Premier & Cabinet

Type:
Department of Premier and Cabinet Circular
Identifier:
C2020-22
Status:
Archived

C2020-22 Timely information on infrastructure projects and transactions with the non-government sector

Description

This Circular provides direction for the provision of reliable information about infrastructure costs and delivery timetables to the public which reflects the relevant stage of an infrastructure project. Information must be provided in accordance with the principles and guidance contained in the guide, Timely Information on Infrastructure Projects. This Circular also provides advice on providing information to the public about transactions undertaken with the private sector, such as unsolicited proposals and other direct deals.

Detailed Outline

Providing timely information on infrastructure projects

The NSW Government is delivering a record $100 billion infrastructure pipeline. Infrastructure projects are best delivered where budgets and delivery programs reflect well defined scope, design and risk analysis. Premature determination and disclosure of cost and time estimates can be counterproductive for project teams, design professionals and construction contractors. That impact needs to be balanced with the requirement to keep the public and Parliament as informed as possible.

Timely Information on Infrastructure Projects, developed by Infrastructure NSW, explains the stages of project development and the level of detail that may be confidently provided to the public at each stage.

The guiding principles for providing reliable project information are as follows:

· Confidence in cost and delivery timeframe increases as project progresses.

· Where specific detail is not yet available, there is still useful information that can be provided to the public.

· In early stages, Government can clearly communicate its intent to address a need and the steps it proposes to take to provide a solution.

· Premature provision of detail on solutions, scope, costs and timeframes may lead to disappointment in the community and counterproductive pressure on project delivery teams.

· By contrast, effective communication as stages proceed provides confidence that decision making is sound, that public funds are being well managed and that project benefits will be delivered.

To support these guiding principles, information on scope, funding, costs and timelines should not be provided until a project is significantly progressed to a point that it can be accurately and confidently confirmed. Additionally, costs and timelines should be presented as ranges and be qualified by the level of maturity of scoping and design.

Infrastructure NSW will hold regular sessions with Ministerial Offices and agencies to raise awareness of the Guide and explain the guiding principles in more detail.

Information disclosure for transactions with the private sector

Transactions being undertaken with the private sector such as unsolicited proposals, other direct deals and investment attraction proposals will not be announced until a binding transaction has been completed, except where there are existing information disclosure requirements.

Information disclosure requirements relating to unsolicited proposals and direct deals are currently available in NSW Unsolicited Proposals: Guide for Submission and Assessment and other guidance on direct dealing, including the ICAC publication Direct Negotiations: Guidelines for Managing Risks.

Overview

Who needs to know and/or comply with this?

Advisory Entities (including Boards and Committees)
Departments
Executive agencies related to Departments
Separate agencies
State Owned Corporations
Statutory Authorities/Bodies
Subsidiaries of the NSW Government established under the Corporations Act

Compliance

Mandatory

AR Details

Date Issued
Dec 17, 2020
Review Date
Mar 23, 2023
Replaces
Replaced By

Contacts

Contact
Contact us
Phone
02 9228 5555
Publishing Entity
Department of Premier and Cabinet
Issuing Entity
Department of Premier and Cabinet