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As projects in Sydney and Melbourne wind down, Queensland will drive Australia’s next major infrastructure boom ahead of the 2032 Olympics, a new report shows.
Queensland will drive Australia’s infrastructure spend over the next decade, with the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games to trigger a new wave of investments across roads, rail, aviation and public transport, according to a new industry report.
, to be released on Wednesday, identifies Queensland as the new focal point for the nation’s infrastructure cycle as major construction programs in NSW and Victoria roll down. The report surveyed 150 senior executives across the globe and shows only 9 per cent of respondents expected Australia and New Zealand to drive the largest surge in transport infrastructure activity over the next two years.
Cross River Rail is nearing completion, but a new report shows Queensland will still lead the nation in transport infrastructure construction in the next decade. That was largely due to the market entering a period of consolidation after major builds such as Cross River Rail, Sydney Metro, and Melbourne’s North East Link. But the Brisbane 2032 Games, the report says, provides a “fixed, politically committed anchor for near-term investment” that will result in a localised boom.
Ansarada managing director Justin Smith said the real test for Australia was not the size of the pipeline, but how well it was delivered, and how risks were managed.
“A fixed date makes time the one risk that can’t be traded away, so the pressure moves onto everything else,” he said. Smith said comprehensive project management was cited by 69 per cent of respondents as the top-ranked factor in procurement success, ahead of risk allocation at 59 per cent.
“On a fixed timetable, small delays compound quickly. Version confusion, slow approvals, or fragmented communication can cascade into missed milestones,” he said.
“The experts we spoke to for the report point to doing more work earlier, such as deeper site investigations and early engagement with utilities, so bidders can price with confidence. The report found the Australian infrastructure pipeline was entering a period of consolidation after major builds such as Cross River Rail.
“Speed also has to be defensible. Where decisions may later face audit, agencies need to show what was known, who saw it and when. ”Infrastructure Association of Queensland deputy chair Luke Whistler said people were now looking to the Sunshine State for progress.
“There is a significant pipeline of projects anticipated, but right now, there’s a lot of uncertainty across the economy, and people are questioning what will arrive and whether it can be afforded,” he said. “The pipeline exists but lacks a vision of abundance for Australians. People want a story to go with it where they can imagine how best they can get involved.
“Queensland has the 2032 Games commitment, which is real and provides a clear anchor for projects like the rail line connecting the Sunshine Coast to Brisbane, the Gold Coast Faster Rail upgrades, bus fleet and route upgrades, and the Victoria Park Games precinct. “Beyond the Games, there’s a broader program of large investment – the Bruce Highway safety improvement project being one example.
” This also extended to Brisbane Airport, Whistler said, which would serve as the main gateway to the world in 2032.
“Brisbane Airport is forecasting a 40 per cent passenger uplift by 2032, a trajectory that has driven approval of a $5 billion masterplan, including a new third terminal,” he said. A Brisbane Airport spokeswoman would not be drawn on any timelines for the long-mooted Terminal 3, which would be located between the existing domestic terminal (now “Brisbane Airport continues to plan for future capacity to accommodate long-term passenger growth into the 2030s and beyond, as outlined in our recently approved masterplan,” she said.
The report found airport expansion will become one of the defining infrastructure themes of the decade as passenger growth across the Asia-Pacific region outpaces existing capacity. Globally, airports were identified by 62 per cent of survey respondents as one of the transport sectors most likely to attract increased investment over the next two years. Queensland’s growing project pipeline is also drawing attention from industry advisers, who see the state becoming increasingly important to Australia’s economic prospects.
RP Infrastructure executive adviser Marc Allen said the outlook for Australia’s transport infrastructure market varied considerably across the states.
“Queensland is entering a significant period of investment as it prepares for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, with projects including The Wave and Logan to Gold Coast Faster Rail contributing to a strong pipeline,” he said. “New South Wales continues to progress major programs, such as Sydney Metro, while Victoria is transitioning from an intensive period of transport investment to a more measured pipeline.
” The challenge, Allen said, would be to ensure there were enough contractors, engineers and specialist workers available to deliver multiple major programs at the same time.
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