The Property Council of Australia has welcomed the release of Infrastructure Australia's 2021 Australian Infrastructure Plan, a 15-year roadmap of reforms and investment initiatives.
Property Council Chief Executive, Ken Morrison, said that the Plan had a welcome focus the infrastructure needs of our growing cities and the role of the built environment in transitioning the economy to net zero emissions.
"Cities are humanity's greatest invention and cities are right at the front of this infrastructure plan," Mr Morrison said.
"Despite the disruptions of the pandemic, Australia will remain a highly urbanised nation and the infrastructure needs of our cities - big and small - need to be top of mind for governments.
"The Australian Infrastructure Plan throws down the gauntlet to governments on how to plan infrastructure in our cities.
"The recipe is to use infrastructure as the backbone to creating high amenity, high liveability places across our cities. You don't create great cities by disconnecting infrastructure planning from urban outcomes and this report recognises this."
The Property Council also welcomed the Plan's focus on leveraging the built environment to improve resilience and reduce Australia's greenhouse gas emissions.
"The built environment accounts for a quarter of Australia's greenhouse gas emissions, so it has an important role in the solution to this challenge.
"The infrastructure plan proposes a range of practical measures to encourage buildings to become more energy efficient and make a big contribution to the challenge of reaching net zero emissions by 2050.
"Infrastructure Australia continues to play a vital role in depoliticising Australia's infrastructure delivery and putting forward strategic advice to improve decision-making."
"As we head towards a Federal Election, the Property Council encourages bipartisan commitments that align with the policies and strategies outlined in the new Australian Infrastructure Plan."
