InfrastructureAustraliaInfrastructure beyond COVID-19Anationalstudy on the impactsofthepandemic onAustraliaAn Interim Report for the 2021 Australian Infrastructure PlanLEKDecember2020Producedincollaboration with
InfrastructureAustraliaTable of contentsSectionContentsPagesExecutiveSummary322GAboutthisReport12A NationalOverview3 Insiahts intoIndividual andHousehold BehavioursSectorDeepDives455789TransportSocialInfrastructureTelecommunications& DigitalEnergyWaterWaste
Executive Summary
InfrastructureAustraliaThe COVID-19 pandemic revealed the resilience and adaptability of Australia'sinfrastructureThesilveriningofthe COVID-19 pandemic is that to date Austalia has handled the pandemicwell, supported by critical infrastructure services and networks that were able to reconfigureaquidly and evedffrenty, and showed esAstheCOVID-19nandorok early action, introducing travelbans,lockdowns. and borderhmasticsuoolv chains.Communitiesadopted social distancina andmeWhiletheseearlymeasuressuccessfully contained national case numbers., they prompted profound changes to the waypeople moved, consumeof infrastructure use.ra clement of ourreslience and will be critical forunderpinning productivity and supporting the long term move to a circular economyinges and the consequences for skils andinfrastructuranae ofinfrastructure trends. their aeoaraphicdistribution,ning to historical trend after the pandemic. Itis an interinreport for the 2021 Australian Infrastructure Plan, and complements the 2019Audit.Therenor nrovidesanimerfect view: available data is not alwavs up to date, so may not give acomplete picture of what is an evolving story.so Anticipatina the future during a period of uncertainty is fraught with fficulty, and many predictionsmade in past crises have not eventuated Nonetheless, many of the trends show a redistributionof existing demand, a mode or channel switch, or an acceleration of an existing longer term shift
InfrastructureAustraliaTrends emerged across the community that have shaped the infrastructure sector100%growth9in10AustralianfirmsArapid shif from physical to virtual interaction,Monthly online retail growth was,Adopted new technologywith increased convenience for users andDigitisation5-6 times the annualgrowth in.including collaboration toolsproviders2019and cyber security163.459newPV solarpanels200%increaseAredistributionofdemandforutlities, andunder the smallscale renewablein net migration from capitalDecentralisationcities to regional areas,increased vibrancv in reaional centres Better use of local infrastructure, and local andGrowth in suburban last mile trips,23% increaseregional vibrancy were evident, with more localin utilization of national parksWithloadinazone usefalling to lesstrips and travel remainina in reaional and localLocalismand green spaces nationallythan half in the SvdnevCBDareasofWA.SAandTASPublictransport improvements17.2m telehealthconsultsProviders resoonded by moving teaching(Mar-Jun) comprising35%ofcurricula and students online. telehealthsu...
