All audited agencies have strategies and actions that target human and material resource shortages and risks. However, many of these actions are behind schedule and agencies do not know if they are effectively reducing delivery risks to the state’s infrastructure pipeline.
DTF, OPV, DoT, MTIA and DJPR have assessed the human and material resources needed to deliver the government's pipeline of major infrastructure projects. However, their assessments are not complete or accurate due to limitations and data gaps in the models they use. While all agencies can address many of their limitations―and OPV and DJPR have work underway to do this―significant gaps remain.
Victoria's annual infrastructure investment is four times higher than it was in 2015–16, and other states are also boosting their investment in major projects.
Victoria's 2021–22 state Budget noted that the state has $144 billion of new and existing projects funded and underway, up 35 per cent from the 2019–20 state Budget. Of these, $111 billion are major projects. This has led to pressure on the market’s capacity and shortages in skills and resources, which makes it harder for the government to deliver projects on time and on budget.
Figure E1 lists the more than 40 documents that DoT advised us form part of the transport plan required by the Act. These documents comprise:
A number of VAGO performance audit reports since 2010 have identified issues with planning and integration in the transport system. Figure D1 summarises key findings in relevant reports.
FIGURE D1: Relevant VAGO reports and findings since 2010
| Who we audited | What we assessed | What the audit cost |
|---|---|---|
|
DoT |
We assessed whether DoT is demonstrably integrating its transport planning. |
| Acronyms | |
|---|---|
| ATAP | Australian Transport Assessment and Planning |
| CRD | client requirement documents |
| DEDJTR | Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources |
| DoT | Department of Transport |
Click the link below to download a PDF copy of Appendix A. Submissions and comments.
Since 2015, multiple external reviews have identified that the primary barrier to integrated transport planning is institutional arrangements that perpetuate a focus on specific transport modes. Past, incremental institutional changes failed to address this issue. DoT now has the opportunity to deliver integrated transport planning because it has consolidated key transport sector entities into one department.
The published plans and strategies DoT identifies as forming the transport plan do not meet the requirements of the Act as they do not provide a comprehensive, integrated transport plan.
DoT is developing new plans and strategies that show progress towards greater integration of transport planning. However, the evidence available indicates that they also do not fully meet the Act's requirements.