Client: AECOM State: QLD Working with AECOM, this project involved the development of a feasibility study for a world class marine experience visitor centre to act as a major attraction and iconic statement as a getaway to the Great Sandy Marine Park in the Fraser Coast Region. AEC's involvement in the project included the development of tourism demand estimate, and economic and financial analysis to demonstrate the socio-economic benefits for the region and its future financial sustainability. The project envisaged an immersive 3D visitor attraction, retail, restaurant, and education facilities to be included at the Centre together with an innovative and creative design for the building. The feasibility study will support Council's efforts to attract Federal and State grant funding and provide evidence-based financial analysis for its advocacy for the delivery of the expected regional benefits that the project will provide. Source: Shutterstock

Client: City of Ballarat State: VIC The proposed extension of the main runway at Ballarat Airport, coupled with the development of adjacent surplus Crown land for industrial development, provided Council with the opportunity to explore options for the future Airport development, ownership, and management arrangements. AEC and our aviation partner, Avistra, undertook a situation and market analysis of the Airport and also provided a broader analysis of the aviation sector. This work identified emerging aviation and aerospace business and broader technology & advanced manufacturing opportunities that had the potential to support a more commercial approach to the management of the Airport in the future. Additionally, a review of the potential governance options for operating the Airport were considered including retaining ownership, establishing a special purpose vehicle, leasing, and divestment. Subsequent financial analysis and recommendations supported Council decision-making on the next steps in determining the future strategic direction for Airport operations. Source: Shutterstock

Client: National Careers Institute Territory: ACT The project involved an audit of the services offered by the School Leaders Information Services (SLIS) team with a focus on the call centre/information Officer interactions and a review of processes, procedures and staff awareness of their role(s) processes and procedures. The outcomes of the Project provided the National Careers Institute (NCI) with a better understanding of how to improve the SLIS. The approach adopted to undertake this Project included: A mystery shopping assessment (20 instances) to evaluate the services provided by the call centre staff, from an end-user perspective. Interviews with key staff (4) at the call centre/information officers identified by NCI Detailed review of the SLIS Operating Manual. Source: Shutterstock

Client: Regional Development Australia (Sydney) and Economic Development Australia State: NSW Two-part webinar training series on grant applications processes and grant writing principles with some 'tips and tricks' on achieving successful outcomes. Webinar 1 focused on grant writing skills for lower value, less complex grants featuring the sourcing of social and community datasets to support grant applications using the DataAU system. Webinar 2 focused on grant writing skills for higher value, more complex grants featuring input output modelling and the development of cost benefit analysis to support grant applications. Source: Shutterstock

Client: Cassowary Coast Regional Council State: QLD This project involved a comprehensive review of the appropriateness of Cassowary Coast Regional Council's service delivery facilities in meeting current and future organisational and community needs, with an assessment undertaken of a range of alternative servicing options to identify a preferred option that allows for the rationalisation of facilities in a manner that achieved enhanced utilisation and operational efficiencies as well as ensuring high quality service provision and value for money to the community. The assessment was undertaken following an onsite inspection of facilities, extensive consultation with Council management and staff, a review of population trends and community socio-demographic characteristics, a review of the location of assets and services across the region, a review of business practices and team alignment, and with consideration of the dependencies between service provision and various locations across the region. A range of potential options for consideration by Council were developed and a preferred model identified for potential implementation over the medium to long term. Near-term actions were also identified to improve the productivity and operational efficiency of Council's facilities irrespective of the service delivery facility option selected as most appropriate by Council. Source: AEC Image

Client: City of Parramatta State: NSW Within the City of Parramatta Council LGA, there were nine separate contribution plans that apply to different parts of the LGA resulting in the merger and/or integration of five former/other councils, including Auburn City, Holroyd City, Hornsby Shire, Parramatta City and The Hills Shire. Council undertook a review of these contribution plans and is coordinating a synchronisation process including consolidation for land outside the Parramatta CBD region. The City of Parramatta Council engaged AEC to provide land assessments underpinning the formulation of the new contributions plan(s), particularly as land will necessarily be required in enabling new infrastructure and amenities to be delivered for the City going forward. To successfully review the contribution plans framework, Council required AEC to provide current market values of land parcels (and/or development sits) across various precincts and across various zonings within the LGA. To further assist Council in their review, the assessment provided detailed market analysis across various typologies of the residential marketing (including apartments, townhouses, villas, dual-occupancies etc.). Source: Shutterstock

Client: City of Canterbury Bankstown State: NSW A Planning Proposal was received by the City of Canterbury Bankstown from Urbis on behalf of Vicinity Centres in December 2019. The subject of the proposal was Bankstown Central shopping centre, situated in the south-western Sydney suburb of Bankstown. The proposed redevelopment would see an increase in gross floor space of 399,138m2 across retail, commercial, hotel, services apartments, student accommodation and residential. The City of Canterbury Bankstown had engaged AEC to undertake a feasibility analysis to determine the potential value uplift that will eventuate from the proposed redevelopment of the Bankstown Central site which will assist with Voluntary Planning Agreement negotiations. The financial analysis undertaken quantifies the change in land value (and consequent potential value uplift) between the development outcome possible under he current planning controls versus the development outcome based on the recent concept plan (December 2019). The preliminary figures presented in the report will be used to inform negotiation between the City of Canterbury Bankstown and Vicinity Centres for a potential Voluntary Planning Agreement. Source: Vicinity Centres (2020)

Client: Superyacht Australia and Tourism Australia The Australian International Marine Export Group (AIMEX) is the peak body representing the Australian marine export and superyacht industries and promotes Australia’s thriving marine industry to the world. To gain further insight into the status of the Superyacht sector, key Australian Charter Brokers were invited to provide crucial baseline information on the market with the key objective being to inform and promote Australia as a cruising and charter destination. The Charter Brokers were invited to participate in the online survey designed and distributed by AEC. A formal MS PowerPoint report was presented summarising the findings and highlighting key insights from the research.

Client: Townsville Catholic Education TCEO commissioned research to understand the drivers and influencing factors considered by parents, primary care givers and/or decision makers of children when selecting secondary schools. Ultimately the objective of the research was to understand most important aspects in selecting secondary schools, identify factors for choosing secondary schools within the Diocese and reasons for enrolling in competitor schools, identify opportunities for improvement to ensure TCEO continues to strengthen its position as the primary school choice by establishing a strong enrolment pathway and continuing to attract students. Quantitative and qualitative research methodologies were adopted to appropriately target each stakeholder group including online surveys, telephone surveys and focus group sessions with parents/caregivers who currently have children enrolled within the Diocese and those who considered a Diocese secondary school but did not enrol.

Client: Stadiums Queensland Stadiums Queensland (SQ) is a statutory body established under the Major Sports Facilities Act 2001 and is charged with the management of major facilities declared under Queensland Government regulation as being venues having the capacity to stage national or international sports events and to deliver recreation and entertainment experiences. Of the nine (9) venues managed by SQ, customer research has been commissioned for three key stakeholder groups (customers/patrons, members, and hirers) across six key venues including The Suncorp Stadium, The Gabba, 1300SMILES Stadium, the Cbus Super Stadium, the Sleeman Sports Complex, and the Queensland Sports and Athletics Centre. Over four years, AEC will undertake more than 15,000 intercept and online surveys with spectators, members and hirers, stakeholder consultations and focus group sessions and produce 24 trend analysis reports inclusive of segmentation analysis. The four-year contract term includes delivering on strategic insights to benchmark stakeholder satisfaction overall and across key service areas (including identifying key and sub-drivers of satisfaction and a ranked action plan), retention and to track these KPIs over time, formal presentation of the results as well as infographic reporting as requested by SQ.

Client: Townsville City Council State: QLD Report: https://watersmart.townsville.qld.gov.au/ AEC's visual communication and market research teams are excited to have recently worked with Townsville City Council and Jamie Durie to produce the 'Our Water Smart City' campaign which is part of Townsville's 3-Point Water Security Solution. The Water Smart Package component was launched in Townsville in July with the community take-up continuing to defy expectations..

2020/21 continues to present many challenges for businesses and their employees, our hobbies, habits and work life have had to adapt due to COVID-19. If we can look back at 2020 with one big win, it is how our clients have adapted their communication and marketing models quickly in this ‘new world’. The last year has proven that video communication is more engaging than ever and is relevant within every industry. Overcoming production obstacles, AEC’s Visual Communication team have in the last year produced 33 TV and streaming commercials and 40 digital promotional videos for our clients in a wide range of industries including health and nutrition, property, financial services and local government. Contact AEC and tell us about your video project today.