There have been a string of failures in Australian construction companies. It’s one sign of more systemic problems in Australia’s approach to infrastructure provision. Previous attempts to resolve these problems have been largely ineffective. Action must be taken to remove impediments to productivity, innovation and public value creation. Without it,...
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There’s a question on the lips of infrastructure developers: “How can we get our projects approved and avoid costly delays?” It’s a perpetual question that has gained extra gravity as infrastructure becomes a centre piece of COVID-19 recovery efforts. But rather than fight regulations, there’s a smarter and more profitable...
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Infrastructure owners and developers are needlessly wasting billions of dollars each year. Why? Because the secret to high value, low risk infrastructure is hiding in plain sight. Intentional design offers a cheap, quick path to profitable innovation in the sector. Only a shift in mindset stands between investors and vastly...
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In Australia and other nations, governments and industry partners are investing heavily in vital infrastructure. Such investment is, in part, to restore confidence and growth into economies battered by COVID-19. Restoring the economy and reducing debt also demands that every dollar is spent wisely. But many infrastructure proponents are fanning...
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For decades, people have known the dominant approach to building cities, industries and economies is ultimately unsustainable. Today, people in developed and emerging markets are experiencing the consequences of our failure to adequately address the foreseeable issues. The risks and consequences of inaction are mounting, demanding urgent and collaborative action....
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Australia is facing into some big challenges – and opportunities – in modernising its public infrastructure and education systems. Features of ‘smart cities’ sit in the solution set to both issues. Yet the realisation of sustainable and smart cities has been painfully slow. What can be done to accelerate change?...
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On 9th June, the Australian Government released the ‘Independent Review into the Future Security of the National Electricity Market’, known as the Finkel Review. It was an urgent, substantial and ultimately well-received contribution to sustaining Australia’s prosperity. The question is: has the Review addressed the root cause of our energy...
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The focus on making better infrastructure investment choices begs the question: who’s offering great investment options? While customers and markets have a role to play in achieving better infrastructure performance, they’re not the whole solution. Governments must also be more specific about public infrastructure outcomes they want to buy. It’s...
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It seems that everyone is talking about design thinking. But is it relevant to infrastructure owners, investors and developers? Newspapers, business and industry magazines are publishing ever more articles on design thinking or human-centred design. They include examples like Samsung’s mobile phones and televisions, PepsiCo’s products and customer experiences, or...
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More money won’t address the shortfall of good infrastructure projects. Better planning and governance arrangements will help, but a shift in mind-sets is the key. Many people in the infrastructure ‘community’ are captured in a false narrative and mind-set. Better approaches are being overlooked as effort goes into solving the...
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