Projects
:::: Current Projects ::::
:::: Recently Completed Projects :::: :::: Public Policy ::::
:::: Strategic and Corporate Planning :::: :::: Organisational Development ::::
:::: Performance Management :::: :::: Environmental Management ::::
:::: Community and Cultural Development :::: :::: Approvals System ::::
:::: Training and Workshops :::: Structural Reform ::::
:::: Also see our Research and International listings ::::
Current Projects
See the News page for details of all our current activities.
Recently Completed Projects
All our recently completed projects have been added to the category lists below, which are in date order with the most recent at the end. See also the Research and International listings.
Public Policy
- NSW Local Government and Shire Associations - 'Advancing Local Government: Partnerships for a New Century': preparation of a discussion paper, 2000.
- Environment Australia - Milestone Framework for Local Agenda 21: analysis of progress made by Australian local government in implementing Local Agenda 21 and formulation of an assessment framework (with SMEC and Planning Integration Consultants), 2001.
- Southern Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils - Submission to Federal Parliament Inquiry into Local Government and Cost Shifting: research and preparation of submission, 2002.
- House of Representatives Standing Committee on Economics, Finance and Public Administration - Advice on Local Government and Cost Shifting: preparation of a discussion paper, 2003.
- Southern Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils - Submission to 'AusLink' Green Paper: research and preparation of submission, 2003.
- Southern Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils - Response to Discussion Paper on Local Government and Cost Shifting: research and preparation of submission, 2003.
- Local Government Managers Australia and National Office of Local Government - Home-based Work in Local Government: analysis of current practice, opportunities and constraints, 2003.
Strategic and Corporate Planning
- Blue Mountains City Council - Management Plan Review: series of workshops and discussions with senior staff and elected members to develop the framework for a revised Management Plan, 1999.
- Federal Department of Transport and Regional Services - Trial Regional Forum: forum held in Whyalla, South Australia to promote intergovernment partnerships for regional development (with Brian Elton and Associates),1999.
- Floodplain Management Authorities - Strategic Plan: facilitation of a workshop to assist a grouping of NSW councils, 1999.
- ACT Planning and Land Management - Territory Plan Review: updating of the main land use and development plan for the ACT, including consultation program with senior government officials and external stakeholders, 1999-2000.
- Wagga Wagga City Council - Strategic Planning Workshops: series of workshops with elected members and senior management to set strategic directions and priorities, 2000-2002.
- Holroyd City Council - Strategic Workshop: review of strategic directions and priorities, 2002.
- ACT Affordable Housing Task Force and ACT Planning and Land Management - Options for Affordable Housing: analysis of ways in which the planning and land management system might be used to promote provision of affordable housing, 2002.
- Bellingen Shire Council - Strategic Management Plan: review and re-formatting of council's management plan, including preparation of a new strategic component, 2003.
- North Sydney Council - Management Plan Workshop: facilitation of workshop to review structure and content of management plan, 2003.
- Rockdale City Council - Future Scenarios: analysis of development, economic, social and environmental trends to document likely and possible scenarios for the next two decades, 2003.
- Tweed Shire Council: 'Tweed Futures'. Advice to Tweed Shire Council on the preparation of its new strategic plan, including independent facilitation of community consultation processes (in conjunction with Stephanie Knox, Planning Consultant), 2004.
- Kogarah Council: Strategic Planning Workshop. Facilitation of discussions on improving the council's strategic and corporate planning framework, 2004.
- Sutherland Shire Council: Review of Organisation Structure. Interviews with senior staff and facilitation of workshops to consider options for adjustments to the organization structure, 2004.
- Kiama Council: Advice on Structural Reform and Strategic Planning. Advice to senior managers and councillors on options and processes for structural reform and implementation of effective strategic and corporate planning, 2004-5.
- Hawkesbury City Council: Strategic Planning. Facilitation of workshops with councillors and senior staff, 2005.
- Tweed Shire Council: Tweed Tourism Forum. Facilitation of a forum with local and regional stakeholders on the future of tourism development and promotion, plus follow-up advice to Tweed Shire Council and Tweed and Coolangatta Tourism Inc, 2005.
- Wollongong City Council: Review of Strategic and Corporate Plans. Consultancy support and facilitation of workshops with councillors and senior managers to help draft revised strategic and corporate plans, 2005-06.
Organisational Development
- Woollahra Council - Review of Technical Services Division: an extensive and participative review of the Technical Services Division, leading to recommendations for future work planning, performance measures and revised management structures, 1998.
- Port Stephens Shire Council - 'Flight Planning': strategic and corporate planning workshops to develop a suite of integrated policies for programs, resources, staff, structures, values, and management planning (with Sinclair Knight Merz), 1999.
- ACT Planning and Land Management - Development Assessment Review: analysis of work practices and organisational systems, formulation of new processes and staff training, 1999-2000.
- Wingecarribee Shire Council - Financial Management Study: review of practices and recommendations for improvement (with Associate Kevin Hough and Spencer Steer Accountants), 2000.
- Quirindi Shire Council - Strategic Review: comprehensive analysis of management systems (with Associate Kevin Hough and Spencer Steer Accountants), 2001.
- Barraba Shire Council - Strategic Review: comprehensive analysis of management systems (with Associate Kevin Hough and Spencer Steer Accountants), 2002.
- Port Stephens Council - Executive Group Development: workshop to plan directions and priorities, 2003.
- Local Government Managers Australia (NSW Division) - Annual Management Challenge: facilitation and adjudication of the 2004-06 Challenges involving competing teams from councils across NSW.
Performance Management
- Australia Council and Australian Local Government Association - Benchmarking Cultural Development: Opportunities for Australian Local Government: supplementary research and preparation of final report for publication, April 2000.
- Wagga Wagga City Council - Formulation of Performance Indicators: advice, training and facilitation for the development of a set of strategic and operational indicators (with Associate Kevin Hough), 2003.
Environmental Management
- Waverley Council - Review of Weeds Management Practices: examination of current practices and consideration of options for improvement, 2001.
- NSW Environment Protection Authority - Review of NSW State of Environment Report Process: examination of the adequacy and appropriateness of the process for preparing the State SoE Report (with UTS Institute for Sustainable Futures), 2001.
Community and Cultural Development
- Australia Council and Australian Local Government Association - Cultural Development Strategy Futures Forum and Report: consultations, research and national forum to review the Local Government Cultural Development Strategy (with Associate Jackie Ohlin), 1999.
- Northern Territory Government and Palmerston Town Council - Integrated Community Planning: consultations, workshops and report on ways to promote more effective and responsive planning and management of a rapidly growing urban area near Darwin, 2000.
Approvals Systems
- ACT Planning and Land Management - Development Assessment Review: analysis of legislation, policies and systems for processing of development and lease applications, including recommendations for change and related staff training, 1999-2000.
- ACT Planning and Land Management - ACTCode Training and Information Program: formulation and implementation of a staff training and community information package for introduction of a new residential development code (with Associate Peter Walsh, Hoi Polloi Consultants and Blinkhorn and Wiggins), 2001.
- Development Assessment Forum (Federal Department of Transport and Regional Services) - Performance Measurement and Benchmarking of Planning and Development Systems: national project to formulate concepts and guidelines for ongoing benchmarking (with Associate Peter Walsh), 2002.
- PlanningNSW - Local Government and e-Planning: analysis of trends, opportunities and constraints and formulation of a program for ongoing application of e-planning techniques, including integration with other areas of corporate development and training of senior managers (with Local Government Managers Australia and Associate Peter Walsh), 2003-04.
- Southern Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils - Planning System Reform: preparation of a discussion paper, 2004.
Training and Workshops
- National Office of Local Government - Leading Practice Workshops: a series of 20 workshops throughout rural and regional Australia to promote leading practice and develop a detailed report on improving relationships between Local and Federal Government (with Brian Elton and Associates), 1999.
- NSW Waste Boards - Waste Not … Training: research into best practice and implementation training on the use of the Waste Not … development control plan for the Hunter, North Sydney, Inner Sydney and Macarthur Waste Boards (with Associate Paul May), 1999-2001.
- Japan Local Government Centre (CLAIR - Japan Council of Local Authorities for International Relations) - Orientation Program: annual training of new staff seconded from Japan, 1999-2002. NSW Department of Health - Applying Health Impact Assessment in NSW: Workshop and report on possible approaches to implementing new national guidelines, August 2000.
- NSW TAFE and Department of Education - Environmental Strategy Workshops: series of workshops to develop a strategy to incorporate sound environmental management principles in both facility planning and curriculum development, 2001.
- NSW Department of Health - Working with Local Government and the Planning System: series of workshops to provide guidance and develop strategies for working more effectively (with Blinkhorn and Wiggins), 2002-03.
- Southern Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils: 'Working the System'. A series of workshops for local government Stormwater Extension Officers, 2003.
- Western Sydney Area Health Services: Working with Local Government. Workshop to familiarise health professionals with the structure and operations of local government, 2004.
Structural Reform
- Tumut Council - Voluntary Structural Reform: working with Tumut and neighbouring councils to explore the potential for resource-sharing and regional cooperation, 1998.
- Yallaroi Council - Voluntary Structural Reform: working with Yallaroi and neighbouring councils to explore the potential for resource-sharing and regional cooperation, 1998.
- Maclean Shire Council - Financial Aspects of Structural Reform: analysis of the financial viability of Maclean Shire Council as a separate entity, and of the potential impacts of various options for amalgamation with adjoining Councils (with Sinclair Knight Merz, Spencer Steer Accountants and Associate Kevin Hough), 1999
- Clarence Valley Local Government Committee - Structural Reform Options: preliminary work on analysis of various options for structural reform involving seven Councils in the Clarence Valley, 1999.
- Marrickville Council - Submission to Local Government Public Inquiry: review of Council's operations and preparation of detailed submission to inquiry into structure of local government in the inner Sydney region (with Associate Kevin Hough and Spencer Steer Accountants), 2000.
- Southern Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils - Submission to Local Government Public Inquiry: research into role and performance of local government in the inner Sydney region and preparation of submission, 2000.
- Marrickville Council - Response to 'Sproats' Local Government Inquiry: analysis of the inquiry's report and preparation of a submission-in-reply (with Associate Kevin Hough), 2001.
