5.66 The most significant difference between the priority projects and those included on the pipeline related to their economic appraisal. Only 15 (54 per cent) of the projects on the pipeline had a BCR associated with them (see Table 5.2). These ranged from 8.01 to 1.04. For many of these projects, the Office of the Infrastructure Coordinator's assessment was that there was insufficient evidence to support the economic viability of the project. In some instances, this was because the BCRs were assessed as out of date by the Office of the Infrastructure Coordinator.174 In other instances, the economic analysis was preliminary 175 or inadequate.176
Table 5.2 Pipeline projects with a BCR submitted for evaluation by the project proponent that were included in the Final Priority List
| Project (proponent) |
| Fully Controlled Motorways (QLD) |
| East-West Rail Freight Corridor (ARTC) |
| Darwin Port Expansion (NT) |
| Eastern Busway (Stage 3) (QLD) |
| Northbridge Rail Link (The Hub) (WA) |
| Perth Airport Multi-modal links (WA) |
| Port of Brisbane Motorway Upgrade (QLD) |
| Northern Connector Road and Rail Corridor (SA) |
| Mornington Peninsula Connector Road (VIC) |
| Donnybrook Intermodal Terminal (VIC) |
| Northern Link Road Tunnel (BCC) |
| Bell Bay Port Expansion (TAS) |
| Advanced Train Management System (ARTC) |
| Abbot Point Multi-Cargo Facility (QLD) |
| Eastern Busway (Stage 2) (QLD) |
Source: ANAO analysis of Office of the Infrastructure Coordinator data.
5.67 Of the remaining 13 projects on the pipeline, three 'projects' involved Infrastructure Australia incorporating one or more elements of applicant submissions, and did not, as a result, have a proponent‐submitted BCR associated with the aggregated 'project', although some of the individual elements of the 'package' created by Infrastructure Australia did have a BCR. Project applicants did not provide BCRs in their submissions for a further ten projects on the pipeline list.
Table 5.3 Pipeline projects listed in Final Priority List with no Benefit-Cost Ratios
| Project (Proponent) | Comment |
| Range of BCRs provided, which do not align with the costs and scope of the project. | |
| Bonython Port (SA) |
|
| Bruce Highway-Abbot Point State Development Area Bypass (QLD) | |
| Bruce Highway Corridor (Brisbane to Cairns including Cooroy to Curra) (QLD) | |
| Hastings Port (VIC) | |
| Melton Duplication and Electrification to Bacchus Marsh (VIC) | |
| Mount Isa-Townsville Rail Corridor (QLD) | |
| Moorebank Intermodal Terminal (Commonwealth/NSW) | |
| Oakajee Port Common User Services (WA) | |
| Port of Melbourne Freight Terminal (VIC) | |
| North South Rail Freight Corridors (including Northern Sydney |
|
| Brisbane's Future Public Transport Network (including Brisbane | |
| Sydney's Future Public Transport Network (including CBD and |
Source: ANAO analysis of Infrastructure Australia data.