This is the fifth paper in Infrastructure Australia's Reform Series. It provides advice to Australian governments on improving the productivity and liveability of our largest cities as they grow over the next thirty years.

This working paper presents three case examples demonstrating the potential for overseas migration to improve population growth, sustain a skilled labour pool, and grow the economy in northern and remote Australia.

This report argues that road congestion charges should be introduced in Sydney and Melbourne, as both cities face traffic gridlock in the future unless decisive action is taken to manage congestion.

Metropolitan planning and development of Australia’s cities has been strongly influenced by what could be termed the “North American model” of low-density, car-dependent suburban development on greenfield master-planned housing estates. But this is all set to change.

The key objective of the growth study was to gain an independent view of the impact of population growth on the capacity of councils to provide services and infrastructure to the community over time.