With a client base composed primarily of local, regional and federal government, public and private utilities, financial institutions, insurers, and private sector organisations, MWH Global takes a keen interest in the upcoming federal budget and its impacts on our clients and partners. It is our sincere hope that the dollars will be apportioned in such a way that Australia will be best positioned for a sustainable future on the social, economic and environmental fronts.
We believe that a budget which considers public and private sector funds, and looks at projects in an integrated and holistic (rather than isolated) manner will do this.
Regardless of where the dollars land a week today on the 14 May 2013, we believe that there is opportunity for us all to achieve positive outcomes for our nation through the following three measures:
1) Optimising infrastructure through creative financing and management
With a multi-billion budget deficit this financial year and likely shortfalls in the coming several years, the government has to make cuts to bridge the fiscal gap. Knowing government funding will be tight, the imperative is on infrastructure owners and service providers to explore other avenues to ensure they can finance much-needed infrastructure and maintain or improve upon existing service levels.
In the area of financing, our nation must become smarter with the way we procure infrastructure. The market is ready for public-private partnerships and there are investors willing to get involved. The challenge is to ensure that the model used is appropriate for the situation and that we don’t approach infrastructure planning on a singular project-by-project basis.
For more information, please email John MacKillop, Manager, Strategic and Commercial Advisory.
2) Keeping sustainability on the agenda through integrated approaches to planning
The overt government focus on climate change initiatives has decreased rapidly as of late, most notably with the March dissolution of the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency seeing the group split and now housed within the Department of Industry, Innovation, Climate Change, Science, Research and Tertiary Education and the Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism. The deceleration in this area indicates that we are unlikely to see significant funds dedicated toward climate change and renewable energy initiatives in the budget cycle.
Australia has, in many ways, been a leader on the sustainability front and it is important that we maintain our position. An 
ideal way in which to do this is to ensure that we take climate change and sustainability into consideration in all that we do. As we undertake planning and delivery, the consideration of this, as well as the water-energy nexus and global megatrends such as population growth and increasing natural disasters, will ensure our cities are some of the most liveable in the world. Many of our state-based utilities are in fact already headed down this path, as they embark upon change programs to the way they operate. MWH will soon be issuing a research report which shows what elements the Australian public believe are necessary to ensure liveability; contact us at marketing@mwhglobal.com to pre-order your copy.
For more information, please email Peter Fagan,Practice Leader, Sustainability
3) Supporting the economic viability of Australia’s regional and rural centres
The end of Australia’s drought has taken the nation’s focus away from water, yet it is important that we use this time to plan for the future down cycles that will surely come. While the funding for water resources and the Murray Darling Basin is likely not to be increased in this budget, we must maximise value and ensure continued support to our regional and rural centres. The agricultural community of Australia provides the sustenance needed for our ever-growing population, and also plays an important role in our future as part of the Asian Century. We hope that programs to support our farmers, as well as encourage sensible and appropriate foreign ownership of land, can be introduced to carry us forward as the resource sector softens. A broader base of export opportunities will help to deliver growth in this environment and to provide the services needed for an ageing population.
For more information, please email Andrew Murray, Business Development Leader, Water Resources.
MWH offers a full range of services and innovative, award-winning solutions beginning in the initial planning phases through construction and asset management. We would be happy to introduce you to one of our experts to help you achieve your objectives.
