Infrastructure WA

Infrastructure WA (IWA) welcomed Infrastructure Australia (IA) to WA this week as part of their ongoing role of maintaining relationships with infrastructure bodies in other states and territories.

While with us, the IA team provided an update to our Board on some of their key recent and upcoming activities, joined the Board in a workshop on respect, culture and values led by Dr Richard Walley OAM and his son Alton, and visited several strategic infrastructure sites.  

IWA’s Chief Executive Officer Phil Helberg was enthusiastic about the ongoing opportunities to work closely with IA and its other jurisdictional counterparts.

“Both organisations discussed mutual topics facing the national infrastructure sector such as climate change, improving data use and sharing, harnessing digital capabilities, addressing market capacity pressures and the consideration of social and environmental benefits in project evaluation,” Mr Helberg said.

Discussions also focused on how each of the jurisdictions can collaborate to increase the standards of living and provide economic opportunities for Aboriginal people and communities.

“We looked at the concept of infusing Aboriginal knowledge and culture into infrastructure in the design, delivery and operation of projects. Kaart Koort Waarnginy, Gnarla Biddi and Westport are all great examples of meaningful engagement with Aboriginal people.

“The ability to share knowledge and work collaboratively is critical to ensuring the right foundations are in place for long-term infrastructure planning, coordination and delivery at a state and national level”, he said.

The 2 organisations also visited the proposed future Westport site, Fremantle Inner Harbour and Kwinana Desalination Plant. Mr Helberg mentioned how these site visits allow IA and other stakeholders a unique on-ground perspective of how WA is addressing its current and future infrastructure needs. 

“With the importance of improving supply chains, progressing strategic economic development opportunities, and the state’s need to consider climate-independent solutions for water it was great for both teams to get an up-close understanding of how these critical pieces of infrastructure will play a vital role into the future,” he said.

Mr Helberg also thanked outgoing CEO Romilly Madew who finishes with Infrastructure Australia at the end of July before taking up her new role as CEO of Engineers Australia and welcomed Adam Copp who has been appointed as acting CEO. 

“I would like to thank Romilly on behalf of the team and Board for her support and collaboration with IWA since our inception and wish her all the very best in her new role with Engineers Australia,” he said.

“I am also looking forward to engaging further with Adam and his team and continuing our good working relationship with IA and our other iBody counterparts into the future”.

We thank IA and the teams at Westport, Water Corporation and Fremantle Port Authority for hosting the site tours and taking the time to provide their valuable insights.

Photo: From left to right - David Tucker (IA), Liliana Pelle (IWA), Phil Helberg (IWA), Steve Brogan (IA), Adam Copp (IA), Rai Fergusson (IA), Sarah Dagg (IA), Owen Thomas (IWA).