Infrastructure plans should go beyond electoral cycles
Political parties should set infrastructure priorities to last beyond electoral cycles, a survey by a major accounting firm has found.
Political parties should set infrastructure priorities to last beyond electoral cycles, a survey by a major accounting firm has found.
Ernst&Young NZ today released its inaugural Infrastructure Survey, which estimates perceptions across three infrastructure sectors: transport (roads and ports), water (water allocation and storage), and social infrastructure (education and health).
The survey was conducted with the New Zealand Council for Infrastructure Development (NZCID), and 380 people responded from both the public and private sector.
"One of the key findings of the survey was the strength of opinion expressed by respondents about the need for a consensus between the major political parties on national infrastructure priorities and a longer term focus beyond electoral cycles," infrastructure advisory executive director Ben King said.
"Respondents also wanted to see greater inter-agency coordination and funding constraints addressed."
NZCID chief executive Stephen Selwood said the lack of inter-agency coordination impacts New Zealand's ability to set standards.
"Take water as an example. As things stand, there is no one agency responsible for advancing best practice in water infrastructure delivery and benchmarking and regulating service delivery," he said.
Respondents suggested a range of approaches to alleviating funding constraints.
Those focusing on transport said there was a need for more integrated planning, strategic investment priorities and better use of funding sources.
Respondents on water focused on the application of "user pays" charging for water, better measurement of value for money and the need for greater certainty around long-term planning requirements.
Responses on social infrastructure focused on the advantages of considering alternative partnering and delivery solutions.
NZPA
Tue, 18 Jan 2011
Tue, 18 Jan 2011
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Infrastructure plans should go beyond electoral cycles
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