Defining Australia's geographic diversity
This chapter is defined by four geographic types identified by Infrastructure Australia in the 2019 Australian Infrastructure Audit.3
While the experience of individual communities varies, we have identified some generally shared traits between settlements of similar sizes (see Table 1.1).
Table 1.1 Each geographic type has different characteristics and needs
|
|
| Population | Growth rate | Economic activity | Infrastructure service markets | Construction market |
|
| Fast-growing Cities (Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth) | >2 million | Expected high growth rate post-pandemic | Diverse, dynamic Industries | Highly competitive markets for most services | High levels of activity Constraints on access to skills Shortage of specialist skills, but labour markets are attractive to skilled people |
|
| Smaller Cities and Regional Centres | >10,000 | Mixed growth, with some communities growing more quickly | Smaller cities: Collaborative metropolitan economy, with several established Industries Regional centres: Small number of dominant Industries, often functioning as Independent regional hubs | Smaller cities: Competitive markets for most services, with some gaps Regional centres: Supported or subsidised markets for many services | Smaller cities: Variable activity levels, with some parts of market experiencing high levels of activity Skills shortages In many parts of sectors Regional centres: Varied activity, more limited In most cases Skills and resource gaps, labour surplus |
|
| Small Towns, Rural Communities and Remote Areas | <10,000 | Low growth, with many communities consolidating Into regional centres | No dominant Industries, or Just one | Rely on Community Service Obligations for many services | Varied, small-scale activity levels Skills, resource and labour shortages |
|
| Northern Australia and Developing Regions | Varied size of population across locations throughout Northern Territory, and the northern parts of Western Australia and Queensland | Mixed growth, with some centres experiencing high growth | Emerging | Mixed, with more competition In urban areas | Limited activity Skills, resource and labour shortages |
These definitions recognise that each place has specific needs, and access to infrastructure varies widely between users, based on their location. However, many infrastructure needs are shared across Australia, including:
• physical and digital connections between places
• evenly distributed infrastructure access
• efficient use of existing infrastructure
• planning that accounts for future populations.
The size of this country and its diverse community needs make it difficult to ensure all Australians receive accessible, affordable and good-quality infrastructure services.
As a result of changes in population flows, accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, the next five years offer the opportunity to implement reforms to support a higher and more consistent quality of life.4