AEC’s Corporate Strategy is built upon confidential and nimble negotiation and planning. The vast majority of our work is commercial in confidence and if you would like to speak with one of our talented team members please contact reception@aecgroupltd.com .

Client: Port Stephens Council State: NSW AEC updated the Council's developer contributions model with a revised work schedule and prepared an updated Developer Contributions Plan. AEC also critically reviewed and assessed the validity of a developer submission for reduced contributions for heavy haulage from an existing quarry site. The review found that the developer had not provided sufficient evidence to warrant a reduction in contribution rates.

Client: Central Coast Council State: NSW AEC was engaged by Central Coast Regional Council to develop a 20 year Economic Development Strategy with a focussed 5 year implementation plan. Background research conducted included a literature review, baseline economic research as well as a competitive assessment and opportunity analysis. As part of the stakeholder engagement for the development of the strategy, an online survey was conducted internally for Council and residents of Central Coast as well as conducting workshops and individual interviews. The Economic Development Strategy provided Council with strategic themes to deliver upon with an implementation plan to ensure the success of the document as well as a graphic designed public facing document.

Client: Hobart City Council State: TAS The Greater Hobart area (comprising the local government areas of Brighton, Clarence, Glenorchy, Hobart and Kingborough in Tasmania) is a diverse region which has experienced considerable acceleration in population growth in recent years. Economic development of the region going forward will require the comprising Councils to work together to address key overarching regional issues and opportunities as well as those specific to each individual local government area. To support the Councils in identifying their role(s) in the region’s future, AEC developed socio-economic profiles and opportunity assessments for the Greater Hobart area as well as each of the comprising municipalities. The profiling component included analysis of a broad range of publicly available datasets as well as guidance on the potential future economic structure (employment and Gross Regional Product) of Greater Hobart (and the comprising municipalities) using AEC’s Macro Economic Growth Model. AEC also developed and implemented an online business survey with an aim to increase engagement from the local business community. AEC’s desktop opportunity assessment method was refined through on-ground stakeholder engagement within Greater Hobart and resulted in the development of prioritised economic opportunities (and potential action plans) for Greater Hobart and each local government area. These economic opportunities are anticipated to support each Council’s economic development activities in the coming years.

Client: Moree Plains Shire State: NSW AEC (working as part of a larger consortium being led by Aviation Projects) provided financial and economic analysis to support the business case for the installation of security screening equipment at the Moree Plains Regional Airport. The review involved assessing the impact of aviation regulations on the aerodrome, and how this would impact on the finances of Council and the economic development of the region. Projections of passenger throughput were developed based on security screening becoming mandatory. An Economic Impact Assessment and Cost Benefit Analysis were prepared to examine the costs and benefits of the project.

Client: Livingstone Shire Council State: QLD AEC was engaged by Livingstone Shire Council for collaboration with the Economy and Places Team to deliver a suite of prospectus comprising two core components. The first component represented a summary document that provides information and detail on core regional attributes (including livability, diversity, major centres, growing economy, high value industries, game changing investments, major projects, etc.). The second represented individual fact sheets (incorporated into the main summary), that provides focus on the identified opportunities (including agriculture, childcare, tourism, construction, defence, mining support services, aged care and retirement living, and food product manufacturing and value-added opportunities). AEC conducted a literature review and drew from the vast material and content available on the region to form the Prospectus. Outcomes of the project will be used to showcase attractiveness and key investment opportunities for the region.

Client: Element Advisory Pty Ltd State: WA AEC was engaged by Element Western Australia to assist in the review and update of the existing Land Planning Strategy and Land Planning Scheme and develop an Economic Development and Diversification Strategy on behalf of Town of Port Hedland (Western Australia). AEC's role in this project was to develop a comprehensive socio-economic profile of the region’s existing environment and potential future (in terms of population growth).

Client: Property Council of Australia (QLD) State: QLD In its 2019-20 Budget the Queensland Government introduced a range of amendments to the land tax regime, including the introduction of a foreign investor land tax surcharge of 2.0%. The introduction of the 2.0% foreign investor surcharge effectively doubles the land tax payable by a foreign property investor. AEC undertook a review and assessment of the economic ramifications of the foreign investor surcharge to provide evidence and context to justify a potential exemption framework from the foreign investor land tax surcharge. The assessment examined a range of potential asset classes to understand the potential increase in costs for foreign investors over an asset life cycle, implications on the feasibility for development of new build and investment in existing assets for foreign investors (and likely ramifications in terms of reduction in investment), and the overall impacts to the broader Queensland economy resulting from this reduction in investment. A potential framework for exemption from the surcharge was then proposed to minimise adverse impacts on the Queensland economy.

Client: Balonne Shire Council State: QLD AEC facilitated a series of workshops to support the identification, analysis and evaluation of operational risks for the Executive, Finance & Corporate Services, Infrastructure Services and Community & Environmental Services Teams. This included the identification of the risks, risk ratings, risk mitigation strategies/ controls, residual risk ratings and details association with monitoring and reporting. This information was collected for input into the CAMMs Risk Module. The outcome of this process was the identification of 32 operational risks across all teams, and 53 risk mitigation strategies/ controls across all operational risks identified.

Client: Maranoa Regional Council State: QLD Like many regional and remote areas of Australia, one of the key issues facing the Maranoa (in Queensland) is that of population attraction and retention. With the regions resident population expected to decline outwards to 2041, AEC were engaged by Maranoa Regional Council to develop a Liveability Study and Implementation Strategy. The project aimed to assist council in identifying opportunities designed to facilitate the creation of jobs and investment to support population growth, as well as the existing local business community. The strategy also aimed to address the financial implications associated with population decline, with reductions in rate revenue creating challenges for funding provision and maintenance of critical infrastructure, utilities, recreational and social infrastructure, and other services that enhances liveability.

Client: Infinitum Partners State: QLD Plainland is the fastest growing region in the Lockyer Valley and a major centre for planning development. To assist in managing the future growth of the region, AEC were engaged by Infintium Partners to provide economic analysis and strategic advice in the development of a structure Plan for Lockyer Valley Regional Council. AEC was scoped to provide a socio-economic profile and opportunities assessment that delivered analysis and insight into the most appropriate use for the precinct’s remaining sites, as well as a service level assessment that identifies areas of under provision of services in the region. This was achieved by comparing the local area to other localities of similar population size and distance from major townships. Outputs from the project will be essential in setting out the future land uses and network connections to guide development outcomes to be incorporated into the proposed LVRC Planning Scheme.

Client : McArthur River Mine Community Benefits Trust State: NT AEC was engaged by Plan C, on behalf of the McArthur River Mine Community Benefits Trust (CBT) to undertake an economic study of the Borroloola Township in the Northern Territory to understand the potential current and future demand for services, to assist CBT in identifying future development priorities for the region. An initial assessment of the Township was developed, utilising AEC's proprietary Data Processing System (DPS), which houses an extensive array of socio-economic and demographic data. Indicators relating to population, age and gender structure, indigenous representation, labour force breakdown, life expectancy and employment by industry and occupation were assessed to gain background context of the township and broader region. To identify service areas of under-representation which might present opportunities for development in the short term, an assessment of the current service provision of Borroloola compared to a selection of Peer comparison areas was carried out. To identify where Borroloola may sit in the future relative to an aspiration level, a similar service provision assessment was carried out against identified comparative aspirational regions. This allowed identification of the range of services to be targeted and developed/ attracted to enhance liveability and vitality in the region over the medium-to-long term. Final considerations involved a sustainability analysis of current land use across various services into the future, to inform land decisions of the CBT. Recommendations for future development were subsequently endorsed by the CBT.