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Infrastructure Resilience in Queensland
Infrastructure resilience is more than just a buzzword in Queensland—it’s a necessity. With the state’s susceptibility to extreme weather events like floods, cyclones, and heatwaves, ensuring that infrastructure can withstand future environmental stressors is crucial. “Resilient infrastructure isn’t just about surviving today’s challenges; it’s about being ready for tomorrow’s uncertainties,” says Ryan O’Neill, Managing Director of Civil Project Partners. The combination of climate change, population growth, and rapid urbanisation makes Queensland a focal point for resilient infrastructure initiatives that can safeguard both communities and the economy.
Global and Australian Infrastructure Resilience Standards:
Resilience is now at the forefront of both global and national infrastructure standards. In Australia, the Australian Infrastructure Audit and the Australian Infrastructure Plan lay a comprehensive framework to bolster resilience. The plan encourages mitigating risks from natural disasters and urban growth by integrating sustainability into every aspect of infrastructure planning and design. “These standards reflect a shift in how we approach project delivery. It’s not just about building infrastructure but about ensuring it can thrive under duress,” says O’Neill.
Civil Project Partners is already applying these principles in projects across Queensland. In designing infrastructure for remote communities in North Queensland, the team incorporated resilient design to account for potential flooding and cyclone impacts, ensuring long-term sustainability in vulnerable regions.
Infrastructure Australia – Australian Infrastructure Plan
Key Drivers for Resilient Infrastructure:
- Climate Change: Queensland is no stranger to the impacts of climate change. From rising temperatures to more frequent and intense floods, climate change is reshaping how we plan and build infrastructure. “We must embed climate adaptability into the DNA of every project,” says O’Neill. The Queensland Government’s Climate Adaptation Strategy emphasises the importance of incorporating climate models early in infrastructure planning.
- Economic Pressures: Resilient infrastructure saves money in the long run. As O’Neill notes, “The costs of repairing poorly planned infrastructure after a disaster far outweigh the upfront investment in resilience.” For instance, Queensland’s recognition of preventive infrastructure maintenance has yielded significant economic benefits, and projects like those completed by Civil Project Partners have demonstrated this in practice.
Queensland Climate Adaptation Strategy
Cost of Non-Resilient Infrastructure:
Queensland’s 2011 floods are a prime example of the dangers of underinvestment in resilience. The floods caused an estimated $6 billion in damage due to insufficient flood preparedness in critical infrastructure. “We saw first-hand how the lack of resilience had a ripple effect across industries, communities, and the broader economy,” explains O’Neill. Civil Project Partners has since focused on integrating flood-resilient design in road and rail projects across the state to prevent such financial and operational setbacks in the future.