The new normal for Australia's infrastructure

The 2021 Plan calls on government and industry to rise to the challenges and opportunities of the present so Australian communities can continue to thrive and prosper.

This means understanding which recent changes are fleeting and which might be permanent.

In our recent Infrastructure beyond COVID-19 report, Infrastructure Australia identified these permanent changes and whether they represented new challenges or new opportunities. The recent changes that are likely to be permanent and will impact infrastructure planning include:

•  adapting to different work choices, such as more remote working

•  reflecting a new role for Smaller Cities and Regional Centres in a more balanced and diverse Australia

•  a new focus on resilience and sustainability, so infrastructure can withstand ongoing shocks

•  a revised definition of success that requires infrastructure to respond to the needs of all Australians, irrespective of their location and demographic.

To understand more about these changes, see the Infrastructure beyond COVID-19 report, which was produced with L.E.K. Consulting.