Director
Daniel has over 10 years’ experience as an economic consultant, advising a range of private and public sector clients across several sectors, including water, ports, agriculture, rail, gas, and social policy. Daniel’s key capabilities lie in cost-benefit analysis and business case development, including undertaking needs analysis and demand assessments underpinning major infrastructure projects. Daniel regularly advises on water policy issues, such as water infrastructure pricing and demand management, and has a strong track record conducting robust policy evaluations across several disciplines. Daniel also has extensive experience in managing complex stakeholder engagement processes as part of major projects, including in the agriculture and health sectors.
Contact details
Phone: +61 7 3227 9580
Email: d.culpitt@synergies.com.au
Case study
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 ...