Premier's Statement
Infrastructure underpins the quality of life and future prosperity for everyone in NSW. Renewing our infrastructure is one of the top five priorities for the NSW Government, as laid out in NSW 2021, our ten year plan to make NSW number one.
The NSW Government established a new body, Infrastructure NSW, and asked it to prepare a 20-year State Infrastructure Strategy on the long-term infrastructure needs of our State. In October 2012, Infrastructure NSW provided us with independent advice that draws on industry expertise, rigorous research and the frontline experience of public sector agencies.
The Government has now carefully reviewed the recommendations from Infrastructure NSW against existing plans in the context of the level of investment that the State can responsibly afford. This has led us to produce the NSW Government’s State Infrastructure Strategy [2].
This Strategy takes the politics out of government spending priorities. It draws on evidence, independent advice and industry expertise. It is the first time a government in this State has committed to an integrated approach to infrastructure planning and delivery.
Through this Strategy, the Government sets out and commits to the State’s infrastructure delivery and reform priorities over the next five years. Planning and construction is already underway for many new projects, large and small. Infrastructure NSW, NSW Treasury and our infrastructure delivery agencies are now working to complete the integration of this Strategy within the 2013/14 NSW Budget.
My Government is determined to set NSW on the path of world’s best practice infrastructure planning and delivery to improve the lives of citizens across the State. The people of NSW want NSW to be number one again. We want to restore that great sense of pride in our cities and in our regions, and be confident in the future opportunities available to all our citizens.