❓ Ms. Brewer questions Main Roads about Benefit Cost Ratios (BCRs) for projects from 2022-2025, target discrepancies, and inclusion of wider economic benefits. The response provides context on BCR variations and target setting but doesn't provide specific project data.

I refer to the average return on construction expenditure from the Main Roads Annual Report 2025, and I ask:(a) What is the Benefit Cost Ratio for each project in:(i) 2022;(ii) 2023;(iii) 2024; and(iv) 2025;(b) Why was the 2025 target not met;(c) Why was the 2025 target set below the actual averages in 2022, 2023 and 2024; and(d) Does Main Roads count "wider economic benefits" in these calculations?

(a – d)  BCRs can be provided where specific projects are identified – due to the number of projects undertaken by Main Roads, it would be inappropriate to provide a complete breakdown of all projects. Average BCRs change over time as project mixes change. large congestion-relief and freeway capacity projects achieve high BCRs while lower BCRs are common in regional, safety and program-level works. Most major expansion and duplication projects recorded BCRs above 1.0, while many safety, minor works, planning, and program-based projects did not have individual BCRs  calculated or were not applicable. The target was set lower than previous years because several high-BCR projects had been completed and ongoing projects were affected by construction cost escalation.