Property Council ACT & Capital Region Executive Director Ashlee Berry said the inclusion of Canberra public transport improvements in the 2-4 year pipeline was an important step in supporting a compact, productive and well-connected city.
"Continued investment in public transport, including future light rail corridors and better network integration, is critical to supporting Canberra's growth and reinforcing the city's strengths as a place to live and work," Ms Berry said.
"We know that high quality public transport helps unlock well-located housing, supports urban infill, and improves access to jobs and services across the city."
Ms Berry welcomed the prioritisation of upgrades to Sydney-Canberra rail connectivity and capacity, describing it as a nationally significant project for productivity and sustainability.
"Improving the Sydney-Canberra rail corridor strengthens economic links between two major cities, provides a more competitive alternative to road and air travel, and supports the ACT's role within the broader regional economy," she said.
The Property Council said the inclusion of planning work for ACT renewable energy storage enhancement reflected the growing importance of energy resilience as demand increases.
"Investment in energy storage is about reliability and resilience. As Canberra continues to grow and electrification accelerates, planning for secure energy infrastructure is essential to meeting net zero objectives while supporting future development," Ms Berry said.
Ms Berry said the Priority List also highlighted areas where further work would be needed, particularly around housing enabling infrastructure and cross-border infrastructure.
"While transport and energy priorities are well recognised, there remains a gap when it comes to clearly identified housing enabling infrastructure for the ACT," she said.
"With a growing population and an increasing reliance on infill and medium-density development, aligning infrastructure investment more closely with housing delivery will be critical."
"Canberra does not operate in isolation. Infrastructure planning needs to better reflect the daily movement of people across the ACT-NSW border, particularly with Queanbeyan, Yass and the South Coast," she said.
