Australian Mega Transport Business Cases: Missing Costs and Benefits. Issue 4 (2nd October 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Searle, Glen; Legacy, Crystal
• Is Part Of: Urban policy and research. Volume 37:Issue 4(2019)
• Page Start: 458
• Page End: 473
• Publication Date: 2019-10-02
• Subjects: Mega transport projects -- cost-benefit analysis -- omitted planning costs -- WestConnex -- East West Link -- Cross River Rail; City planning -- Australia -- Periodicals; City planning -- New Zealand -- Periodicals; City planning -- Pacific Area -- Periodicals; Urban policy -- Australia -- Periodicals; Urban policy -- New Zealand -- Periodicals; Urban policy -- Pacific Area -- Periodicals; 307.7609905
• DOI: 10.1080/08111146.2019.1663727
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0811-1146

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This paper uses business cases for three contemporary Australian mega transport proposals to examine the extent to which societal costs and benefits are properly evaluated in public investment decisions about such projects. It analyses project-related costs and benefits omitted or inadequately evaluated in the cost-benefit analyses of business cases for Stage 2 (the eastern section) of Melbourne's East West Link tollroad, Sydney's WestConnex tollroad, and Brisbane's Cross River Rail. The omissions identified mean the rationale of business cases to reduce wasteful, politically-driven decisions is being lost. Instead, the omissions help business cases give ex post justification for decisions already made.