Infrastructure WA

Implementation Progress Report 2024 (July 2023 - June 2024)

The State Infrastructure Strategy Implementation Progress Report (IPR) 2024 identifies that as of 30 June 2024, the WA Government is making good progress in implementing actions identified in the 2022 Strategy. For further details, the IPR 2024 can be examined via: 

Organisations with mature asset management systems take a strategic approach to planning and using assets, and a lifecycle view of asset systems and networks, rather than a narrow focus on discrete maintenance and upgrades.

Around two-thirds of the total cost of an asset generally occurs after it is built or acquired. Effective management of the state’s approximate $159 billion infrastructure asset base is essential to maximise the value and longevity of these public assets.

WA is currently experiencing a significant increase in infrastructure development activity. The level of private sector investment is also high and driven by the resources sector and construction of new housing. This level of activity has benefits but is also putting pressure on market delivery capacity. 

Many and varied reform initiatives have been advanced by state government in recent years and significant progress has been made in areas such as the land‑use planning system, mining approvals and procurement. Measures taken to respond to the COVID-19 recovery have amplified this reform program and pace of change for government, demonstrating how state agencies and GTEs can work collaboratively to respond to significant change. Yet there is still much more that can be done.

WA is Australia’s largest state and comprises 10 regions: Kimberley, Pilbara, Gascoyne, Mid West, Wheatbelt, Peel, South West, Great Southern, Goldfields–Esperance and Perth.

The 9 regions outside Perth are home to 25% of WA’s population, generate approximately 40% of the state’s gross state product and are an integral part of WA’s rich cultural identity. 

Many of WA’s comparative advantages are in the regions, and are well placed to realise the six strategic opportunities to build a more diverse and resilient economy.

With around 70% of Australia’s emissions associated with infrastructure-based projects, infrastructure has a very large role to play in meeting the net zero emissions by 2050 target.

Essential infrastructure in sectors such as housing, transport, energy and water is potentially at risk from sea-level rise, coastal inundation, intensifying weather events and bushfires. 

The Closing the Gap report 2020 identified that the target to close the life expectancy gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people by 2031 is not on track, with WA recording the largest gap of all jurisdictions for males, at 13.4 years.

In 2018, the child mortality rate for Indigenous children was 141 per 100,000, which is twice the rate for non-Indigenous children.

The employment rate for Indigenous Australians was around 49%, compared to 79% for non-Indigenous Australians.