Industry body Consult Australia has launched a new international competition seeking out the next big infrastructure ideas for Sydney.  

Led by Consult Australia in association with the Future Cities Collaborative, an initiative of the United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney, the competition challenges individuals and teams to get creative and submit ideas for creating a better city.

Consult Australia’s New South Wales State Manager Matthew Trigg explains that the competition aims to encourage fresh thinking and spark a wider conversation about how to make the most of Australia’s largest city.

While the organisers are expecting to receive a broad range of proposals, the ideas will help further the discussion on what is needed in the short and long term. Matthew Trigg added that select projects will be designed based on the value capture funding model without being a burden on taxpayers and in time will pay for themselves.

Director of the Future Cities Collaborative, Sandy Burgoyne says the competition is a small way to continue to inspire industry, community and government to think differently about infrastructure challenges, consider new ways of funding and financing city-shaping initiatives, and create thriving communities.

The competition is open to anyone, with submissions due by Monday 29 February 2016. Entries will be publicly exhibited and judged on originality, practicality, economic, social, environmental, and communication criteria.