In December 2016, the Townsville City Deal is a 15-year commitment between all three tiers of government that aims to support a prosperous economic future for Townsville, position Townsville as a vibrant, liveable and innovative city and unlock the potential for business and industry development. The Townsville City Deal was being delivered through a range of commitments across six key initiatives. One of these initiatives includes a focus on establishing Townsville as the capital of North Queensland and includes commitment to the delivery of new cultural and entertainment infrastructure. AEC was engaged by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts to undertake the Townsville Concert Hall and Culture Precinct Detailed Business Case in conjunction with AECOM. The Business Case includes detailed stakeholder engagement with the local arts and cultural community, with the stakeholder engagement forming a key input into the development of a service need. In developing the Business Case, AEC are also considering options for the infrastructure such as site options, asset delivery considerations and facility options. The analysis also includes detailed consideration including design, financial and economic appraisal, risk analysis and legal, regulatory and approvals pathway.

Client: Shoalhaven City Council State: NSW AEC was engaged by Shoalhaven City Council to prepare the Long Term Financial Plan (LTFP) for the 2022-26 Resourcing Strategy. The project required AEC to complete a review of the current and future planning context and asses the alignment of current financial performance with the key plans and strategies. AEC developed the LTFP modelling and provided advice to Council on the sustainability of the proposed capital works program and service expenditure based on the current revenue strategies. Financial modelling included projected income and expenditure, balance sheet and cash flow statements for the budgeted scenario, as well as two alternative scenarios. Included in the LTFP are strategies that AEC recommended Council implements to achieve the desired long term financial sustainability and methods for monitoring the performance of the LTFP. To complete the engagement, AEC facilitated a workshop with the Councillors and Executive to present the draft LTFP and to discuss any matters of interest to the Council prior to adoption of the LTFP. The LTFP drafted by AEC is now published and available in the Resourcing Strategy on Council’s website: https://doc.shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au/Displaydoc.aspx?Record=D22/273281

AEC was engaged by DevelopmentWA to deliver a business case which sought to identify and recommend the ideal solution to address the critical vessel lifting capability gap at the Australian Marine Complex (AMC). The AMC is a foundational facility for the marine industry within Western Australia. Work undertaken across the AMC supports not only the marine industry, and industries with marine supply chain requirements, but it also support the region’s economic prosperity. AEC’s role was to develop the business case to identify the preferred solution to addressing the critical infrastructure gap. AEC undertook detailed demand projections, estimated the overall social and economic impact of the proposed investment, and evaluated the commercial viability of the proposed investment. The recommended solution considered the strategic alignment of the investment to the overall State and regional objectives and a risk assessment of the proposed investment.

Resources Energy & Infrastructure The mining, resources and energy sectors have contributed more than 12% to Australia’s Gross Domestic Product in recent years, highlighting the sectors are critical drivers of Australia’s current and future economic progress and development. The socio-economic and environmental issues surrounding mining and resources use resonate with the broader community now more than ever before from the towns where the resources are located to regional agricultural communities where water availability is vital to their livelihood to Australia’s largest cities that are powered by and consume the outputs from our resources and energy sectors. Understanding the dynamics and socio-economic levers that engage these sectors and their communities is important to planning future regional and national landscapes this is where AEC is able to assist your sector and/ or community. The services we offer: Business & Operational Efficiency Reviews Business Case Writing Community, Consumer, Customer & Corporate Sentiment Demand Assessments Economic & Industry Development Strategy Economic Impact Assessment Financial Sustainability Reviews & Planning Governance & Implementation Planning Lobbying & Advocacy Market Analysis & Outlook Reporting Marketing & Branding Strategy Regulatory & Legislative Reviews Employment & Skills Strategy For further information, contact one of our specialists below. Kieron Lacey kieron.lacey@aecgroupltd.com Ashley Page ashley.page@aecgroupltd.com North QLD Water Infrastructure Authority, Hells Gates Dam Supply Chain Analysis Client: North QLD Water Infrastructure Authority State: QLD The Hells Gates Dam Scheme (HGDS) Supply Chain Assessment examined the nature... Hidden Valley Mine Closure EIA Client: Harmony Gold Country: Papua New Guinea AEC were engaged by Harmony Gold to examine the economic contribution of the Hidden... AMC Marine Lift Business Case Client: Development WA: AEC was engaged by DevelopmentWA to deliver a business case which sought to identify and recommend the ideal... Baralaba South Project EIS Client: Wonbindi Coal Pty Ltd State: QLD Mount Ramsay Coal Company proposed to develop an open cut coal mine producing approximately 5... Recent Projects

Project & Program Appraisal Project and program appraisal is a vital component of measuring the value to business and organisations of the investments they make. We leverage our economic and financial acumen to inform and undertake assessments and reviews of infrastructure projects, research programs, policy, investment portfolios as well as the contribution of entire sectors to an economy to inform policy decisions and forward investment programs. The alignment and measurement of outcomes against policy and strategic objectives is critical in informing investment and service delivery programs. Our skilled team of economists, demographers, researchers, and financial analysts can assist with any of the following services: Business & Operational Efficiency Reviews Business Case Writing Community, Consumer, Customer & Corporate Sentiment Corporate Structure & Strategy Advice Demand Assessments Developer Contributions Development Feasibility Economic Impact Assessment Financial Feasibility Assessment Governance & Implementation Planning Grant & Funding Submissions Infrastructure & Population Planning Lobbying & Advocacy Market Analysis & Outlook Reporting Pricing & Revenue Strategies Program Review & Evaluation Property Divestment/Acquisition Management Regulatory & Legislative Reviews Social Impact Assessment For further information, contact one of our specialists below. Kieron Lacey kieron.lacey@aecgroupltd.com Adam Matthews adam.matthews@aecgroupltd.com Queensland Pacific Metals Detailed Economic Assessment Client: Queensland Pacific Metals (QPM): AEC was engaged to undertake an assessment of the anticipated economic impacts and public... Association of Independant Schools WA Future Footprints Program Assessment Client: Association of Independant Schools WA (AISWA): engaged AEC to estimate the socio-economic benefit of AISWA’s Future Footprints... Economic Contribution of Association of Independent Schools of WA Client: Association of Independent Schools of WA: engaged AEC Group Pty Ltd (AEC) to analyse and quantify the important contribution... Independent Schools Queensland 2023 Economic Significance Update Client: Independant Schools Queensland (ISQ): AEC were engaged to assess the economic contribution the independent schools sector made to... Recent Projects

Regional Development & Investment Attraction Understanding where a community, business, precinct, or industry is going is critical for successful investment attraction and development programs. Our Regional Development and Investment Attraction team works with our clients to understand not just the recent past and near-term outlook for their operating environment, but the key factors influencing change and the preconditions for success that are required to deliver on targeted outcomes. Combining many of our forward-looking quantitative modelling tools the Regional Development and Investment Attraction team provide evidence based strategies and assessments to drive local and regional business and industry jobs growth and investment attraction and funding solutions The services we offer include: Benchmarking & Comparative Assessment Business Case Writing Community, Consumer, Customer & Corporate Sentiment Corporate Transactions & Restructures Demand Assessments Developer Contributions Development Feasibility Due Diligence Economic & Industry Development Strategy Economic Impact Assessment Financial Feasibility Assessment Grant & Funding Submissions Highest & Best Use Analysis Infrastructure & Population Planning Land Use Planning & Assessment Lobbying & Advocacy Market Analysis & Outlook Reporting Market Entry Strategies Marketing & Branding Strategy Property Divestment/Acquisition Management Employment & Skills Strategy Social Impact Assessment Socio-Demographic & Population Projections For further information, contact one of our specialists below. Adam Matthews adam.matthews@aecgroupltd.com Holly Marson holly.marson@aecgroupltd.com Kaitlin McInnes kaitlin.mcinnes@aecgroupltd.com Edward River Growth Strategy 2050 Client: Edward River Council: AEC in collaboration with Edward River Council and iPlan Projects, aims to guide the region to see... RDA Central and Western Queensland Strategic Regional Plan Client: Regional Development Australia (Central and Western Queensland) State: QLD The North and North West Queensland regions are the... Activate Cloncurry Strategy 2023-2028 Client: Cloncurry Shire Council State: QLD The Cloncurry Shire is home to a number of communities that have been developed on the back... Water for Economic Development Client: RAPAD State: QLD Central Western Queensland Remote Area Planning and Development (RAPAD) Board represents the region’s local... Recent Projects