Case study
Options Analysis for the North Queensland Water for Hydrogen project
The Port of Abbot Point and Townsville have both been identified as prospective hubs for the largescale production and export of green hydrogen by the Queensland and Commonwealth Governments. Acknowledging the significant technical hurdles that must be overcome for Australia to develop a commercially viable green hydrogen export industry, effective infrastructure planning is a critical requirement to facilitate the growth of the green hydrogen and other emerging energy industries.
The North Queensland Water for ...
Case study
Cost allocation modelling and pricing advice – Toowoomba to Warwick Pipeline
Synergies was engaged by the Department of Local Government Water and Volunteers to develop a cost allocation model to inform the setting of prices for the Toowoomba to Warwick Pipeline, a pipeline that is to be constructed to alleviate drought risk for communities in the Southern Downs Regional Council in addition to providing additional urban water security for Toowoomba Regional Council. First principles cost allocation principles informed the development of the model, which was applied ...
Case study
Options for improving water security in the Nogoa Mackenzie Water Supply Scheme
After a sustained period of strong performance, the last five years in the Nogoa Mackenzie WSS has been characterised by relatively poor availability of Medium Priority water entitlements for agricultural users. Compounded by the removal of the inflatable bag from Bedford Weir, this period of poor reliability has coincided with strong performance in most other water supply schemes throughout Queensland.
This has significantly impacted irrigation users in the scheme, which includes largescale cotton producers ...
Case study
Options for improving water security in the Dawson Valley Water Supply Scheme
The Dawson Valley Water Supply Scheme has exhibited significant growth in agricultural water use over the past five years, driven by the increased uptake of water entitlements by largescale cotton growers. The significant demand for the temporary leases of the Strategic Water Infrastructure Reserve, administered by the Queensland Government, is evidence of the significant demand that exists in the scheme and the opportunity for additional water supply to generate significant direct and flow-on economic benefits.
Case study
North Pine Dam Staged Strengthening and Improvement Project PBC
Synergies undertook the economic analysis component of the North Pine Dam Staged Strengthening Options Analysis and Dam Improvement Project Preliminary Business Case for Seqwater. The project involved undertaking a cost-benefit analysis of several options for addressing the dam failure risk, noting North Pine Dam was assessed as non-compliant with the ANCOLD Dam Safety Guidelines. The Staged Strengthening project involved the analysis of early works to partially address the dam’s non-compliance, while the Dam Improvement Project ...
Case study
Facilitating the sale of water entitlements from Rookwood Weir
The Rookwood Weir project represents a transformational piece of water supply infrastructure for the Lower Fitzroy region. The $568.9 million project, which was completed in late 2023, has a yield of 86, 000 ML (Medium Priority-equivalent) and has significantly increased the volume of water available for irrigated crop production in the Lower Fitzroy region, in addition to providing for a significant improvement in water security for urban customers in the Livingstone Shire Council and major ...
Case study
Economic and financial analysis of the Hughenden Water Bank project
While significant dam proposals such as Hells Gates Dam and Urannah Dam capture a great deal of public attention, a review of recent history in the Australian rural water sector shows that smaller scale projects can present more economically and financial propositions for government while delivering significant benefits to regional communities.
Synergies was engaged by Flinders Shire Council to undertake the economic and financial analysis of the Hughenden Water Bank project as part of ...
Case study
Paradise Dam Improvement Project – Peer review of water demand and economics
Synergies assisted Sunwater with the peer review of the water demand assessment and economic analysis for the Paradise Dam Improvement Project Detailed Business Case. The scope of works included a detailed review of the methodology and quantitative analysis underpinning the demand forecasts developed in the DBC, in addition to a review of the robustness and accuracy of the economic analysis of the reference project options. The peer review was undertaken in accordance with Stage 3 ...
Case study
South East Queensland Agriculture Regional Water Assessment
The South East Queensland agriculture sector is characterised by intensive, high-value horticulture and intensive animal production, with the industry subject to a range of pressures including urban encroachment and access to reliable water supplies. Synergies was engaged by the Department of Local Government Water and Volunteers to undertake the service need assessment for the SEQ Agriculture RWA, in addition to assessing the economic and financial feasibility of the shortlisted options. The service need assessment included ...
Case study
Burdekin Regional Water Assessment
Synergies has been heavily involved in the Regional Water Assessment (RWA) for the Burdekin region, a National Water Grid Fund (NWGF) project that involves assessing long-term water supply solutions to meet the water resource needs for agricultural, industrial, and urban demands throughout the Burdekin Basin. Synergies was engaged by the Department of Regional Development Manufacturing and Water to undertake the Service Need Assessment to inform the shortlisting of options and to undertake the economic and ...
Case study
Burdekin Falls Dam Raising Improvement and Raising project
Synergies assisted Sunwater with the development of the Detailed Business Case for the Burdekin Falls Dam Improvement and Raising project. In addition to assessing the service needs underpinning the project, the analysis involved undertaking a cost-benefit analysis of the reference project options in accordance with the Business Case Development Framework and providing further assistance to Sunwater, including assessing potential scenarios under which the raising of the Burdekin Falls Dam may be economically feasible.
Case study
Coal Supply Capacity Chain Due Diligence
BMA commenced a sale process for its Blackwater and Daunia coal mines in Central Queensland in 2023. Blackwater and Daunia mines produce some of the world’s highest quality coking coal for steelmaking. Whitehaven Coal (Whitehaven) engaged Synergies to undertake due diligence on the product flow as well as rail and ports arrangements applicable for the Queensland mine acquisitions.
Case study
Wage and price forecasts for Western Power’s access arrangement
Synergies was engaged by Western Power to prepare an expert report on the outlook for wages, inflation and productivity to support its proposed access arrangement to the Economic Regulation Authority for the 2021-22 to 2026-27 regulatory period. Our expert report provided forecasts of Wage Price Index (WPI) for the Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services sector (EGWWS) and the Consumer Price Index (CPI), as well as for opex productivity.
Case study
Approaches for determining compensation in commercial fisheries
Designing a compensation scheme and setting a proper level of compensation, be it for compulsory buy-out of licences or a voluntary scheme, is inherently difficult. Participants have divergent goals. Fishers seek the best price possible for surrendering their rights, while the government seeks the best overall value for all parties. Importantly, compensation schemes need to be transparent, defensible and equitable if they are to gain broad acceptance.
Case study
Economic impact assessment for the WA Marine Science Institution
The Western Australian Marine Science Institution (WAMSI) was established in 2006 by the WA State Government as an independent research organisation tasked with improving the coordination of marine research in WA, promoting collaboration between stakeholders and guiding research priorities. Synergies was engaged by WAMSI to assess the effectiveness and impact of its research program, its strategic investments and its operating model.
Case study
The economic potential for a downstream battery industry in Western Australia
WA’s strength in the battery supply chain has traditionally been in mining, particularly extraction of critical minerals such as lithium, nickel and cobalt. Attention is now turning to exploring the potential for WA to be more active in further value adding through battery manufacturing. This study assessed the indicative size of economic and employment opportunities that could be generated by a downstream battery industry in WA, including battery assembly, manufacturing and recycling. The report identified ...
Case study
Achieving greater harmonisation in rail type approval is key to unlocking innovation and long term productivity
The global market for rail technology is large, estimated by the ARA to be worth around $362 billion and growing. Yet, Australia risks missing out on the next wave of rail transformation if existing rail industry processes don’t adapt. Facilitating opportunities for rail innovation is critical to achieving government policy objectives, such as improved rail mode share, reduced carbon emissions and environmental sustainability.
Synergies’ review of the costs of existing rail Type Approval processes ...
Case study
Economic and financial analysis of the Hughenden Water Bank project
While significant dam proposals such as Hells Gates Dam and Urannah Dam capture a great deal of public attention, a review of recent history in the Australian rural water sector shows that smaller scale projects can present more economically and financial propositions for government while delivering significant benefits to regional communities.
Synergies was engaged by Flinders Shire Council to undertake the economic and financial analysis of the Hughenden Water Bank project as part of ...
Case study
Promoting efficient access to port facilities and services – South Australia
The certification of the South Australian (SA) Ports Access Regime has been extended by a further 10 years, consistent with the National Competition Council’s (NCC) recommendation published on 30 November 2021. This provides all parties with certainty that access to SA’s ports will continue to be governed exclusively by this regime; the declaration and access undertaking pathways under Part IIIA of the CCA are not available where a certified state based regime exists.
Synergies ...
Case study
Assessing the economic impacts of port maintenance dredging
The maintenance of port depths sufficient to accommodate the safe and efficient operation of vessels is a core responsibility for all port authorities. North Queensland Bulk Ports (NQBP) is currently undertaking a Sustainable Sediment Management assessment for the Port of Mackay to determine the best long term approach to sediment management. NQBP engaged Synergies to assess the economic impacts under the scenario in which regulatory approval for maintenance dredging was not secured, including the impact ...
Case study
Improving competitiveness of coastal shipping
In recent years, Synergies has been working with Ports Australia to identify potential opportunites for coastal shipping to play a greater role in the domestic freight task. This follows numerous parliamentary inquiries into challenges associated with developing a stronger coastal shipping industry in Australia. Together with Ports Australia, we completed several case studies which identified particularly commodity supply chains where coastal shipping had been successful, together with areas of opportunity. Synergies has welcomed this opportunity ...
Case study
Assessing the economic benefits of road upgrades for freight supply chains
North Queensland Bulk Ports (NQBP) wanted to demonstrate the economic benefits to the state of Queensland and regional industry in North Queensland of coordinating upgrades to the road and port network to achieve supply chain efficiencies.
NQBP required a comprehensive, evidence based assessment of the productivity benefits that are likely to be achieved from road upgrades and other measures designed to improve heavy vehicle access to the Port of Mackay. Synergies assisted NQBP and ...
Case study
Asset valuation confusion under Australia’s National Gas Rules
The introduction of the information disclosure and arbitration provisions under Part 23 of the Australian National Gas Rules in August 2017 has resulted in an unsuitable asset valuation methodology, the so-called ‘recovered capital method’ (RCM), becoming the default valuation methodology to be used in arbitrations involving gas pipelines and their users (shippers). This is because it is incompatible with price formation in workably competitive markets, a concept which underpins the objective of Part 23.
The ...
Case study
Co-digesting organic waste at Wastewater Treatment Plants
While a cost for some business sectors, the rising cost of waste disposal and management is creating opportunities for wastewater utilities in terms of maximising the resource value that is recovered from wastewater and other organic waste products. Synergies conducted a comprehensive assessment of the financial and economic feasibility of two options for the implementation of co-digestion at Queensland Urban Utility’s Luggage Point Wastewater Treatment Plant. The analysis identified the option that would maximising both ...
Case study
WA rail access framework review
The WA Government is reviewing the WA rail access regime as established by the Railways (Access) Act 1998 and the Railways (Access) Code 2000. The regime has been in operations for over 15 years. The review aims to improve the existing regime to meet its objective, which is focused on encouraging the efficient use of, and investment in, railway facilities by facilitating a contestable market for rail operations. The current light-handed regime has several ...
Case study
Access Policy Independent Expert
Synergies is Australia’s leading advisor on pricing and economic regulation in the port sector. In 2017, Synergies was engaged by Wiggins Island Coal Export Terminal Pty Ltd (WICET) to undertake an independent review of the Wiggins Island Terminal Access Policy. The Access Policy sets out the rules for allocating, managing and expanding capacity at the Terminal.
Case study
Arbitrating for more efficient shipping channel services at Newcastle Port
In 2018, the Australia’s competition regulator, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) arbitrated a dispute between Glencore Coal Pty Ltd and Port of Newcastle (PNO) over the charges set by PNO for Glencore’s use of the channel assets at the Port of Newcastle.
Case study
Pricing strategies at Australia seaports
Synergies is a leading advisor in the port sector, working collaboratively with many ports both big and small, city based and regional, bulk and non-bulk, private and government owned, across Australia to refine their pricing strategy to meet their broader objectives. This pricing intelligence is a vital input to ensure that a port is well positioned to meet the challenges of future demand as well as build on the opportunities to secure long term sustainable ...
Case study
Port supply chain costs at the Port of Melbourne
Synergies has extensive experience in examining the costs and incentive structures within various freight supply chains in Australia. We have a depth of knowledge of the economic and commercial structure of supply chains and the way that economic regulation can, and in practice does, impact these supply chains. Most recently we were engaged by Patrick Terminals to prepare an economic analysis of the container supply chain at the Port of Melbourne, to assist Patrick ...
Case study
Impact assessment of the proposed CRC for Transformation in Mining Economies
The University of Western Australia, in partnership with University of Queensland, is leading a bid to establish a Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) to investigate new technologies and improved practices for mine closure. The rehabilitation and relinquishment of mines that have come to the end of their life is becoming an increasingly important issue for the mining sector, both here in Australia and internationally. With billions of dollars invested in mine rehabilitation each year, it is ...