Meeting NZ's infrastructure needs

ABeca-sponsored poll of infrastructure leaders at the recent Infrastructure New Zealand Building Nations Symposium indicates confidence is growing that New Zealand can meet its infrastructure cchallenges. But it also suggests there needs to be greater detail shared with industry and the community around plans to address Auckland’s infrastructure needs. Respondents also believe that there needs to be greater urgency from all parties to implement those plans.

More than 700 industry leaders attended the symposium and the Beca poll enabled delegates to provide real-time feedback on the key issues on the agenda.

Three-quarters of respondents felt New Zealand’s infrastructure situation will improve over the next five years.

Infrastructure NZ CEO Stephen Selwood said in a media statement that this high level of confidence reflects the Government’s announcement shortly before the poll that it will move forward with an independent infrastructure entity. “The infrastructure body initiative was supported by almost 90 percent of respondents. Concerns over weak procurement capability across the sector and uncertainty over the long term capital programme make the establishment of this new entity a high priority.

“The Government’s signals that it will reform the water sector are also assisting industry confidence. Less than five percent of polled respondents felt the water sector should remain in its current state, with almost four out of five infrastructure leaders supporting consolidation of water supply and wastewater into one or several large dedicated providers.

“However, there remains significant sector concern over the ability of Auckland to meet the region’s two big challenges: housing and congestion.”