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.