The Experts below are selected from a list of 149241 Experts worldwide ranked by ideXlab platform

Infrastructure Programs Branch - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

Regional Operations - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

Joel Byrnes - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • Financing Sustainability in Local Government: An Analysis of the Roads to Recovery Program in New South Wales Local Government
    Public Policy, 2008
    Co-Authors: Margaret Lopez, Brian Dollery, Joel Byrnes
    Abstract:

    A crisis has developed in the maintenance and renewal of vital Australian Local Infrastructure that has attracted the attention of several recent public inquiries and some academic scholarship. However, an unfortunate feature of the subsequent debate on the Local Infrastructure crisis has been its almost total neglect of the role of the Commonwealth Roads to Recovery Program which has helped to alleviate this crisis. Using the institutional context of Roads to Recovery funding to New South Wales Local government, this paper seeks to remedy this neglect by presenting an initial exploratory analysis of the operation of the Roads to Recovery Program.

  • resolving the Infrastructure funding crisis in australian Local government a bond market issue approach based on Local council income
    The Australasian Journal of Regional Studies, 2008
    Co-Authors: Joel Byrnes, Brian Dollery, Lin Crase, Phillip Simmons
    Abstract:

    Numerous state-based and national public inquiries across Australia have demonstrated conclusively that Local councils face almost insurmountable problems in coping with the problem of financing a massive backlog in Local Infrastructure maintenance and renewal. Various solutions have been advanced to tackle the problem, including the establishment of a federal government Local Infrastructure fund. In this paper we develop an alternative funding approach based on the issue of asset-backed securities by Local councils in the capital markets. Using the case of water and wastewater operations by Local councils in New South Wales, we show that Local government has access to a relatively attractive asset in the form of municipal income that can form an income stream payable on a fixed-income security issued by the Australian Local government sector.

  • An Analysis of the Roads to Recovery Program in New South Wales Local Government
    2007
    Co-Authors: Margaret Lopez, Brian Dollery, Joel Byrnes
    Abstract:

    A crisis has developed in the maintenance and renewal of vital Australian Local Infrastructure that has attracted the attention of several recent public inquiries and some academic scholarship. However, an unfortunate feature of the subsequent debate on the Local Infrastructure crisis has been its almost total neglect of the role of the Commonwealth Roads to Recovery Program which has helped to alleviate this crisis. Using the institutional context of Roads to Recovery funding to New South Wales Local government, this paper seeks to remedy this neglect by presenting an initial exploratory analysis of the operation of the Roads to Recovery Program.

  • the Infrastructure crisis in australian Local government a proposed federal asset fund solution
    The Australasian Journal of Regional Studies, 2007
    Co-Authors: Brian Dollery, Joel Byrnes, Lin Crase
    Abstract:

    The worsening crisis in Australian Local Infrastructure planning, maintenance and renewal has finally captured the attention of public policy makers. While uncertainty still surrounds the magnitude of the crisis, several recent public inquiries have investigated the problem and advanced recommendations for its remediation. Despite the undoubted severity of the problem, to date the academic literature has largely ignored the Australian Local Infrastructure crisis. This paper represents an exploratory attempt to remedy this neglect by considering the dimensions of the problem as well as various suggestions aimed at rectifying the situation. The paper also seeks to add to the discussion by proposing a tentative solution in the form of a Commonwealth Infrastructure Asset Fund that could operate in a fashion analogous to the current Roads to Recovery Program.

  • Resolving the Australian Local Infrastructure Crisis through a Federal Infrastructure Asset Fund
    2006
    Co-Authors: Brian Dollery, Joel Byrnes, Lin Crase
    Abstract:

    The worsening crisis in Australian Local Infrastructure planning, maintenance and renewal has finally captured the attention of public policy makers. While uncertainty still surrounds the magnitude of the crisis, several recent public inquiries have investigated the problem and advanced recommendations for its remediation. Despite the undoubted severity of the problem, to date the academic literature has largely ignored the Australian Local Infrastructure crisis. This paper represents an exploratory attempt to remedy this neglect by considering the dimensions of the problem as well as various suggestions aimed at rectifying the situation. The paper also seeks to add to the discussion by proposing a tentative solution in the form of a Commonwealth Infrastructure Asset Fund that could operate in a fashion analogous to the current Roads to Recovery Program.

Sector Strategies - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

Justus Wesseler - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • Forest plantations’ investments in social services and Local Infrastructure: an analysis of private, FSC certified and state-owned, non-certified plantations in rural Tanzania
    Land Use Policy, 2018
    Co-Authors: M.b. Degnet, E. Van Der Werf, Verina Ingram, Justus Wesseler
    Abstract:

    With the rapid expansion of forest plantations worldwide, communities, NGOs and researchers are increasingly expressing their concerns about the outcomes of plantations’ activities for Local households. This study investigates the perceptions of Local households about forest plantations’ investments in social services and Local Infrastructure in rural Tanzania. We consider households living in villages adjacent to private, FSC certified forest plantations and households in villages adjacent to a state-owned, non-certified plantation. We use survey data from 338 households to analyze perceived changes in school enrolment, quality of education, and the number and quality of health centers, roads and bridges associated with investments by plantations. We use a mixed method approach and complement the results from a logistic regression model with observations of the size and quality of social services and Infrastructure in the villages and with findings from focus group discussions. The results show that households in the villages adjacent to both the private, FSC certified and state-owned, non-certified forest plantations associate the plantations with improved social services and Local Infrastructure in the study villages. Moreover, we find that the private, FSC certified forest plantations are viewed more favorably than the state-owned, non-certified plantation in terms of their contributions to social services and Local Infrastructure in the study areas. Richer households tend to perceive the investments of the plantations more favorably than poorer households in the study villages.

  • Private Capital, Public Goods: Forest Plantations' Investment in Local Infrastructure and Social Services in Rural Tanzania
    2017
    Co-Authors: M.b. Degnet, E. Van Der Werf, Verina Ingram, Justus Wesseler
    Abstract:

    With the rapid expansion of private forest plantations worldwide, their impacts on Local development are under scrutiny by NGOs and researchers alike. This study investigates the impacts of private forest plantations on Local Infrastructure and social services in rural Tanzania. We take a comparative approach involving households living in villages adjacent to private forest plantations and households in villages adjacent to a state-owned plantation. We use survey data from 338 households to analyze their perceptions about the impacts of the plantations on the number and quality of roads, bridges, and health centers, as well as on school enrolment and quality of education. We triangulate the results from a logistic regression model with observations of the size and quality of Infrastructure and social services in the villages and with findings from focus group discussions. The results show that the private forest plantations have positively affected Local Infrastructure and social services in adjacent villages. The results suggest that large-scale private forest plantations can contribute to rural development in developing countries. We highlight the importance of taking into account the perceptions of various groups in society when assessing the sustainability of forestry investments and their impacts on Local communities.