Infrastructure Australia has released a report detailing the impacts of COVID-19 and projected recovery for the nation.
The report highlights the way Australians used infrastructure during lockdown and demonstrates trends and provides insights into asset management requirements of infrastructure.
Data
- Home internet usage spiked during evenings
- Businesses accessed Cloud storage and remote applications as a third of workers across the nation worked from home
- Deficiencies in network availability were exposed for regional and outer suburban areas
- Need for affordable internet connectivity was also revealed
Energy
- Changed impact on electricity demand – greater use in residential properties offset decrease in commercial
- Energy demand shifted into outer suburban areas in Victoria as large numbers of people worked from home
- COVID-19 delayed some maintenance upgrade works
- Increased demand for battery usage and capability
- Energy companies leverage an increase in digital interaction with customers
Waste
- Household waste increased by 20% in Victoria
- Spike in clinical waste due to increased use of medical equipment, including PPE
Transport
- Greater increase on car usage as capital cities returned to work after March lockdown
- Significant decrease in travel, with low recovery of public transport sector in cities even with fewer COVID case numbers
- Cities increasing cycling infrastructure, demonstrating the greater use of bicycles
- Public transport providers responded quickly to the need for increased hygiene measures and digital tools for customers
- Domestic air freight drops as land freight providers report an increase in demand
Social Infrastructure
- Gaps exposed in manufacturing capabilities in medical equipment, including PPE
- Significant repurposing in health infrastructure to increase ICU demand
- Significant uptake in telehealth usage, with decrease in preventative screening services of up 19%
- University enrolments decreased and revenue from international students declining sharply
- Increase in national park usage across all states and territories1
To download a full copy of Infrastructure beyond COVID-19: A national study on the impacts of the pandemic on Australia, please click here.
1 All information in this article sourced: https://www.infrastructureaustralia.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020-12/Final_COVID%20Impacts%20on%20Infrastructure%20Sectors%20Report_14%20Dec%202020.pdf