Twelve infrastructure officials from Solomon Islands Government and Honiara City Council say they have returned from an Australian infrastructure study tour motivated to strengthen Solomon Islands infrastructure planning and implementation.
The officials undertook a week-long training program supported by Australia including an Infrastructure Management Short Course at the University of Sydney Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies, and a visit to Infrastructure Australia – Australia’s national agency for infrastructure planning and policy development.
Deputy Secretary, Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Leonard Ofainu’u said participating in the Study Tour provided the delegation with a valuable opportunity to learn about infrastructure and observe the strengths within the Solomon Islands team.
“By adapting some of the practices we observed at Infrastructure Australia, we can take significant steps toward sustainable and strategic infrastructure development in the Solomon Islands,” Mr Ofainu’u said.
Australian High Commissioner, His Excellency Rod Hilton said the study tour provided a valuable opportunity to strengthen the infrastructure partnership between Solomon Islands and Australia.
“As the largest and longest supporter of quality infrastructure in Solomon Islands, we’re already working closely with the Ministry of Infrastructure Development, and National Planning and Development Coordination to support better infrastructure policy, planning and management,” Mr Hilton said.
“These week-long immersions with Australia’s premier infrastructure institutes build on our capacity building work so that the infrastructure we build together last longer, creates more local jobs and better meets the needs and development aspirations of Solomon Islands,” Mr Hilton said.
“Well-built and easy to maintain infrastructure starts with a good business case, presented to decision-makers, that covers the whole life of infrastructure – from construction to maintenance and repair. How to make that business case is the goal of the tour.”
Assistant Secretary, Projects at the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Lisa Sugumanu, said learning to think about the whole cost of infrastructure was a key take away from the trip.
“At the start of the project, we need to consider the whole life cost of the project, not just the planning and construction,” Ms Sugumanu said. “So, we need to identify operation and maintenance costs as well.”
The study tour was part of a range of activities under Australia’s Solomon Islands Infrastructure Program to support the government’s planning and delivery of infrastructure, including the development and rollout of the Solomon Islands National Infrastructure Priority Pipeline 2023.
“Infrastructure and economic growth are the top national government priorities for the Solomon Islands Government,” said Mr Hilton.
“Australia is supporting a range of professional development opportunities for government infrastructure-related agencies to increase their productivity to plan, budget and manage infrastructure, including considerations of climate change, sustainability and maintenance.”
