New Zealand Planning Institute’s Post

On July 17, 2024, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the launch of the Canada Public Transit Fund (the Fund). Through the Fund, the federal government will commit CA$30 billion over 10 years destined to Canadian public transit infrastructure which, if realized, would make it the largest public transit program in Canadian history. The program will strive to expand and improve public transit infrastructure across the country. Investment via the Fund will be available to local governments and public transit agencies, starting in 2026, through three streams: Metro-Region agreements, Baseline Funding and Targeted Funding. CA$30 billion is a huge number in anyone's books, including Canadian taxpayers. My Dentons colleagues Ilan Dunsky, Lampros Stougiannos, Charles Bardou and Anoosh Loertscher discuss the key aspects of this initiative, its potential challenges and provide guidance for local governments and public transit agencies on accessing and effectively utilizing the funding. This funding, which will be provided through three streams, will aim to enhance and expand transit networks throughout the country. Calls for applications have already begun for the MRA and Baseline Funding streams and will remain open until September 16, 2024. Read more: https://ow.ly/IrUP30sFlbG #Infrastructure #PublicPrivatePartnerships #PPP #PublicTransit

Louisiana today became the first state to have its BEAD final proposal approved by NTIA, the federal agency administering the rural broadband funding program. The approval means that Louisiana can begin spending BEAD funding allotted to the state to cover… https://lnkd.in/ebgDyT32 #ntia #bead

Our chair, Lord Hutton spoke to the Infrastructure Forum at their summit in Hartwell House on the future of private investment in the UK. "Public Private Partnerships have contributed great things to British life.  They have built hospitals and schools that otherwise would never have come into existence. It has built roads and railways and maintained countless other critical assets." Lord Hutton called for a strategic reset in the relationship between public and private providers to get the investment into Britain's critical infrastructure. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/e4-KG2Dp #publicprivatepartnership #ppp #pfi #infrastructure #privatefinance

COSLA and SPT (Strathclyde Partnership for Transport) have shared a joint statement highlighting the importance of capital funding for local transport provision in the Scottish budget for local people, the environment and the economy. #InvestLocally Read more: https://lnkd.in/eT6Qxqjw...

The 2024 Local Roads Congress is just 7 weeks away! Providing a forum for senior council officers and elected officials to meet and discuss current issues relating to the NSW local road network, this event is not to be missed! In the lead up to this year’s congress we will be running a series of articles highlighting some of the key achievements by the Directorate towards the recommendations in the 2023 local roads congress communiqué. In a monumental step forward, the Australian Government has committed to increasing the Roads to Recovery Program funding to $1 billion per annum starting from 2024-25. This increase is a testament to the program's effectiveness as the primary funding mechanism for local roads, recognised for its efficiency and critical support in maintaining and enhancing our road networks. The decision aligns with the recommendations from the 2023 NSW Local Roads Congress Communique, underscoring the government's dedication to supporting sustainable and resilient local infrastructure. This achievement is a direct result of the advocacy and collaborative efforts of IPWEA NSW & ACT's Roads and Transport Directorate, working closely with the Federal Government to ensure the needs of local communities are met. The increased funding is not just a win for IPWEA NSW & ACT but for all Local Governments. Looking ahead, IPWEA NSW & ACT remains committed to working with the government to ensure that the Roads to Recovery program increases in line with the construction cost index and the growth in the road asset base, ensuring the longevity and sustainability of our local road infrastructure for future generations. Joshua Devitt, David Elliott, Will Barton GAICD #IPWEANSW #Localroadscongress2024 #Roads #Transport #Advocacy https://lnkd.in/gJCSvrnJ

Private Finance Initiatives (PFIs) have been a cornerstone of public infrastructure development in the UK for decades, yet their legacy is far from unblemished. For many public sector organisations schools, hospitals, and local authorities PFIs have become synonymous with inflexibility, opaque agreements, and financial strain. But does this mean the model is beyond redemption? At Reappraise, we believe the answer is no. Public-private partnerships (PPPs) can still offer immense value, but only if they are restructured to address the failures of the past and meet the challenges of the future. We take a closer look at where PFIs went wrong and how we can re-imagine their role in delivering sustainable, effective infrastructure in our blog on the Reappraise website.

Have you heard that the UK government has unveiled a significant overhaul of the planning system through a new Draft National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF)? The main elements of the plan include: - Universal coverage of local plans - Strategic planning with ‘Spatial Development Strategies’ - Increased mandatory housing targets - Review of the green belt and introduction of ‘grey belt’ land - Easier development of growth-supporting infrastructure - Review of local planning authorities’ capacity and fees - Anticipated further reforms, including new towns and a housing strategy The public consultation on the proposed changes to the Draft NPPF is now open, with the government planning to respond and publish the revised NPPF by the end of 2024. Read more here: https://heyor.ca/2K3GeH What do you think about these proposed changes? Let us know in the comments. #PlanningReform #NPPF #UKPlanning #PublicConsultation

Positive planning is always the solution.