Too many projects are failing before a shovel hits the ground because bottlenecks are driving cost blowouts, delays and wasted capacity.
To overcome this problem and address the construction productivity challenge, industry has released the Design – Best Practice Principles.
Launched at today's Foundations and Frontiers forum in Sydney, the Design Principles were developed through collaboration between designers and constructors from the Australian Constructors Association (ACA) and Consult Australia's Partnerships for Change initiative.
With increasing pressure on governments to deliver housing, energy and a wide range of infrastructure projects, the new principles identify the design phase as a serious bottleneck driving cost blowouts, delays and wasted capacity across major projects.
ACA CEO Peter Colacino said improving project design is one of the fastest and most practical ways to lift productivity without adding more resources.
“We continue to see unclear scope, duplicated review processes and late design changes drive unsustainable time and cost pressures into projects at a scale that is simply not sustainable given the size of the infrastructure pipeline,” Colacino said.
“With highly skilled engineers in short supply, we cannot afford to have them tied up in layers of checking and re-checking that add little value.
“The cycle of reviewers reviewing reviews is inflating project teams, extending timelines and increasing costs. It ultimately delays the delivery of critical infrastructure communities are relying on.”
The new principles set out practical reforms to streamline design processes, including:
- clearer project scope from the outset
- fewer, more targeted design reviews
- stronger governance and decision-making
- earlier engagement with delivery partners
- greater use of digital tools to improve collaboration.
Consult Australia CEO Jonathan Cartledge said the principles reflect a shared commitment between industry and government to improve performance.
“Design is where the foundations of every project are set,” Cartledge said.
“By streamlining processes and clarifying expectations, we can lift productivity, reduce wasted effort and deliver better outcomes for clients, industry and the community.”
The principles were developed through the Construction Industry Leadership Forum (CILF), bringing together Commonwealth and state government agencies with industry leaders.