Client: Cloncurry Shire Council State: QLD The Cloncurry Shire is home to a number of communities that have been developed on the back of the region’s pastoral and mining successes. Cloncurry Shire Council (Council) are looking to ensure their region will retain existing and continue attracting new residents to live and work in the region. A key part of resident retention and attraction is meeting and exceeding liveability expectations of current and potential residents. Council engaged AEC to identify unrealised growth potential for the region to aid the retention of existing and attraction of new residents to the region. In doing this, AEC developed an Activate Cloncurry Strategy and Action Plan, which assists Council to focus activities that improve the health and wellbeing and enhance liveability across the region. AEC identified key factors of current and future residents’ liveability through stakeholder engagement, and identified the need to ensure contemporary sport, recreation and play facilities and services for all ages in the community are available. AEC undertook a range of contextual research of local, state, federal and regional literature of socio-demographic statistics of existing regional facilities as well as extensive stakeholder engagement to understand the value of existing structures and a local viewpoint of Council’s liveability.

Client: City of Moreton Bay State: QLD The City of Moreton Bay (Council) engaged AEC Group to undertake a “Comprehensive Economic Need and Impact Analysis” on the proposed North Harbour Marina Precinct (to comprise some 2,000 dwellings, 400 wet berths, 500 dry stack, marina village and commercial/retail/industry floor space). AEC, as the lead consultant, assembled the project team which also includes AECOM and Coriolis Marine Consultants (Coriolis), bringing together expertise in economics, property, strategy, planning and marine consulting in order to deliver this advice. Council’s purpose in seeking the advice was to establish an economic evidence base to progress the declaration of a Priority Development Area (PDA) over the proposed North Harbour Marina Precinct. The objective of the project was to understand the ‘net’ economic and market benefits that a new working marina can potentially deliver to the Moreton Bay region, South-East Queensland and the State of Queensland that will satisfy the requirements under the Economic Development Act 2012 (QLD). Source: Department of Planning and Environment

Client: North QLD Water Infrastructure Authority State: QLD The Hells Gates Dam Scheme (HGDS) Supply Chain Assessment examined the nature and timing of the skills and occupational needs over the 7-10 year construction program of the $3.5-$5.0 billion Hells Gates Dam Scheme on behalf of the Australian Governments North Queensland Water Infrastructure Authority. Detailed analysis was undertaken for each of the 19 infrastructure elements across the work packages involved to identify and quantify the number of different trades and skills required and how many could reasonably be expected to be sourced from North Queensland. For those sectors and occupations anticipated to be under stress as a result of the project, innovative strategies were developed to assist in realising as many local jobs were delivered. The project included an extensive engagement campaign with local businesses to understand their readiness and preparedness to participate in the delivery of the HGDS should it proceed. Report: https://www.townsvilleenterprise.com.au/statement-hells-gates-feasibility-study/

Client: Tourism Western Australia State: WA AEC in partnership with The BHive was engaged to develop a ten year strategy for cruise tourism in Western Australia. The project involved 40 individual one-on-one consultations across tourism, port, cruise line and ground handler stakeholders and a workshop with the Cruise Western Australia Committee. The project also involved projecting the economic value of cruise tourism over the next ten years incorporating various infrastructure developments as well as capacity constraints for the expedition cruise sector in the Kimberley.

Client: Somerset Regional Council State: QLD The refurbishment of the Esk Jockey Club was identified as a medium-term implementation priority in the 2019 Esk Racecourse, Showgrounds and Gold Course Master Plan. The Esk Jockey Club has been flagged to be upgraded to improve accessibility and improve facility functionality. With these improvements, the facility will be able to be used for a variety of purposes and will present revenue raising opportunities. The venue will also adhere to Racing Queensland facility guidelines and will be able to host races in the future. AEC was engaged to provide socio-economic analysis for the redevelopment of the proposed facility upgrade, including both an economic impact evaluation and a Cost-Benefit Analysis to provide information suitable for various funding applications. Image Source: Esk Jockey Club Website

Client: RAPAD State: QLD Central Western Queensland Remote Area Planning and Development (RAPAD) Board represents the region’s local governments and is the peak regional economic development and advocacy body for the Central West Queensland regions. RAPAD’s mission is to facilitate growth and diversification of their regions economy and become a lead in powerful advocacy to government to address the region’s service and infrastructure needs. To achieve this mission, RAPAD engaged AEC to develop a regional water strategy, which seeks to understand how water can be properly utilised to achieve transformation change in the region’s economy and can lead to long-term sustainability of the region’s communities. In delivering this strategy, AEC undertook an economic appraisal of the water infrastructure in Central Western Queensland for RAPAD to identify opportunities for growth as well as challenges and barriers which currently hold the region back.

Client: Harmony Gold Country: Papua New Guinea AEC were engaged by Harmony Gold to examine the economic contribution of the Hidden Valley Mine in Papua New Guinea as part of their mine closure planning. The assessment included extensive surveying of the local community and businesses across various land holder villages to gauge the level of incomes and employment within the community supported by the mine, and the anticipated impacts to the community and future prospects following mine closure. Analysis was also undertaken of Hidden Valley Mine operating data, including expenditure on labour, royalties and other operating expenditures, to understand the overall level of activity the Hidden Valley Mine supports in the local communities. The analysis was summarised in a presentation report to be used by Harmony Gold for the purposes of advocacy work with the community and government regarding future planning for when the mine closes.

Client: Edward River Council State: NSW The objective of the Financial Sustainability Review was to facilitate sustainable long-term planning and avert potential issues emerging in the future. The project's highlight was its ability to provide the council with a thorough understanding of past performance and a forecast of the Council’s capacity to maintain fiscal capital (access to cash) and maintain infrastructure (assets). The project included an assessment of the asset management maturity and testing the estimated infrastructure backlog and asset maintenance targets. AEC developed strategies and recommendations to the Council to address areas that required improvement to ensure financial sustainability in the long term. The project involved a thorough analysis of the Council's cost of services, capital works planning, asset management approach, risks, and opportunities. This analysis offered a clear and comprehensive picture of the Council's financial position, and identified areas where improvements could be made. The project considered Council's long-term strategic plans and how they align with their financial projections, ensuring integration of financial planning with strategic planning, enabling Council to achieve the Community Strategic Plan and other adopted strategies and plans. The success of the project was highlighted by the appreciation and compliments provided by the Councillors and the Executive Team, and we look forward to monitoring the realisation of the project through implementation of our recommendations. Source: https://www.edwardriver.nsw.gov.au/Services

Client: Edward River Council State: NSW The objective of the Financial Sustainability Review was to facilitate sustainable long-term planning and avert potential issues emerging in the future. The project's highlight was its ability to provide the council with a thorough understanding of past performance and a forecast of the Council’s capacity to maintain fiscal capital (access to cash) and maintain infrastructure (assets). The project included an assessment of the asset management maturity and testing the estimated infrastructure backlog and asset maintenance targets. AEC developed strategies and recommendations to the Council to address areas that required improvement to ensure financial sustainability in the long term. The project involved a thorough analysis of the Council's cost of services, capital works planning, asset management approach, risks, and opportunities. This analysis offered a clear and comprehensive picture of the Council's financial position, and identified areas where improvements could be made. The project considered Council's long-term strategic plans and how they align with their financial projections, ensuring integration of financial planning with strategic planning, enabling Council to achieve the Community Strategic Plan and other adopted strategies and plans. The success of the project was highlighted by the appreciation and compliments provided by the Councillors and the Executive Team, and we look forward to monitoring the realisation of the project through implementation of our recommendations. Source: Shutterstock

Client: Glen Innes Severn Council State: NSW AEC and StruXi were engaged to develop a business case for submission to the NSW Government for funding. The Assessment included developing an understanding of the strategic service need for the facility, site assessment and design specifications, detailed designs and costings as well as economic, financial and risk analyses to inform the rationale and logic behind the investment decision for the facility. Detailed stakeholder consultation was undertaken to inform site infrastructure and operational requirements as well as inform demand, usage and pricing. Operational and governance recommendations were made following a detailed benchmarking assessment of like facilities elsewhere in Australia.

Client: P. Scuderi & Company Pty Ltd State: QLD AEC were engaged to develop a business case to expand the Burdekins existing grain storage facilities to allow for opportunities to further diversify agricultural production. The analysis included: • A review of the Burdekin agricultural production, current facilities and production potential. •A financial appraisal of on farm returns of rotational crop production and infrastructure expansion. • Input-Output modelling to estimate the direct and flow-on impacts of the project during construction and once operational. • A cost benefit analysis of the project, estimating the net socio-economic benefits to North Queensland. The findings of the report will be used to support funding applications for the expansion project.

Client: Rockhampton Regional Council State: QLD AEC were engaged by Advance Rockhampton through a Sunwater grant to develop a suite of commodity outlook reports that provided an in-depth analysis of the global market, supply chain capacity/gaps and assess potential target crops in terms of profitability and sustainability to support new and existing agribusiness expansion/development opportunities for their production within Rookwood Weir’s catchment area and the available water to potential water licence holders. AEC prepared detailed market outlooks using historical public and proprietary domestic and international crop data, analysis of, and direct engagement with key stakeholders including relevant industry associations in order to develop detailed farm level 3-way financial models and crop forecasts that incorporated supply growth and competitive positioning data from offshore competitors. In the report, AEC considered various components including an overview of the global market, an overview of the Australia industry, detailed supply chain analysis and financial feasibility (including economic impact). AEC developed detailed reports for the following commodities: Mandarins Macadamias Mangoes Rotational Cropping (mungbeans, soybeans and chickpeas) Corn Wheat These reports represent a comprehensive outlook for each of the industries and their viability in the Rookwood catchment. Since publication, the reports have been used as reference material for other Government agencies.