A prominent Australian architect has said local governments should have a look at the Chinese infrastructure model to boost projects in their areas.

Former National President of the Australian Institute of Architects Robert Caulfield has urged local Australian governments to emulate the funding approach in China, which has spawned many rapid investments and developments over the last five years.

Caulfield says with the budgetary deficit as it is, the Federal and State Governments may struggle to fund local works in the future. In China, he says, governments take on a variety of roles in planning, architecture and public relations. He also suggests Australian planners reach out to China for funds and development if they cannot drum up enough money themselves.

Caulfield has plenty of experience with the Chinese model, his company has just been contracted to build a 200,000 person mega-city project in Nanjing; an earthquake zone and historically important site that has gained UN recognition.