Brisbane’s Gateway Upgrade Project has been judged as the nation’s best infrastructure project of the year at Infrastructure Partnerships Australia’s National Infrastructure Awards, held in Sydney last week.

 

IPA Chairman, Mark Birrell, said the project won the award because of its iconic status, its engineering brilliance and its sheer scale.

 

“At $2.12 billion, it is the most significant road project completed in Australia in the past year. The Gateway Bridge is a vital economic asset for the state and critically important route for both freight and commuters.

 

“Because the private sector and Queensland Government took a flexible, outcome based approach, there was able to be a significant alteration to the project to deliver four kilometres of new motorway as part of its construction.

 

“Brisbane and South East Queensland are facing some of the most significant population growth in Australia; meaning that this project makes a massive contribution to easing congestion and smoothing freight efficiency through Brisbane.

 

“Despite its scale and complexity, the Gateway was delivered on budget and 7 months ahead of time.

 

“This project will provide significant benefits for Queensland for decades to come – boosting Gross Regional Product by $683 million contribution per year.

 

“I congratulate the Leighton-Abigroup Joint Venture and the Queensland Government and Queensland Motorways on the outstanding outcomes of this project.”

 

Winner of the 2011 Government Partnership Excellence Award was Sydney’s M2 Motorway Upgrade

 

Mr Birrell said the M2 Motorway upgrade won the award because it was the best example of a government agency and the private sector working together to deliver the best possible infrastructure solution.

 

“The project saw the private owner of the motorway fund its expansion through a minor, one off toll increase and an extension to the length of time they own the road.

 

“This $550 million project will deliver more than $1.7 billion in economic returns to the people of New South Wales, but the partnership between the RTA and Transurban means that it will be delivered at no cost to the taxpayer.

 

“This project shows that private investment is available to bridge the gap in public infrastructure.

 

Mr Birrell said that recognition of this innovative project added impetus to the call for the widening of the M5 South Western motorway.

 

“Like the M2, there is a profoundly valuable opportunity to widen the M5 at no cost to the taxpayer. Given the level of investment that is needed in new and renewed infrastructure in New South Wales, the M5 expansion should be pursued with great vigour by the next government.

 

“The M2 was one of Australia's first major PPPs, and it supports over 100,000 motorists and 17,000 public transport commuters every day. This upgrade will enable it to continue to meet the needs of Sydney into the future.”