Infrastructure Construction
Chapter 2
This chapter provides information on Australian measures of infrastructure engineering construction. These are classified as: transport (roads, rail, harbours, etc), energy (electricity and gas transmission networks, etcetera), telecommunications networks, and water supply and distribution networks. Data is sourced from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Engineering Construction Activity, Australia publication.
- Transport infrastructure engineering construction work done recorded a new all-time high of $51 billion (adjusted by chain volume index) in 2023–24. This accounted for 53 per cent of the value of infrastructure construction work done in Australia (including transport, energy, telecommunications and water).
- In 2023–24, the value of road engineering construction work done was:
- $33 billion on roads and bridges
- $16 billion on railways
- $1.5 billion on harbours.
Figure 3 and Figure 4 show the change in infrastructure investment activity in Australia over time. Transport, water and energy investment increased relatively consistently until roughly 2012–13, when they each experienced a notable fall. They have recovered in recent years, however, with the Transport sector reaching its new highest point of roughly $51 billion in 2023–24 (Figure 3).
Figure 3 Infrastructure construction activity, adjusted by chain volume index
Figure 4 shows the value of engineering Construction activity on different modes of transport. Both road (including bridges) ($33 billion) and railways ($16 billion) have recorded record highs two years in a row.
Figure 4 Infrastructure construction activity, by sector, adjusted by chain volume index
Figure 5 illustrates the private and public sector changes in Australian infrastructure expenditure.
Figure 5 Infrastructure construction activity, by sector, adjusted by chain volume index
Download data
- Infrastructure Construction—Yearbook 2024 (109 KB)
- Australian Infrastructure and Transport Statistics—Yearbook 2024