Infrastructure WA

51. Ensure long-term water security through the timely planning and delivery of climate-independent infrastructure that provides fit for purpose and sustainable water services, including:

1. continuing detailed planning and business case development for an additional desalination plant to increase the volume of desalinated water supply to the Integrated Water Supply Scheme and meet medium-term demand projections. Planning and business cases should demonstrate how the use of renewable energy and the application of energy-efficient design, technologies and practices are being used to achieve a target of net zero emissions by 2050 
2. further investigating wastewater recycling opportunities and groundwater replenishment schemes 
3. based on needs identified in the proposed state water strategy and regional water plans (see Recommendations 48b and 48c) and subject to business cases, implementing climate-independent water supply solutions in regional communities as required. 

WA Government response

The WA Government responded to Foundation for a stronger tomorrow in February 2023. Recommendation 51 is fully supported. For further information please refer to the response document.

Guide investment in water infrastructure projects that enable climate resilient and self-sustainable agriculture and food industries in peri-urban and regional areas by developing a prioritisation framework. The framework should:

• be consistent with regional water planning (see Recommendation 48c) 
• prioritise investment in locations that are strategically aligned with agriculture and food industry opportunities (see the Regional development chapter)
• consider social, economic, environmental and cultural impacts and opportunities. 

WA Government response

The WA Government responded to Foundation for a stronger tomorrow in February 2023. Recommendation 52 is fully supported. For further information please refer to the response document.

Determine whether current policy settings remain appropriate by undertaking an integrated strategic review of water and land-use values in the Jandakot and Gnangara groundwater protection areas. The review should consider:

• balancing costs, benefits and risks across all economic, social and environmental factors
• a strong up-to-date expert evidence base 
• contemporary building and development options to adequately mitigate any risks to groundwater quality 
• climate change factors
• the future role of the groundwater systems as part of the Integrated Water Supply Scheme’s broader water supply over the medium to long term, including potential alternative water supply options. 

WA Government response

The WA Government responded to Foundation for a stronger tomorrow in February 2023. Recommendation 53 is fully supported. For further information please refer to the response document.

54. Achieve the vision of a sustainable, low-waste circular economy by accelerating implementation of the Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Strategy 2030, including:

1. Prioritising and expediting legislative and regulatory reforms, including:
   1. reviewing the Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Act 2007 to reposition waste as a resource
   2. developing a waste-derived materials framework that enables the recovery of materials derived from waste and provide for their safe use in products with recycled content  
   3. reviewing the Waste Levy, including the rate and geographical application to regional areas where feasible and practical
   4. reducing Waste Levy avoidance and evasion practices
   5. implementing the Waste Data Strategy to improve waste data collection and reporting to provide a more detailed understanding of WA’s waste streams
2. Preparing a waste-derived materials market development plan that sets out actions required to grow demand for products with recycled content
3. Strengthening the role of the WA public sector in supporting the circular economy through government procurement policies that set ambitious and progressively increasing targets to avoid and reduce waste generation, increase recovery and reuse of materials and purchase products with recycled content
4. Presenting a clear roadmap and time frames for the implementation of waste legislative and regulatory reforms (see Recommendation 54a) and market development (see Recommendations 54b and 54c), and increasing the use of the Waste Levy funds to fast-track implementation
5. investigating opportunities to improve the way mining and resources sector site waste is regulated and managed to increase recovery
6. investigating the potential for more local governments to participate in collective arrangements to enhance the provision of waste services and infrastructure, and whether local governments not participating in collective arrangements undermines the provision of cost-effective waste management services and infrastructure.

WA Government response

The WA Government responded to Foundation for a stronger tomorrow in February 2023. Recommendation 54 is fully supported. For further information please refer to the response document.

Guide long-term planning and development of waste infrastructure by prioritising finalisation of a state waste infrastructure plan. The plan should include:

• identifying infrastructure required by material type and geographic location (at regional and sub-regional level, including remote areas and Aboriginal communities) and considering population growth and commercial and industry development trends
• considering the infrastructure required to manage and recover site waste from the mining and resources sector, in collaboration with the sector
• identifying infrastructure required to manage hazardous wastes and clinical-related wastes that are feasible to process and recycle in WA
• developing a clear implementation plan and public reporting framework that:
  • prioritises implementation findings to inform infrastructure decision-making
  • includes actions for government and industry to work together to identify and secure strategic sites and separation distances to protect existing and future waste infrastructure facilities and support opportunities for collocation.   

WA Government response

The WA Government responded to Foundation for a stronger tomorrow in February 2023. Recommendation 55 is fully supported. For further information please refer to the response document.

56. Ensure investment in transport infrastructure delivers improved transport system outcomes by:

1. further reforming governance arrangements for the Transport Portfolio to achieve an integrated, strategic, mode-agnostic approach to transport network planning and delivery across all modes of transport 
2. reforming funding hypothecation legislative arrangements for motor vehicle licence revenue to fund the planning and delivery of priority projects across all transport modes, not only road-related infrastructure.

WA Government response

The WA Government responded to Foundation for a stronger tomorrow in February 2023. Recommendation 56 is partially supported. For further information please refer to the response document.

57. Guide future transport infrastructure investments into areas of strategic need by refreshing statewide strategic transport planning, aligned with land-use plans and policies, including:

1. developing, publishing and implementing a new 20-year regional transport plan, including a focus on freight supply chains across all modes and across all regions outside of Perth and Peel that builds on recent region-specific freight plans and considers strategic cross-regional issues
2. developing, publishing and implementing a new 20-year Perth and Peel transport plan that combines and prioritises all key mode-specific transport planning across Transport Portfolio agencies and embeds a diverse range of non-build, demand management and transport innovation opportunities and scenarios, and station precinct intensification opportunities 
3. finalising development of the new Perth transport model, which incorporates the use of modern, diverse network usage data and establishes a seamless staffing and operational model for use across the Transport Portfolio.

WA Government response

The WA Government responded to Foundation for a stronger tomorrow in February 2023. Recommendation 57 is partially supported. For further information please refer to the response document.

58. Address the future loss of fuel excise revenue by:

1. working with other jurisdictions to design a fair and nationally compatible alternative to fuel excise for low and zero emissions vehicles, with any future charging reform to be combined with other initiatives to ensure an overall net-incentive for the uptake of these vehicles
2. when designing a fuel excise alternative scheme and associated technology, ensuring that:
   • the scheme has the potential to include vehicle mass, distance, location and time-of-day pricing elements
   • total road system revenue is maintained at a stable level as a policy reform objective
3. undertaking a review to investigate the merits of location and time-of-day pricing signals being incorporated into a fuel excise alternative to improve road demand management during peak periods in Perth.  

WA Government response

The WA Government responded to Foundation for a stronger tomorrow in February 2023. Recommendation 58 is partially supported. For further information please refer to the response document.

Make better use of existing transport infrastructure, increase public transport usage and reduce road congestion by developing and implementing a public transport patronage action plan with a focus on non-build measures. The action plan should include:

• adopting behaviour-change initiatives, digital technologies, and operational and service delivery innovations, including targeted trials and mobility-as-a-service models and include these in the scope of future business cases for major road and rail infrastructure
• planning for better connectivity to educational facilities and other activity precincts.   

WA Government response

The WA Government responded to Foundation for a stronger tomorrow in February 2023. Recommendation 59 is fully supported. For further information please refer to the response document.

60. Progress targeted expansion and improvement of the road network by:

1. delivering road safety programs in line with Driving change: Road Safety Strategy for Western Australia 2020–2030, including urban design innovations, speed reductions on local streets where appropriate and regional road safety treatments
2. delivering regional maintenance and freight productivity programs to provide fit for purpose road networks
3. progressing targeted, high-impact programs, including intersection upgrades, expanding the use of technology on arterial roads and trials for dynamic bus prioritisation
4. progressing capacity and efficiency upgrades to freeways and major urban highways (particularly Mitchell and Kwinana freeways), incorporating all modes and greater use of technology as a priority option
5. estimating impacts from a range of potential low and zero emissions vehicles and connected and automated vehicle rollout scenarios modelling and sensitivity testing in all major transport project business cases  
6. investigating the feasibility of these long-term major projects: Orrong Road, EastLink WA, Brand Highway and North West Coastal Highway upgrade and Stock Road tunnel river crossing. 

WA Government response

The WA Government responded to Foundation for a stronger tomorrow in February 2023. Recommendation 60 is fully supported. For further information please refer to the response document.