Taxpayers can get improved transportation while business takes the risks in public-private partnerships, Australian banker Alan Stockdale told the Vancouver Board of Trade yesterday.

Stockdale is executive chairman of the Macquarie Bank, which is studying the "triple-P" (public- private-partnership) approach to financing for TransLink.

Macquarie has had three people working on triple-P opportunities in the Lower Mainland since late last year and will deliver a report to TransLink in the next few weeks.

From what Stockdale has seen so far, there are at least two attractive projects -- a Fraser River crossing between Langley and Maple Ridge, and a rapid-transit connection from downtown to the Vancouver International Airport and on to Richmond.

"There's not much doubt that the projects are financially viable," said Stockdale. Macquarie is interested in setting up the projects.

The triple-P strategy is relatively new to Canada, although both the Confederation Bridge to Prince Edward Island and the 407 toll highway outside Toronto are examples.

But Canada's lack of interest in such deals is the exception rather than the rule.

"It is everywhere, all around the world," said Stockdale, whose company has projects in Portugal, Britain, Germany, Malaysia, New Zealand and Thailand.