VECCI will today hold a Pre-Election Forum on infrastructure issues at its head office in Albert Street, East Melbourne.

The speakers at the Forum will include: the Hon. Peter Batchelor, Minister for Transport; Terry Mulder, Shadow Minister for Transport; and the Hon. Peter Ryan, Leader of the National Party.

“VECCI has been at the forefront of advocating well-targeted infrastructure spending as a means of boosting Victoria’s growth, exports and employment”, says VECCI Chief Executive Officer, Mr Neil Coulson.

“With a State Election just over two months away, it is important that business and other key stakeholders are aware of the infrastructure policies and key initiatives of each of the leading political parties.

“VECCI’s Pre-Election Policy Forum on Infrastructure provides this insight and continues the momentum of reform and policy development initiated by VECCI at its November 2005 Victoria Summit”, says Mr Coulson.

“At the Forum, VECCI will present its policy document on infrastructure, which will emphasise that:

• Considerable investment in new infrastructure must be undertaken in order to overcome capacity constraints and provide an internationally competitive business environment.
• Infrastructure policy must be strategic. A whole of State, whole of Government perspective must be developed which aligns infrastructure projects with the State’s economic and regional development objectives.
• Rigorous cost-benefit analysis, which takes into account economic, social and environmental issues, needs to be carried out on all infrastructure proposals, along with the establishment of firm construction and/or implementation timelines.
• Regulations and legislation applying to the planning and approval of key infrastructure projects should be streamlined. We need to be more responsive in fast-tracking critical infrastructure projects.
• Further cooperation between the Federal and State Governments will be crucial for establishing an integrated infrastructure program.
• Governments should continue to leverage off the skills of both the private and public sectors in order to efficiently deliver core infrastructure facilities and their related services.

“In terms of specific infrastructure projects, Victoria’s short-term priorities must include:

• Channel deepening in Port Phillip Bay
• Completion of the Dynon rail hub needs to drive more efficient rail access to the port
• A commencement of planning this year for new coal-fired energy capacity.
• Improved broadband infrastructure and take-up

“In the longer term, we need to plan for:

• The Linking of Melbourne’s East-West Growth corridors via an East-West tunnel (road and rail)
• Water recycling infrastructure, with feasibility studies of projects such as the Carrum Eastern Treatment Plant wastewater to go to Latrobe Valley

“Progress on these vital projects will brighten the economic future and quality of life of all Victorians”, says Mr Coulson.

The VECCI Pre-Election Forum on Infrastructure will be held on Tuesday 19 September between 5.30pm and 7.00pm at VECCI, Level 5, 486 Albert Street, East Melbourne

For all media enquiries, please contact:
VECCI Strategic Communications
Ph:      (03) 8662 5226
email: media@vecci.org.au