Presenting the NSW Government with oversight of NSW’s infrastructure program
The Infrastructure Assurance function at Infrastructure NSW works with NSW Government agencies to ensure the State’s infrastructure projects are being effectively developed and delivered on time, on budget and in accordance with the NSW Government’s objectives through the implementation of the Infrastructure Investor Assurance Framework (IIAF).
The IIAF applies to projects with a value of $20 million and above, being developed, procured or delivered by General Government agencies and State-Owned Corporations.
The key features of the framework are:
The IIAF is the applicable Gateway Coordination Framework under the NSW Gateway Policy.
The IIAF is built on the foundation of a risk-based approach to ensure that the assurance evaluation focuses on the most complex projects. The process is confidential to each project, and advice is provided to the NSW Government, as the investor, through regular reporting.
The Assurance Framework enables “red flags” to be raised and an opportunity for interventions ensuring projects are delivered on-time, on-budget, and in accordance with the NSW Government’s objectives.
High Profile / High Risk projects are classed as Tier 1. These projects require a greater level of oversight to ensure risk is appropriately managed.
Infrastructure NSW continuously monitors project status through Gateway reviews. This includes:
Infrastructure NSW prepares regular project reports which provide an assessment of project development and delivery against time, cost, quality, risks and impediments to project development/delivery.
In line with the risk-based assurance approach, a project’s tier informs the reporting intervals and level of detail required.
To support regular project reporting, agencies provide Infrastructure NSW with timely and comprehensive project information. Reports are lodged by the relevant agency after Secretary or delegated executive officer approval is given.
Regular project reporting is required monthly for Tier 1 – High Profile / High Risk projects, and quarterly for Tier 2 and Tier 3 projects.
Gateway, Health Check and Deep Dive reviews
The review process provides a series of short, focused, independent expert reviews, held at key decision points in a project’s lifecycle.
The assurance reviews are appraisals of infrastructure projects that highlight risks and issues, which if not addressed may threaten successful delivery.
Assurance reviews are supported by periodic Health Check reviews which assist in identifying issues that may emerge between decision points. Health Check reviews are carried out by an independent team of experienced practitioners (industry experts including from the private sector), appointed by Infrastructure NSW.
Deep Dive reviews are like Health Check reviews but focus on a specific issue or limited terms of reference rather than the full range of issues normally considered at a Health Check review.
Infrastructure NSW may introduce an Optimisation Path in the future. The introduction of an Optimisation review for projects is to develop an Optimisation plan that addresses the project's challenges in scope, time or funding.
The Optimisation Path is currently being piloted with select projects in 2026.
Insights sharing and capability development
Insights gained and lessons learned through the assurance role are shared across government to acknowledge key challenges, foster continuous improvement and contribute to the development of capability in infrastructure planning, procurement and delivery.
Infrastructure NSW published the Trends and Insights Report, which features an analysis of assurance reviews to identify systemic issues and trends facing delivery agencies, as well as provide lessons learnt across projects.
For more information on infrastructure assurance managed by Infrastructure NSW or to register a project, please contact assurance@infrastructure.nsw.gov.au.
