Major infrastructure planning reforms are underway in Victoria with the announcement of an independent expert authority to guide better decision making.

Victoria is growing at a rapid pace, and governments need to plan and deliver for the future needs of an expanding population and increasing constraints on existing infrastructure.

The new statutory authority will promote rigorous and transparent decision making, and improve public debate and consensus about priority infrastructure projects in Victoria. It will also support improved social, economic and environmental outcomes for the state.

Its priority functions include:

• preparing a 30 year Infrastructure Strategy to identify Victoria’s infrastructure needs and how they can be met;
• providing advice to the government on infrastructure matters; and
• publishing research on infrastructure matters.