Gridlocked cities to cost more than $53 billion a year by 2031 without action: Infrastructure Australia
Travel times in parts of Australian capital cities could more than double by 2031 without transport investment, while congestion could cost the economy more than $53 billion, a new report warns.
The Infrastructure Australia audit also predicts public transport demand will nearly double.
The report, titled Our Infrastructure Challenges, will be launched by Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Assistant Infrastructure Minister Jamie Briggs in Sydney today.
"This is a really important step, it gives us a benchmark about where we're at," Mr Briggs said.
"By the end of the year, for the first time in Australia's history, we should have a well thought through plan for our infrastructure for the next 15 years."
IA says the cost of road delays in the six largest capital cities was $13.7 billion in 2011, but is projected to grow by around 290 per cent to $53.3 billion in 2031 without measures including new roads and more public transport funding.
The report says car travel times in the most gridlocked parts of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and Canberra are expected to jump by at least 20 per cent if there no measures to boost capacity or curb demand.
"In some cases, travel times could more than double between 2011 and 2031," the report says.
The report proposes introducing dedicated lanes for carpooling, buses and trucks.
The audit estimates Australia's population will grow to 30.5 million in 2031, with the biggest four cities growing by around 45 per cent.
We're increasingly going to need the private sector to be involved in infrastructure investment.
"It tells us there's a really good problem in Australia, which is we've got a lot of growth. That means we need a lot of infrastructure investment," Mr Briggs said.
"In the big cities the growth is extraordinary and it just shows that Australia is a great place with great potential, but we need more infrastructure to make the most of it."
The report predicts public transport demand will more than double in Melbourne, and jump by 55 per cent in Sydney, and nearly 90 per cent across other capital cities.
"Unless peak period passenger loads are managed and capacity is increased, commuters in all capital cities will see more services experiencing 'crush loadings', where peak demand exceeds capacity," the report says.
The Federal Government's top infrastructure advisory body also predicts demand for flights will double and additional airport capacity will be needed in Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and Melbourne.
It also says increased private and public funding will be needed to maintain and grow infrastructure networks.
"We're increasingly going to need the private sector to be involved in infrastructure investment," Mr Briggs said.
"Finances for the government are always going to be finite at the federal and state level, and the private sector wants to be involved. They deliver infrastructure projects very well."
The Government will invite submissions on the audit, with a 15-year infrastructure plan expected to be released later this year.