New Research Highlights the Need for Social Benefit Consideration in Infrastructure Planning

The Institute for Infrastructure in Society (I2S) has released new research examining how social risks and benefits are considered in the early stages of major infrastructure projects. Conducted as part of the Infrastructure Engagement Excellence Standards tool development, the study identifies a gap between the stated goal of public infrastructure investment—to deliver social benefit for communities and businesses—and the processes that guide project planning and delivery.

The research highlights that while infrastructure planning is heavily focused on financial and environmental risks, social risks—which can contribute to project delays—are often overlooked or downplayed. A key issue is the exclusion of engagement and social impact professionals from early decision-making processes, with project governance typically privileging engineering, economic, and legal expertise. Additionally, Australia’s Gateway Review processes reinforce a traditional risk-management approach, leaving little incentive to consider social benefits at the outset.

Key Recommendations from I2S:

• Ensure social benefit creation is explicitly considered in Project Delivery Model (PDM) selection.
• Introduce national guidelines for identifying social risks in major infrastructure projects.
• Increase the inclusion of social practice professionals in project governance and decision-making.
• Develop strategies for better communication and consistency across project lifecycles.
• Update Australia’s Gateway workbooks to incorporate social performance requirements.

This research is a critical resource for engagement practitioners advocating for stronger social impact considerations in infrastructure planning. Read more on the I2S website.