What is infrastructure and how does it affect me?
What is infrastructure and how does it affect me?
We think it’s important for everyone to understand the language that is used to describe public services, because it helps you to be aware of how the system of government works in our state. First up, we’re tackling ‘infrastructure’.
You have probably heard the word ‘infrastructure’ used in news reports and budget pitches, but do you really know what infrastructure is, how it relates to you and why you should care?
Looking after infrastructure – including planning, building and maintaining it – is a huge part of what the Queensland Government does, particularly for us in the Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning. We want you to know what it’s all about, so you can understand and be proud of the projects and programs we are working on in your local area and across the state.
Infrastructure 101
Infrastructure is a broad term with lots of definitions. When we talk about infrastructure, we’re talking about the ‘bricks and mortar’ that allow a modern community and economy to function. In Queensland, this includes public health, energy, education and training, social housing, transportation, water supply, justice and public safety services, arts and recreation and even communication services.
Infrastructure also refers to the physical and digital properties: the buildings, digital infrastructure, equipment and tools that is supported by a wide range of people who staff the systems. That means infrastructure includes everything from public buildings like hospitals and schools, to services like roads, tunnels and bridges, public transport vehicles, footpaths, parks.
The Queensland Government is only one of many infrastructure providers, with local government, federal government and private sector all playing a role. Some of the infrastructure we provide includes public buildings like hospitals and schools, essential infrastructure like roads, bridges or public transport, and also the poles and wires that deliver your electricity.
How does infrastructure affect me?
Every day, you rely on infrastructure to go about your life. You probably drive on roads, catch public transport or use footpaths to get to and from work or the shops, all of which are examples of infrastructure. If you use public buildings or services like hospitals, libraries, community centres or even public loos, those are all infrastructure. You’re reading this online right now and, you guessed it, access to the internet and digital connectivity is made possible through infrastructure!
The Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital (RBWH), for example, was developed through the merger of The Brisbane Hospital, established in 1867, and the adjacent Women’s Hospital which opened in 1938. RBWH is now Queensland’s largest and busiest hospital, with over 8,000 multidisciplinary staff that provide more than one million episodes of life-saving treatment each year. Did you know that over half a million babies have been delivered since the Women’s Hospital first opened in 1938? The RBWH is also part of the Herston Health Precinct, one of Australia’s largest health and knowledge hubs, leading the way in innovation, research and world-leading healthcare.
Most Queenslanders would also know the Bruce Highway, which now connects towns and cities over the 1,677 kilometres from Brisbane to Cairns. Parts of this were being constructed in the 1920’s but it wasn’t completed until 1962 and almost 100 years later we continue to upgrade it. The Bruce Highway is one of Queensland’s most important pieces of infrastructure, encouraging growth in tourism and supporting 58% of Queensland’s population.
Infrastructure in Queensland
The State Infrastructure Strategy is designed to guide the next 20 years of infrastructure in the state. It has a clear vision and four guiding objectives:
- encourage jobs, growth and productivity
- enhance sustainability and resilience
- develop regions, places and precincts
- adopt smarter approaches.
The priorities laid out in the strategy will include everything from building our renewable energy capabilities to improving our digital connectivity and expanding hospitals, setting up new community centres, opening new schools and improving existing ones, and, of course, planning and delivering everything needed to host the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Infrastructure is all around you. You often won’t notice it, because good infrastructure is designed to make your life better without requiring your attention. But it’s worth knowing about, so you can appreciate it when it’s working well and understand what we need to do next to keep Queensland’s infrastructure working for the benefit of everyone.
Last updated: 06 Jun 2023