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: Department of Education Queensland State: QLD AEC has just been awarded the contract to undertake the Integrated Communication Study on behalf of the QLD Department of Education. The Queensland Department of Education (the Department) has previously undertaken research where the overall objective was to improve employee retention, which closely correlates with employee satisfaction. This research revealed discontent with several areas of internal communications including systems, governance, and processes. The overarching purpose of this Study is to identify common pain points experienced by staff in their internal communications experience. The study will engage with Principals and deputy principals, heads of curriculum, heads of department, and all other leadership roles, school /classroom teachers, school business managers, all school-based non-teaching staff, regional directors and assistant regional directors, and regional and corporate office staff via online survey. The findings from this study will identify which stage(s) of the internal communications process require the most improvement and/or would be the most impactful areas to improve at the Department. Source: Shutterstock

Client: Health and Wellbeing Queensland State: QLD Health and Wellbeing Queensland (HWQld) is working to increase the accessibility, affordability, desirability and convenience of healthier food and drinks options for Queenslanders in out-of-home (OOH) food environments. To bridge the gap in light of minimal information on the demand for healthier food and drinks options in OOH environments HWQld commissioned a research study to engage with Queensland adults to gain in-depth insights into the values, attitudes, knowledge, behaviours and expectations of food and drink provision in OOH environments. The study engaged with two target audiences including Queensland adults who have child(ren) between the ages of 5 and 12 (Group 1) and those who do not have child(ren) within this age group (Group 2) via online survey methodology (via panel partners). The overarching objective of the study was to understand and demonstrate demand for healthier food and drink options in OOH environments to enable HWQld to identify opportunities and deliver programs in a way that is relevant and develop new programs that fill any gaps and ultimately inform the future direction of key HWQld programs that form part of key marketing messages. Source: Shutterstock

Sectors ​AEC is outcome-driven and dedicated to the delivery of practical outcomes. We use our core technical disciplines across a broad range of sectors to ensure our clients receive the best evidence-based technical and strategic insight and advice in: > Agriculture > Local Government > Property > Resources, Energy & Infrastructure > Tourism > Social & Community Services Agriculture Learn More

Snowy Monaro Regional Council - Financial Sustainability Review Economic Impact Assessment of MELT Open Access Festival Queensland’s Lifestyle, Weather and Affordable Housing Drives Interstate Migration Shoalhaven City Council Long Term Financial Plan Growing Queensland's Regional Cities as Economic Hubs Tuesday 28 June saw the first release of the ABS 2021 Census North-West and South-Growth Centres Land Valuation Project Expression of Interest and Options Analysis Campaign Real Estate Divestment Options Analysis Employee Engagement Survey Service Delivery Facilities Review Comprehensive Review of General, Separate and Special Rates Ku-ring-gai Retail and Commercial Centres Strategy Cherrybrook State Significant Precinct – Economic Land Use Assessment Byles Creek Corridor Planning Study – Economic Viability Assessment Waterloo Estate Redevelopment – Development Strategy and Feasibility Advice: Stages 1 – 3 Ivanhoe Estate - Value Uplift Analysis Bundall Corporate Centre – Development Feasibility Scenario Testing Horsley Drive, Fairfield - Feasibility Analysis Grant Writing Webinar Series Fraser Coast Marine Experience Centre Feasibility Study Ballarat Airport Options Analysis Audit of the School Leavers Information Service (SLIS) Land Assessments and Property Market Analysis

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 ​ 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... CBA for Water Tanks in Reticulated Areas Client: Southern Downs Regional Council State: QLD The Southern Downs region of Queensland is currently experiencing a severe drought... Ballina Gateway Airport - Cost Benefit Analysis Client: Ballina Shire Council State: NSW Ballina Shire Council proposed to upgrade the airport runway, including widening to 45m, to... Hells Gates EOI (TEL) Client: SMEC Australia State: QLD The Hells Gates Dam Scheme (HGDS) Supply Chain Assessment examined the nature and timing of the skills... Recent Projects