The Financing and Delivery of Infrastructure by Local Government in Queensland

2011
Michael Regan (Bond University), South East Queensland Council of Mayors

Project Summary
This project is to be based on a survey of the 11 local government agencies (LGAs) that are members of the South East Queensland Council of Mayors. In cooperation with the Councils, the survey will seek to originate and calculate data for the following:

• Approximate value of capital stock, investment, depreciation and maintenance of economic and social infrastructure provided by LGAs
• Sources of LGA infrastructure funding
• Comparative measurement of outlays on the basis of population density, area and proximity to adjoining state-financed infrastructure
• The extent of use and performance of different procurement methods.
• Research will also be conducted into the international funding of infrastructure by LGAs and the effectiveness of the various methods available to government.

The data will be applied to answering three groups of questions:

1. Is LGA spending on infrastructure optimal? How much new capital is required to maintain existing and future levels of service? What are the infrastructure challenges facing LGAs over the next decade and beyond?
2. Is there a relationship between LGA funding methods, land value, development costs and the pricing of residential housing in urban areas?
3. How can LGAs in proximity to capital cities in Australia finance future provision of economic and social infrastructure in a cost-effective way that least influence property development supply and its cost?
4. What are the planning implications of LGA infrastructure activity in the next 15 years?
5. This research is supported by the Infrastructure Association of Queensland and The Council of South East Queensland mayors.