wales Liberals & Nationals Government will create Infrastructure NSW to improve the identification, prioritisation and delivery of critical public infrastructure across the state. The new body will ensure the roads, rail, hospital, port and other upgrades this state so desperately needs are delivered according to need, on time and on budget.

Rebuilding core infrastructure across NSW is the only way that this State can reverse its recent decline and lay the foundation for a swift economic recovery. The time has now come for a new way to plan, procure and deliver the projects and networks that will restore our position as the ‘premier State’.

The shortfall of infrastructure in NSW is obvious – but it is also very costly. It is estimated that urban congestion costs NSW more than $4 billion in lost productivity each year. Economic costs of clogged freight networks are mammoth and the failure to renew hospitals, schools and public facilities means that the best efforts of dedicated nurses, teachers and public servants are hampered by old, tired facilities.

The problems are many and various; but the root cause is common. For too long, NSW has failed to develop rigorous, integrated and real plans for the future.  That’s why the Liberals & Nationals have committed to appoint a powerful new coordination and planning body – Infrastructure NSW – to address the task of rebuilding the state.

Infrastructure NSW will learn from the Australian experience of Infrastructure Australia and Partnerships Victoria. This body will harness global experience from groups like Partnerships UK and Partnerships British Columbia. We are committed to making NSW the infrastructure leader of Australia - and Infrastructure NSW is fundamental to achieving that aim.

Infrastructure is about better cities, better services and a better economy.

At its core, infrastructure is about the services which are delivered by the assets. To ensure this service mentality is front of mind in the planning, development and operation of infrastructure, I will appoint a Board to oversee Infrastructure NSW – ensuring that taxpayers and the business community will work in a genuine partnership with my Government to build the infrastructure this State deserves.

Infrastructure NSW will start a rigorous and merit-based appraisal of where our most costly and important shortfalls are – and recommend the major projects and policy reforms that will address them.

Importantly, this body will also advise a Liberals & Nationals Government on the best way to procure, fund and deliver major infrastructure. This will help to ensure that we stretch the taxpayer dollar further, delivering better assets at better value.

Businesses and residents deserve to know that when their Government commits to a project, it will be delivered. Therefore, Infrastructure NSW will undertake a transparent prioritization and sequencing of projects. This will mean that the most critical projects are delivered first, providing new impetus and discipline on Government to ensure that where a project is announced, a project is delivered on-time and on-budget. Infrastructure NSW will equip a Liberals & Nationals Government to restore integrity and rigour to the way we select major infrastructure projects.