Infrastructure report

WA is on the cusp of another boom, making investment in infrastructure vital if the state is to take full advantage. But with the state's finances increasingly tight, federal-state cooperation has never been more important.

ASK almost anyone in industry or government about the key bottlenecks hampering Western Australia's ability to make the most of the growth opportunities presented by the resurgent resources sector and the answer invariably includes energy.

INCREASED use of public private partnerships has become a defining feature of the state government's infrastructure program, but behind that label sits a wide range of procurement models.

THE private owner of Western Australia's freight rail network has budgeted to spend $918 million over the next five years expanding its rail infrastructure.

WORK on the Southern Seawater desalination plant has progressed to stage one of completion after being given the go-ahead last June.

FRESH from the completion of the state's largest road project last September, the $705 million Perth-Bunbury Highway, the state government is in the early stages of planning another major road project with a similar cost.

MOTORISTS heading south down the Kwinana Freeway would have noticed five cranes looming over a busy construction site. On the corner of Murdoch Drive and South Street, the $1.76 billion Fiona Stanley Hospital (pictured right) is the biggest show in Perth

SPENDING on public venues has been a major issue for the state government in recent months, with cost blowouts and construction delays taking the shine off the new venues being built.

INVESTMENT in new port capacity is a top priority for private industry and government if Western Australia is to avoid the bottlenecks restricting east coast exporters.