WHAT INNOVATION MEANS TO INFRASTRUCTURE

WHAT INNOVATION MEANS TO INFRASTRUCTURE

 

The driver of innovation is like an unquenchable thirst - it may not be a particularly comfortable journey but with perseverance it can lead to extraordinary solutions. Whatever journey your thirst may take you on, innovation always starts by owning up to the fact that "You don't know what you don't know".

This proposition applies equally to infrastructure as it should in any part of the economy. Infrastructure Partnerships Australia (IPA) began less than 12 months ago and it is a manifestation of the thirst to innovate - its mandate is to create more options to finance, deliver and operate infrastructure that will meet the rising expectations of the community. Now Australia's largest infrastructure
industry association, IPA's rapid launch reflects a need for enduring relationships between government and business.

Building partnerships, mutual respect and understanding on issues like improving the quality and sustainability of public service delivery and ways of alleviating water restrictions are vexing for government. But governments are not alone in this endeavour and tapping the innovation, entrepreneurialism and the tsunami of superannuation savings in the private sector must be in the mix of solutions to ensure Australia has the right infrastructure to meet its needs in the decades ahead.

It is critical that the thirst to innovate and improve infrastructure by governments and the private sector exists, because in partnership with IPA our journey together to deliver to the community the right infrastructure on time and on budget can occur without exception.

Garry Bowditch, executive director,
Infrastructure Partnerships Australia

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