54173 (2024). Hon Barbara Edmonds to the Minister for Infrastructure

54173 (2024). Hon Barbara Edmonds to the Minister for Infrastructure: How, if at all, will Local Government be able to engage with the 30-year National Infrastructure Plan?

Hon Chris Bishop: The Infrastructure Commission will be engaging widely during the development of the National Infrastructure Plan, including with local government. Local government agencies are responsible for providing many important infrastructure services at a local and regional level, and therefore have an important role to play in shaping the National Infrastructure Plan. In the coming months, they will be invited to hear the Commission’s early thinking and provide feedback on components of the Plan. They are encouraged to apply for the Infrastructure Priorities Programme, which will enable their projects to be included in the Plan. Local government can learn more about the Infrastructure Priorities Programme and submit proposals on the Commission’s website. Local government is also able to search the National Infrastructure Pipeline for projects online, and contributions to the Pipeline on infrastructure projects from Local Government are encouraged. As at 30 June this year, 39 of the 85 organisations currently contributing to the National Infrastructure Pipeline were from local government. Through the Plan, the Commission will be strengthening the Pipeline to cover all infrastructure providers – so I strongly encourage more councils to come on board. Local government will also be able to provide feedback on the draft National Infrastructure Plan when it is released for consultation around mid-2025.