Infrastructure for the future

With the Inland Rail Conference due to be held in Albury Wodonga later this month, it’s timely to consider the impact of major infrastructure projects on our economy. Identified as critical to reinvigoration of our economy following the devastating impacts of drought, bushfires, COVID-19 and border closures, the infrastructure-led recovery is one our region should be poised to leverage.

The advent of Snowy Hyrdo 2.0, TransGrid’s Energy Connect project, a number of major solar projects and the Inland Rail are indicators that our region will be busy over the short to medium term.

In this context, our focus continues to be on improving Albury Wodonga’s productivity, sustainably growing our economy and job creation.

Snowy Hydro 2.0 has identified that the project will provide a $4.6 billion uplift for regional NSW, and 2,000 jobs during construction. EY’s Inland Rail Regional Opportunities report also demonstrates that projects of this scale have economic uplift beyond the sugar-hit of the construction phase. Improvement of supply chain efficiencies, formation of business clusters and identification of challenges and enablers for investment will leave our economy in a position of strength.

Conversations are underway with industry leaders, developers and all levels of government to consider the impact major infrastructure projects will have on education and training, the housing market and an already busy construction industry.

We will also continue to push those responsible for major infrastructure projects for mandatory local procurement inclusion in construction contracts and long lead times to enable local and establishing businesses the opportunity to upskill, innovate and to be ready to put their best foot forward.

It’s an exciting time to be in the Albury Wodonga region, we invite you to be part of the journey. Our team are here to help you – reach out to: