What can
    you afford to
           live without?

INTRODUCTION

Australia remains the lucky country. With a few exceptions, we live in nice homes and within communities that offer an outstanding quality of life.

However, in recent years, spending on valuable social and physical infrastructure has eroded, which now threatens the enviable lifestyle we now take for granted.

Councils represented by a new body – the National Growth Areas Alliance - have identified a need to spend an estimated $11.7 billion on infrastructure over the next 15 years.

While NGAA councils will be able to fund some of these projects, they face a $3.1 billion funding shortfall.

The roads and bike paths we use every day, the parks and gardens where our children play, the community services for the elderly, our valuable library services need more investment. And fast.

This crisis is being felt the most in the growth corridors of many of our major metropolitan cities which are home to one in four Australians.

Enough is enough and the time for action is now.

Thirty of the nation’s councils have joined forces to place this lack of funding squarely on the public agenda.

Can you live without these vital services and amenities?