Infrastructure WA

The WA Government Response to the Strategy was published on 3 February 2023 following the Strategy’s tabling in Parliament on 3 August 2022 by the Premier. The response outlines the extent to which each recommendation is supported (for example, in full, in part or not supported), and reasons why any recommendation is not fully supported. Click here for access to WA Government Response.

Throughout the development of the Strategy and the extensive consultation process, a number of findings described as core themes were identified that underpin IWA’s recommendations. These core themes include: 

In keeping with the requirements of the IWA Act, relevant government strategies, plans, policies, priorities and forecasts were considered by IWA in developing the Strategy. For example, IWA considered the economic development framework set out in Diversify WA and strategic land use frameworks such as Perth and Peel@3.5million and regional planning and infrastructure strategies. 

Sector-specific strategies and plans also informed the Strategy’s content and recommendations including, but not limited to: 

Over more than 2 years, IWA carried out extensive consultation and engagement on the Strategy with federal, state and local governments, private industry and peak bodies, regional stakeholders (including the Regional Development Commissions) and the community. 

The IWA Act outlines requirements in relation to the Strategy’s content and preparation. In addition to these requirements, the Strategy’s 2042 Vision (Vision), objectives and guiding principles have steered development of the first Strategy. 

IWA applied a hybrid top-down, bottom-up approach in developing the Strategy. This included a bottom-up assessment predominantly addressing the 0 to 10 year period, and a strategic top-down assessment focussing more on the 10 to 20 year time frame. 

The Strategy covers a 20-year horizon, divided into 0 to 5, 5 to 10 and 10 to 20 year periods (refer to diagram below). As the inaugural Strategy is strongly focussed on addressing key requirements that frame and guide infrastructure processes (e.g. strategic planning, legislation and regulation, policy and decision‑making tools), it is largely focussed on initiatives over the 0 to 5 and 5 to 10 year periods.

Infrastructure is planned, delivered and managed by all levels of government, private industry and the community. The Strategy encompasses infrastructure planned, owned and delivered by state government agencies and government trading enterprises (GTE). Infrastructure owned and operated by the private sector or other levels of government has also been considered in some cases, particularly infrastructure which has a direct or indirect financial or government policy implication. 

Infrastructure shapes and influences every aspect of our society – from where we live, to how we work, our social interactions, our economic structures and our environmental footprint.