An Australian Catholic University research project that boldly aims to revolutionise major infrastructure governance could be a godsend for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
ACU Head of Discipline for Human Resource Management Marzena Baker is part of a team that was one of 520 beneficiaries of more than $370 million in funding from the Australian Research Council's (ARC) 2026 Discovery Projects scheme.
The national project, to be led by Dr Xinyue Zhang from the University of Sydney, aims to streamline complex infrastructure delivery, reduce bureaucracy and enhance public benefits
It will do so by collaborating with a variety of government and industry organisations to examine how governance can be re-imagined to deliver complex infrastructure with greater benefit, and less red tape, for everyone.
The implications for Brisbane 2032 are profound according to Dr Baker from ACU's Peter Faber Business School.
According to the Queensland Major Contractors Association, almost $130 billion in engineering construction is planned over the next five years.
"Big projects like an Olympic Games have many stakeholders," she said.
"Historically it's all been about cost and time. And normally cost and time win.
"This research will look at how we can complete big projects better and more inclusively for the benefit of communities and the environment."
The three-year project will be funded by a $511,592 ARC Discovery Project grant.
Specifically, it will explore how contracted and non-contractual stakeholders can pursue targets via governmentality, a model that unites diverse actors—internal teams and external communities—under a common purpose.
Expected outcomes include effective strategies and solutions for governance and governmentality, fostering non-contractual stakeholder engagement, and achieving societal and environmental objectives.
These outcomes will benefit Australia by improving project efficiency, fostering social cohesion through equitable partnerships with indigenous communities, and supporting national sustainability goals.
In addition to the Brisbane 2032 context, cases to be investigated will include Sydney Metro, WestConnex and Western Sydney Airport, Snowy Hydro 2.0 and Canberra Light Rail Stage 2.
