The construction sector has sent strong messages to the coalition Government, with leaders of industry voicing their hopes for the industry for 2024 and beyond to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon.
Infrastructure New Zealand Chair Tracey Ryan and Chief Executive Nick Leggett sent a joint letter to Luxon, titled, Getting New Zealand's infrastructure back on track. In it, the pair said they spoke on behalf of New Zealand’s infrastructure, in suggesting Infrastructure New Zealand works with government to identify quick wins and outline medium-to-long-term priorities.
"For your administration to be successful in infrastructure delivery, the public sector needs to deliver," they said.
Recommendations included ‘a careful examination of the public sector infrastructure advisory and delivery eco-system’. Adding, “Speeding up the process, avoiding siloes and injecting independence into the system will be key.”
On funding infrastructure, Infrastructure NZ recognised the fiscal challenges the incoming Government faced, but suggested, ‘alternative funding and financing mechanisms are readily available to widen the opportunities for government to deliver projects swiftly’.
“We recommend the Government draws on funding beyond its own balance sheet to deliver projects, and better utilises the market to drive efficiency and productivity so New Zealanders receive value for money.”
In terms of mitigating the effects of climate change, Infrastructure NZ urged the Government ‘to not lose sight of the agenda to reduce emissions, decarbonise our economy and adapt to our increasingly extreme weather events’.
“The resilience of our key infrastructure cannot be overlooked, and it is vital that this long-term work to improve these assets and safeguard communities continues,” said Ryan and Leggett.
Further recommendations included:
- Examining the public sector infrastructure advisory and delivery eco-system.
- Seeking alternative funding and financing mechanisms to deliver infrastructure projects.
- Enabling faster consenting of renewable energy infrastructure.
- A ‘system reboot’ for local government and the way central government relates to it.
National MP Chris Bishop starts the New Year as Minister of Housing, and Minister for Infrastructure, sitting within Cabinet. Chris Penk MP sits outside of Cabinet in his role as Minister for Building and Construction, as well as Minister for Land Information.
