National report identifies roads, water security, housing as biggest infrastructure gaps in Great Southern

Rapidly deteriorating roads, water insecurity and housing shortages are the biggest concerns facing the Great Southern according to a new national report into planning and infrastructure failings across the country. Infrastructure Australia published its landmark Regional Strengths and Infrastructure Gaps report on Thursday — the biggest report of its kind analysing the assets, opportunities for growth, and infrastructure needed in every region across the country. The report involved consultation with 48 regional development committees, businesses and industry groups to build a foundation of data to inform planning and investment. The Great Southern’s rich natural assets, thriving agricultural industry and eco-tourism offerings were the region’s biggest strengths. Agriculture, forestry and fishing sectors were named the region’s biggest powerhouses and key opportunities for growth. Tourism development would also drive the region’s growth with “food and wine experiences, eco-tourism and adventure-tourism opportunities” needed to leverage the region’s “strong agricultural sector and pristine natural environments.” The regions tertiary education facilities were valuable, with research industries including Albany’s Wave Energy Research Centre an opportunity for the region to become a leader in the high-value renewable energy industry. But these agricultural exports and tourism strengths could be derailed by a rapidly ageing and increasingly dangerous road network. Across the Great Southern “accident black spots”, “deteriorating road surfaces” and “competition between freight and commuters” were compounding safety concerns with many of the region’s roads more than 50 years old. “Great Southern stakeholders have reported that the quality of roads in the region risks reaching a tipping point, beyond which maintenance efforts will be unable to provide appropriate levels of safety,” the report states. Stakeholders suggested pressure on road freight infrastructure could be relieved by upgrades to the region’s rail network, which if not addressed could limit the region’s ability to export. Homes, farms, businesses and emergency services across the region are also facing water insecurity due to consistently below average winter rainfalls and dry conditions. “Stakeholders expressed concerns regarding the likelihood of the region’s water scarcity worsening as droughts and reduced rainfall become more common,” the report states. “Stakeholders also raised the issue of a growing reliance amongst the region’s communities on alternative methods for collecting water, such as desalination, as well as a need to lower the cost of compliance for wastewater management.” The final infrastructure gap was a critical shortage of affordable and diverse housing. The report noted, transactions for homes increased to the highest levels in 10 years in the first half of 2021 with the median house price for the region also increasing by 12 per cent of the year to June 2021. According to the report, in December 2021, there were 1107 public housing dwellings across the Great Southern with a waitlist of 589 people and 119 on the priority waitlist. Thirty-five per cent of Albany’s renters reported they were in rental stress and 20 per cent in mortgage stress in March 2021 with rents the highest they have been in at least a decade. Despite more people looking to move to regional areas as a result of COVID-19, housing shortages in the region were negatively affecting local businesses ability to retain and attract workers. The slow release of vacant land, high costs of power and water and long lead times on new planning developments were major barriers to improving the housing market. Infrastructure Australia is encouraging all the public to provide feedback until April 29, via infrastructureaustralia.gov.au.