Launch of infrastructure pipeline
The NZ Treasury has launched the first iteration of a national infrastructure project pipeline, detailing 174 projects with an estimated value of $6.1 billion.
The prototype, developed by the Treasury’s Infrastructure Transactions Unit, presents data from five capital-intensive agencies – the Department of Corrections, the New Zealand Transport Agency, the ministries of Education and Health and the New Zealand Defence Force.
It allows users to filter data using a range of variables, including sector, agency, region, start date and value range, and provides a CSV file to download for further data interrogation.
The prototype is expected to be followed by several further iterations in the lead-up to the establishment of the New Zealand Infrastructure Commission, Te Waihanga, later this year.
Over time, the aim is that all central government agencies, as well as local government agencies and many private sector projects will be included in the pipeline.
Infrastructure NZ CEO Stephen Selwood says“The new tool is extremely welcome.”
“Certainty of pipeline underpins investment in training, capital equipment and capacity building across the sector, as well as being key to attracting domestic and foreign direct investment.
“New Zealand has had a traditional construction sector malaise due to boom-bust cycles. This promotes the short-term subcontracting model where firms hold costs to the minimum when the market is slow, under-invest in training, technology and equipment and rely on the subcontracting sector to bring in additional skills when needed.
"A detailed schedule of what projects will be released, their value and sequencing to market is at the heart of the information that is required to attract investment and deliver the productivity improvements needed to meet infrastructure demand.
“While some changes in priorities will be expected, for industry to have confidence to invest, there must be confidence in authorities to deliver," Selwood said.