THE CHALLENGES of infrastructure development have a lot more to do with funding than construction and engineering. What if there was a way of developing key large project infrastructure without government having to outlay a dollar?

What if the element that stops infrastructure development dead in its tracks – the funding of it, usually by governments – was solved? 

David Wallader, a former Queensland banker with experience in international money management – the area in which banks make profit from leveraging deposited funds, sometimes called the ‘short term’ money market – asked these very same questions several years ago.

Mr Wallader had studied how the bank guarantee system and the cash and securities trading markets worked and discovered very large projects were funded in this way in certain European countries.

“I began to wonder why we were not doing this type of thing in Australia,” Mr Wallader said, starting a new business, named Infrastructure Financial Opportunity, to explore the possibilities. “So I asked the question of the trading platform I know which handles these kinds of transactions – and the answer was astonishing.

“While they agreed Australia was, in many ways, an ideal market for this alternative way of funding infrastructure, for it was stable, secure and transparent in its financial dealings … the problem was simply that Australian projects were not of high enough value. And the companies who built them were, at the time, not themselves of high enough value against which to secure the bank guarantees, to be issued in their name and not transferable to a third party.

“This is an important point, because that guarantee stays in the company’s name and cannot be drawn upon. The trading platform matches the value of the guarantee with a cash portfolio, as the trading-for-profit has to be completed in cash, not with borrowed funds.

“Hence, this is a joint venture, as the company and the trading platform are contributing equally to the project.

“The starting point for many of these infrastructure deals was about US$500 million. Few Australian companies at the time could secure to that level.”

But just a few months ago Mr Wallader asked the question seriously of the trading platform he works with in Europe, which gave him the go-ahead to try to batch major infrastructure project funding in Australia using this particular financial model.

Infrastructure Financial Opportunity now has access to funds at much lower levels of entry, he said, starting with projects that require a minimum bank guarantee of US$200 million.

“This financial opportunity is a unique, transparent, secure joint venture opportunity with profits generated from commodity trading of discounted financial instruments,” Mr Wallader said. “This process generates a secure cash flow causing no borrowings, for the purpose of financing an infrastructure development, be it for the private sector or a government project.

“It means it ends up debt free at the end of the conditions of the originating contract.”

Mr Wallader said the opportunity was only open to private companies, not to government bodies, as the process was controlled and audited under the trading rules of world finance compliance authorities, which includes all European authorities, the Federal Reserve, International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

But governments could contract vital infrastructure development to companies that could secure a bank guarantee, meaning government had no upfront financial outlay, with no debt or liability at the completion of the project. All the government does is select a project to build – say, a bridge, an airport or a hospital – set the specifications and extend a lease for an agreed period (usually 45-49 years) to the construction company..

The advantages to the contractor include full financial control of the project, no waiting for progress payments, and an enhancement of the project profits.

“How it works is, a government identifies an infrastructure project and calls for tenders as part of the usual processes,” Mr Wallader said. “A major construction company or developer pitches to build that infrastructure, as usual – except part of that tender is secured finance for the project right through to completion. This gives the tenderer quite an advantage.

“The way the tenderer does this is by arranging a bank guarantee, secured by the company’s own capital value, for the value of the project guarantee. Profits are secured within the joint venture arrangement (between the trading platform and the project management company) and are distributed monthly. The contractor can draw down on those profits as part of the normal construction process, to pay costs at set intervals.”

Under the rules of the trading platform, 80 percent of the profits generated from the trade must be applied the project. This then becomes another area of profit for the contractor, over and above the profits already built into the tender price.

“It may appear to be a very unusual way of funding infrastructure to us, but it has delivered many projects in Europe successfully,” Mr Wallader said. Profits through these types of financial platforms have developed high speed rail in Europe, agribusiness projects, large infrastructure and even contributed to space exploration and medical research. Right now, they are contributing to Ebola research.

“I think this is now a secure financial option for Australia, especially with our drive for infrastructure coming out of the Federal and State Governments,” Mr Wallader said. “I think it could be used for infrastructure projects in the Galilee Basin, for example, or the Toowoomba Range Second Crossing and Brisbane’s BAT Tunnel – even new airports and ports that are on the drawing boards, such as the Gold Coast’s new cruise terminal.

“Even the vital Bruce Highway duplication could be achieved in half the time, if was broken up, using this system, among half a dozen contractors.

“A favourite of mine would be to see Australia’s fast train system come to fruition – it’s possible using this alternative finance system for infrastructure,” Mr Wallader said. “Australia needs this kind of infrastructure boost and should make the most of this innovative financial opportunity.”

www.infrastructurefinancialopportunity.com

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The Australian Parliament’s Northern Australia Committee has tabled its final report on the development of Northern Australia, titled Pivot North. The report spells out loud and clear how important the region is – or at least should become – to the long-term economic growth of Australia.

THERE are 42 clear recommendations in the Pivot North report – addressing both opportunities and impediments for the development of Northern Australia. It is a bold vision that has waxed and waned for many decades through political corridors – but this time the doors seem to be snibbed wide open.

Some of that momentum may have been energised by the strong ‘tropical expertise’ research programs and business success stories that have been coming out of the Far North Queensland. 

Professor Robyn McGuiggan of James Cook University points out that, mining and tourism aside, ‘tropical expertise’ envelops the potential for the region to lead the world in tropical health, design, construction, engineering, food production, water management and other areas.

“As one of the very few advanced Western economies with a significant footprint in the tropics, there is enormous potential for Northern Australia to be a significant exporter and partner in the growth and development of tropical knowledge worldwide,” Prof. McQuiggan said.

“There is real value, we believe, in explicitly identifying Northern Australia with the tropics as it clearly situates Australia in one of the most dynamic and critical regions of the world.”

Northern Australia is neighbouring a part of the globe in which 40 percent of the world’s population now lives and where 20 percent of global economic output is produced.

The report offers some far-sighted but specific recommendations, establishing a Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) for northern agriculture and developing a national institute for tropical sports and sports medicine.

Research and development and education have also been marked as major growth areas through relationships with the Asia-Pacific region, and engagement with traditional owners has been flagged as a way of unlocking economic opportunities to maximise development.

But the report has also listed significant impediments to development, such as a need for better road, rail, port and aviation facilities and telecommunications services, the cost of power and insurance, access to services and problems with keeping a skilled workforce

UNIQUE CHALLENGES

The report advocates the design and implementation of long-term strategies for the development of capital infrastructure and agriculture in Northern Australia – and for improved regulatory arrangements for aquaculture and better regulation of fisheries to allow for sustainable growth of the industry.

The report also addresses some immediate concerns about the fly-in-fly-out (FIFO) employment practices in the region and recommends improved taxation arrangements to encourage local employment in the resources sector.

“The development of Northern Australia is one of the great challenges and opportunities facing the nation,” committee chair and Federal Member for the regional electorate of Leichhardt, Warren Entsch said.

“Northern Australia covers over 40 percent of Australia’s land mass but contains only four percent of the population. It has abundant land, water and mineral resources. It has medical and educational institutions with world class facilities.

“Northern Australia is on the doorstep of Asia and a significant portion of it is part of the tropical world — which by 2050 will encompass over half the world’s population. There are great opportunities for the people of Northern Australia within the tropical zone.

“But the development of Northern Australia has in the past lacked a commitment by governments at all levels to pursue investment and development in a consistent, sustainable and coordinated way.”

This inquiry has formed one part of a broader process aimed at promoting the development of Northern Australia. The Australian Government has made a commitment to produce a White Paper within a year, outlining the government’s vision for the future of Northern Australia. Mr Entsch said the committee’s findings and recommendations would certainly inform the White Paper process, assisting the government to formulate its policy for the future development of Northern Australia.

Regional Australia Institute chief executive Sue McCluskey said the independent think tank has already released a substantial report on the future of Northern Australia late last year. She said it spelled out the conundrum facing policy makers.

“We believe that Northern Australia offers a unique combination of opportunities for Australia’s future, as well as the unique combination of risks and challenges,” Ms McCluskey said.

“Navigating these challenges and risks and catering for the diverse needs of the north will require a high level of sophistication and a strategic approach by all levels of government and the community.”

POPULATION ‘OPPORTUNITY’

Despite the vastness of scale for so many things up north, there’s one thing that is very small – its population. Just six per cent of Australians live there, spread across cities like Townsville and Darwin, mid-sized towns and mining centres, tourist hubs and agricultural regions.

Growing the population is an issue that many, including committee chair Mr Entsch have identified as one of the most critical challenges that must be overcome if Northern Australia is to prosper.

“The key to any success or initiative that we are embarking on is going to be attracting and retaining a significantly growing population across Northern Australia,” Mr Entsch said. While financial incentives like tax breaks might help, Mr Entsch believes they are only part of a much bigger solution.

The report proposes that Northern Australia has to be an attractive place to live to increase demand for goods and services and to bring in the skilled workforce needed for the powerhouse industries such as mining and associated construction.

The tourism industry – also very important to the north – struggles at times to attract and retain good staff across a range of professions.

It’s an area universities are well tuned into, as Professor William Dawson of CQ University Australia explained.

“If you want economic development in regional areas, universities are absolutely critical to your capacity to recruit and retain good people and keep them in the regions,” he said.

“This gets back to the social side of things – affordability, availability of appropriate services and a whole range of other issues for people from the cradle to the grave,” he said.

Prof. McQuiggan said the economic impact of James Cook University comes through the development of human capital.

“The presence of graduates in a region demonstrably contributes to higher wages and lower unemployment rates and provides a more educated and productive workforce,” Prof. McGuiggan said.

“Provision of excellent professional education in the region is vital to ensuring supply and maintenance of a professional workforce in the region.”

http://www.aph.gov.au/jscna/report

PIVOT NORTH REPORT KEY RECOMMENDATIONS

There are seven priority recommendations identified in the report:

• The creation of a Department of Northern Australian Development based in Northern Australia.
• The identification of key roads and the commitment of funding for their upgrade as a matter of priority, subject to relative benefit assessment. Projects would include the continued upgrade of national highways (including the Bruce and Stuart Highways); Hann Highway; Peninsula Development Rd; Tanami Rd; Outback Way; and beef development roads.
• Cost-benefit analysis should be conducted on a rail link between Mount Isa and Tennant Creek and the building of passing lanes on the Darwin to Alice Springs Railway.
• Funding and development of water infrastructure projects that meet scientific and economic assessments.
• Investigation of the potential and practicality of special economic zones.
• Measures to reduce insurance premiums in Northern Australia to affordable levels.
• Continued funding of the Great Artesian Basin Sustainability Initiative.

ENDS

EXTRA >>

THE BUILDING had not even reached completion when the accolades began for its innovative approach to commercial and retail property.

Charter Hall’s $175 million 100 Skyring has already created a prominent gateway to the Gasworks precinct, heralding the continued evolution of Brisbane’s near city office market. 

Boasting a striking exterior, the 12-storey building on Newstead’s Skyring Terrace, has been designed to foster greater staff collaboration and productivity with large, campus-style floor plates.

Charter Hall regional asset manager, Belinda Kalinin said 100 Skyring responded to the growing demand for buildings that fostered “a greater work-life balance”.

“An inspiring workplace design and environment encourages employee performance, motivation and satisfaction,” Ms Kalinin said.

“100 Skyring’s 2,200sqm floor plates have been orientated to maximise natural light and allow for ultimate workspace planning flexibility to increase interaction, efficiency and collaboration.

“With the Brisbane River and Gasworks’ new dining, lifestyle and entertainment precinct on its doorstep, 100 Skyring also creates space for tenants to work and play. 

“With work increasingly being conducted outside of traditional office hours, businesses are looking for locations that make it easy to achieve this work-life balance.  100 Skyring has been designed to connect and engage with the precinct’s open green space, cafés, restaurants and other amenities, extending the workspace outdoors.”

ML Designs senior project manager Paul Hanley said they designed 100 Skyring’s exterior so that it was a captivating focal point for people travelling along Breakfast Creek Road towards the city.

“A key feature of 100 Skyring is its 206m-long artwork that wraps around the two-level podium carpark floors. This artistic screen runs along three sides of the building and consists of approximately 2,000 interlocked, metallic panels,” Mr Hanley said.

“Apart from giving the building greater texture and visual interest, these ‘scales’ cleverly screen the building’s podium carpark.  It’s an innovative solution that delivers a stunning talking point.”

Renowned Brisbane artist Daniel Templeman designed the piece and drew inspiration from the illumination of the neighbouring historic Gasometer frame and city streets.  It connects and contrasts the site’s industrial past to the contemporary reinvigoration symbolised by 100 Skyring.

Mr Templeman’s striking sculptural outdoor installations are showcased across Australia, from the Brisbane Magistrates Court and Macquarie University, to Central Plaza 3 and Tugan Bypass.

“100 Skyring’s design also allows for tenants on all floors to have an amazing view of the Brisbane River and beyond thanks to an east-facing, gently-curved façade,” Mr Hanley said.

“This also allows the building to prominently front the neighbouring Gasometer with its green public plaza.”

Fronting both Skyring Terrace and Longland Street, 100 Skyring is expected to reach practical completion this month (August) with office space still available for lease.

www.charterhall.com.au

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