In this week’s Infrastructure Policy Watch, Australia builds momentum in the energy sector, and New Zealand announces record transport funding.
Australia doubles its use of renewable energy
On 4 September 2024, the Climate Council published a report on state and territory level progress towards using clean energy in Australia.
The report outlines the activities carried out by the government, community and households to implement renewable energy options.
Drawing on the sun and wind, Australia has doubled the amount of renewable energy in the main electricity grid over the last six years.
This includes the following successes:
- One in three households has installed solar panels
- 40% of the electricity part of the national grid comes from clean wind and solar.
States and territories have led on various renewable infrastructure options, including shared transport, rooftop solar, hydroelectric power and electric vehicles.
The immediate benefits of the shift to solar energy include:
- lowered electricity bills
- job creation
- less air pollution
Australia is now well on its way to meeting its target of reducing national climate pollution by 43% before 2030.
The report describes the need to ‘raise the nation bar’, requiring continued leadership from the national government to lock in good practices and the momentum gained in using renewables.
The ICE’s view
It has already been established that Australia needs to deliver on a net zero transition.
Despite wider challenges, the use of a range of renewable energy options at the state and territory level plays a significant role in realising this in practice.
Gaining buy-in from all stakeholders is key to ensuring effective change, where government, communities and households can help to deliver change more effectively.
This is seen in the clear momentum developed to deliver renewable energy with short- and long-term benefits.
The Enabling Better Infrastructure (EBI) guidance encourages governments to incorporate all stakeholders in infrastructure planning, design, and construction.
Guidance can be used to achieve similar benefits and support change across other sectors.
New Zealand launches new investment for land transport
On 2 September 2024, New Zealand’s Transport Minister, Hon Simeon Brown, announced the launch of the 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP).
The NLTP aims to enhance economic growth by ensuring a reliable and efficient transport network.
The launch of the NLTP will also see a record amount of funding in transport infrastructure: $32.9 billion NZD, up 35% from the previous government.
The NLTP focuses on:
- delivering much-needed maintenance
- implementing four new public transport projects
- building bridges to aid connectivity
- creating a pipeline of road infrastructure projects
- regulation and enforcement
The investment will ensure all New Zealanders can access improved transport to enable efficient and safe travel.
Hon Simeon Brown mentions that the investment will ensure “economic growth and productivity, increased maintenance and resilience, safety, and value for money”.
The ICE’s view
A renewed emphasis on transport planning and delivery in New Zealand has seen the rise of road programmes and delivery-based initiatives.
The NLTP provides critical public transport infrastructure that has, in some instances, been needed for the last 50 years.
This also includes newer interventions such as electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
In addition to delivering new projects, maintenance is a joint focus.
Maintenance is an area of growing international interest where failures and losses due to ageing infrastructure place strain on existing infrastructure systems and the public purse.
In the UK, it’s been estimated that the road maintenance backlog is concerning, taking up to 10 years and £16.3 billion to tackle.
In case you missed it
- Take a look at how EBI specialists input into the development of New Zealand’s infrastructure strategy.
- Chile includes communities, including indigenous groups, in strategic infrastructure planning – find out more about its approach.
You can also sign up to ICE Informs to get a monthly digest of the latest policy activities from ICE, including calls for evidence to support our ongoing advice to policymakers.
