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Cover of Improving Freight Vehicle Access through Direct Private Investment in Public Road Infrastructure: A Framework for Guiding Private Sector Participation
Improving Freight Vehicle Access through Direct Private Investment in Public Road Infrastructure: A Framework for Guiding Private Sector Participation
  • Publication no: AP-R490-15
  • ISBN: 978-1-925294-66-8
  • Published: 2 September 2015

This report provides a generic framework for private investment in public road infrastructure.

Roads are key enablers of economic and commercial activity, most particularly for those activities that are reliant on freight. The freight industry is constantly looking for ways to increase freight productivity to improve business profitability and competitiveness and to limit the costs passed on to consumers due to increasing freight costs. Often this requires upgrades to the existing network to accommodate different vehicles or different operations.

The framework presented in this report seeks to improve access for freight vehicles through direct private investment in public road infrastructure. It is aimed specifically at providing industry and government certainty of process where industry can invest in specific projects that would improve productivity for their operations.

The framework is a practical approach that can immediately guide process and decision making for both private industry and government, within the confines of existing legislation and policy.

  • Summary
  • Purpose of the framework
  • The framework
  • 1. Introduction
    • 1.1. Rationale for a framework for improving access via direct private investment
      • 1.1.1. How heavy vehicles pay for road use
      • 1.1.2. Enabling access for heavy vehicles
    • 1.2. Purpose of the framework
  • 2. Overview of Issues
    • 2.1. Private sector investment decisions
    • 2.2. Public sector influences
    • 2.3. Broader influences
    • 2.4. Examination of legal frameworks
  • 3. Facilitating Private Investment in Public Infrastructure
    • 3.1. The need for flexibility
    • 3.2. Governance
    • 3.3. Unsolicited proposal guidelines
    • 3.4. Applicability and structure of the unsolicited proposal framework to facilitate improved access through private investment in public road infrastructure
    • 3.5. Aligning best practice
  • 4. A Framework for Private Investment in Public Road Infrastructure
    • 4.1. The base framework
    • 4.2. Phase 1: Initial Submission and Preliminary Assessment
      • 4.2.1. Identification of a project need
      • 4.2.2. Stakeholder Identification
      • 4.2.3. Initial information requirements
      • 4.2.4. Initial Assessment
      • 4.2.5. Agreement to proceed
    • 4.3. Phase 2: Submission of a detailed proposal and formal evaluation
      • 4.3.1. Development of detailed proposal
      • 4.3.2. Preliminary negotiation
      • 4.3.3. Assessment of detailed proposal
      • 4.3.4. In-principle agreement
    • 4.4. Phase 3: Negotiation and Agreement
      • 4.4.1. Development of final proposal offer
      • 4.4.2. Detailed negotiation
      • 4.4.3. Final agreement
      • 4.4.4. Implementation and Reporting
  • References
  • Appendix A Framework Checklists
  • Appendix B Guidance For Commercial Discussion
  • Appendix C Existing Mechanisms Used to Enable Private Investment in Public Road Infrastructure
  • 1. Existing mechanisms that are used for private investment in public road infrastructure to improve access
  • 2. Issues with current legislative frameworks
  • 3. The need for a framework to encourage and enable private investment to improve access for heavy vehicles
  • Appendix D Required Tools for Managing Private Investment in Public Infrastructure
  • 1. Governance
  • 2. Accountability
  • 3. Risk management
  • 4. Compliance
  • 5. Decision making
  • 6. Stakeholder management
  • Internal to government or the private sector party, including:
  • External to government or the private sector party, including:
  • 7. Monitoring and reporting
  • Appendix E Related Austroads Reports
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