ACORN Inc. is an association of decision makers, professionals and community leaders who volunteer their time to research and present information in a way that can improve decision making, media representation and community debate in infrastructure.

The question they ask themselves is:
How can communities make infrastructure decisions that generate maximum satisfaction before the event - with minimum regret when all the consequences come to light?

ACORN Inc. believes that this is best achieved by knowing what questions to ask of infrastructure proposals - and knowing how to correctly interpret and evaluate the answers.

Infrastructure decisions are complex - socially, environmentally, technically, and financially. They are have a major impact on communities and influence what is, and is not, possible for decades to come. They are also expensive and nearly always irreversible. So each decision is important. ACORN seeks to find ways to help communities make these decisions advisedly.

In 2007, ACORN is conducting a national case study of one currently important (and urgent) community infrastructure decision - the provision of a reliable, affordable water supply to our cities. As with all infrastructure decisions, this must be considered in a wider context: there are many demands to be met.

Good decision making requires being aware of these demands, considering what needs the community wishes to have met and how conflicts between these needs may best be managed; what options are available. together with their costs, benefits and longer term consequences), and how to make their choices.
It is for this reason that our water case study is to result in a book entitled “Our Water: our needs, our options, our choices - a case study in community infrastructure decision making”. Together with an accompanying DVD, it is intended that this will be useful to all communities everywhere not only in making water decisions but in making any community infrastructure decision.

ACORN Activities can be followed in our ACORN BLOG. See what we are doing - and send your comments.
If you
• are concerned to see that your children and future generations inherit a viable and sustainable infrastructure that will extend rather than limit their capabilities
• and are interested to be active in support of this vision
you are welcome to attend an ACORN meeting in your city, or to join with us virtually. Please read our blog and contribute your ideas, knowledge and suggestions.