Client: Grassroots Connections Australia Pty Ltd State: QLD This project involved a holistic functional review of the efficiency and effectiveness of Fraser Coast Regional Council's operational footprint under current and future anticipated infrastructure and service demands. The purpose of the project was to facilitate the determination of the optimal operational footprint for the delivery of Councils services while maximising operational collaboration, by identifying the best fit location of service areas and determining future resourcing requirements at each of these locations. The project objective was to locate and link Council's operational resources in the best way possible to serve the community as it continues to grow and to provide essential input into building design decisions for new administration centres in Hervey Bay and Maryborough. In addition to working as a key partner in the operational footprint review, AEC was also commissioned to undertake an assessment of Council's future service demands to determine potential resourcing implications across key office and facility locations by function focussing on the physical facilities and services provided to the community.

Client: Southern Downs Regional Council State: QLD The Southern Downs region of Queensland is currently experiencing a severe drought which is causing significant strain on the regions water supplies. In 2012 the Queensland Government announced the repeal of the Mandatory Parts (MP) 4.2 and 4.3 in the Queensland Government Development Codes which related to the requirement for water tanks and other water saving devices to be provided with new houses and new commercial and industrial buildings. Given the continuing severe drought conditions, Council made an application to the Minister of Housing and Public Works to apply MP 4.2 and 4.3 to the Southern Downs regions reticulated town water supply areas, for which a cost benefit analysis outlining the evidence base for opting into mandatory installation of water tanks was required. AEC was engaged to undertake a Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) to explore the merits of opting in to MP 4.2 and MP 4.3. The CBA has been conducted in line with Queensland and Australian Government guidelines, examining the stream of socio-economic costs and benefits anticipated from the project. AEC also developed projections of uptake of rainwater tanks, and provided a comprehensive cost comparison analysis for providing water to customers within the Southern Downs LGA on a per kilolitre (kL) basis between identified alternative water supply options.

Client: Ballina Shire Council State: NSW Ballina Shire Council proposed to upgrade the airport runway, including widening to 45m, to accommodate the introduction of larger aircraft by Boeing and Airbus, the largest carriers serving Ballina Byron Gateway Airport (BBGA), from 2020. AEC were engaged to conduct a cost benefit analysis for the project, outlining the net benefit of the project to the region serviced by the BBGA. The analysis was specifically designed to support a funding application for the project. The cost benefit analysis was undertaken in line with New South Wales and Australian Government guidelines for project evaluation.

Client: Noosa Council State: QLD This project involved a holistic review of Noosa Council's rating structure. Council was looking at the opportunity to consolidate the collection of funds previously sourced from the Tourism Levy Special Rate into revised general rating structure which involved the introduction of new rating categories to ensure a comparable degree of impost on tourism premises. Council also wanted to investigate new differential rating categories for short stay accommodation given the significant impact such accommodation is having on residential areas across the Noosa region. Other issues also desired to be resolved included the establishment of additional non-strata multi-residential rating categories to enhance equity, the consolidation of commercial rating categories for simplicity, amending extractive industry rates to more appropriate levels reflect of costs incurred in servicing the sector, and amending large retail rating categories to better reflect best practice outcomes. The review outcomes were workshopped with Council to ensure informed decision making could occur. All recommendations proposed by AEC were subsequently adopted by Council in full as part of the 2021/22 budget process. Source: Shutterstock

Client: Property Council of Australia (PCA) Interstate migration in the December 2020 quarter increased by 37% compared to the previous quarter and Queensland gained the largest influx from interstate migration. Migration into Queensland is expected to continue into the foreseeable future. The Property Council of Australia (PCA) commissioned AEC Group Ltd (AEC) to investigate resident sentiments regarding interstate migration, as well as the availability and affordability of housing in Queensland. AEC engaged with metropolitan NSW (Sydneysider) and VIC (Melbournian) residents to ascertain their intentions (and drivers) of possibly migrating to Queensland, preferred locations and housing typologies. AEC also engaged with residents of Southeast Queensland to assess their perceptions regarding availability and affordability of housing in the region and to ascertain the level of comfort/ concerns with the same. The methodology adopted for the study was online sampling to ensure the broader community and varied age groups were engaged. Results from the study have now been published by PCA and are publicly accessible. The results from this study will assist PCA in their decision-making regarding the availability and release of sufficient land to ensure an affordable and functioning residential property market in Queensland.

Client: Infinitum Partners State: QLD Lockyer Valley Regional Council - Gatton North MEIA Study43and Industrial Area (MEIA) located in the centre of the Lockyer Valley local government area in Queensland. The site has significant access and environmental constraints, with a considerable portion of the land used for agricultural purposes. As such, Infintium Partners engaged AEC to identify opportunities to support the region and its efficient allocation of land use. AEC conducted a high-level opportunity assessment to identify potential industries of economic opportunity for attraction to the MEIA site, including agricultural, industrial and environmental activities, changes to the inland rail line path that dissect the site and the potential development of a freight hub in the area. Industries of opportunity identified include agricultural processing opportunities, bio-energy generation, aquaculture and seafood processing, as well as transport support industries and in-kind manufacturing. The recommendations outlined in this report are anticipated to support the future planning of the development of the MEIA.