How can communities and leaders collaborate to create inclusive and sustainable infrastructure solutions?

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This content has been extracted from our CROSSROADS report. Read the full version here.

Building infrastructure that meets diverse community needs requires collaboration, inclusivity and innovative thinking. By listening to all voices and prioritising sustainability and resilience, leaders can craft solutions that work for communities today and for generations to come.

Building infrastructure that meets diverse community needs requires collaboration, inclusivity and innovative thinking. By listening to all voices and prioritising sustainability and resilience, leaders can craft solutions that work for communities today and for generations to come.

Collaboration and curiosity drive practical solutions

It is impossible to provide definitive infrastructure solutions that will satisfy every community — and every generation — in every geography. But through curiosity, consultation and collaboration, coupled with excellent technical solutions, decision-makers and leaders can work with communities to shape bespoke and practical solutions.

Key questions to guide decision-making

  1. What are the projected benefits for the community and how do they align with broader societal goals? 
  2. How does this project incorporate the principles of inclusivity and equitable access for all community members? 
  3. Have we considered the voices of the underrepresented and the ‘hardly heard’? 
  4. Have we engaged with different generations to gather diverse perspectives and ideas? 
  5. What are the potential impacts of this project and how can they be mitigated through innovative approaches? 
  6. Are there ways to incorporate circular economy principles to reduce environmental impact, minimise resource use and push the boundaries of sustainable design? 
  7. Is the infrastructure resilient to predicted climate change impacts such as extreme and more frequent weather events and rising sea levels? 
  8. What funding models can be used to support both short-term and longer-term needs? 
  9. Can this infrastructure be maintained, augmented or removed cost-effectively in the future? 
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Want to go deeper?

Learn how to optimise the decision-making process for community benefits, equitable access, environmental impacts and resilience to climate change. Download the full CROSSROADS report
Read the full report

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