Business Cases and Cost Benefit Analyses for Round 6 of the Building Better Regions Fund (2021)

Various business cases and cost benefit analyses for a range of clients for submission through Round 6 of the Building Better Regions Fund (BBRF).

Clients included both not for profits and local government authorities. Key projects included the Great Southern Adventure Trails, Christmas Island Mountain Bike Trails, Southern Ocean Surf Reef, Albany Speedway lighting and ablution upgrades, Green Range Country Club bowling green replacement, Barrel + Bale Frankland River multi-use community facility, and the Ocean to Channel Recreational Precinct.

All business cases included detailed cost benefit analyses. In one case a standalone cost benefit analysis was required (supporting business case developed by the client). Announcements for this round of BBRF are expected in August 2022.

Business Case for the Conserving the Capes Initiative (2020/21)

On behalf of the Department of Biodiversity and Conservation Parks and Wildlife Service (Government of Western Australia), Keston Economics completed a business case for direct submission to the Department of Treasury (decision pending). The business case included several detailed cost-benefit analyses and financial forward planning models to investigate five options for a range of infrastructure and trail developments throughout the City of Busselton and Shire of Augusta-Margaret River.

The project includes three core development packages: (i) Karri Bowl interpretive centre and elevated walkway through the Boranup Karri Forest; (ii) Capes Improvement Program to enhance visitor facilities / attractions throughout the overcrowded Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park; and (iii) The Unbeaten Tracks Project to upgrade and develop the region's trail network.

The business case also included in-depth quantitative and qualitative options analyses considering various expected outcomes (e.g. job creation, impact on Indigenous business development, new and extended visitation, physical activity, vegetation protection, social cohesion, etc.

Business Cases for Round 5 of the Building Better Regions Fund (2020/21)

Various business cases for various clients, including both not for profits and local government authorities. All business cases included detailed cost benefit analyses.

Three Keston Economics applications were successful in attracting funding through this round of the program, including the Albany Motorsports Park (City of Albany), Albany Bicentennial 2026 Strategic, Implementation and Marketing Plans and Launch Event (City of Albany), and Ngilgi Cave above-ground infrastructure enhancements (Margaret River Busselton Tourism Association).

Clients unsuccessful in this round of the program have since reengaged Keston Economics to enhance and resubmit their proposals under Round 6 of the program.

Business Cases for the Albany Civil Cultural Precinct and Associated Projects (2017-2019)

On behalf of the City of Albany, Keston completed a business case, including cost-benefit analysis, for a project to create a state-of-the-art integrated education, cultural and information hub in the CBD.

The development will act as the premier facility of its type for the Great Southern attracting and servicing the local community and visitors to the region.

It includes various components that have led to more recent standalone business cases and successful funding applications  for development of the historic Albany Town Hall into a cultural arts centre (construction underway), redeveloping Alison Hartman Gardens (construction completed late 2019), and the Albany Public library into a cultural learning hub with 24-hour student access to ICT infrastructure and learning materials (ongoing).

Business Case and Project Plan for the Active Seniors - Long Live You Program (2018)



On behalf of the Albany Liesure and Aquatic Centre, Keston completed a business case and project plan, including detailed activity programming. The project was awarded federal government funding through the Move It Aus Better Ageing Grant Program (SportAus). Throughout 2019 and into 2020, the program has employed dedicated personnel and developed a suite of activities to engage previously inactive seniors in active recreational pursuits.

To date, the program has been a huge success with a number of important social outcomes. The Long Live You program builds on previously successful funding applications and programs for the Silver Sport Pilot Project.

Business Case for Middleton Beach Foreshore Development (2017)

On behalf of the City of Albany, Keston completed a comprehensive business case for a project to create regional Western Australia’s most iconic and active beach precinct, offering world-class community, commercial and civic amenity on the pristine South Coast.

The scope is to define urban design, place development and landscape management outcomes that will set a strong strategic direction for the Middleton Beach Foreshore Precinct.

A key to the success of the plan will be maintaining its unique landscape character and natural assets, whilst enhancing lifestyle, tourism and increased patronage, and attracting private investment for recreational, retail and accommodation economic development projects to complement and work with the key principles and objectives of the Middleton Beach Activity Centre.

The project was awarded $4.5M federal funding, and was completed and commissioned early 2022. The development has fulfilled a core objective by attracting large scale private investment into the adjacent hotel and Activity Centre (commercial and residential) sites. Site works are currently underway for these developments.

Business Case for the Development of a Wine Trail Tourism Project in the Great Southern (2015)



On behalf of the Great Southern Development Commission (GSDC), Keston Technologies completed a Royalties for Regions business case and cost-benefit analysis for the survey, design, supervision, land assembly and sealed construction of approximately 53km of Tindale Road between Muir Highway and South Coast Highway in order to facilitate a wine trail circuit in the Great Southern.

Business Case for the Development of a Network of Botanic Gardens in the Great Southern (2015)



On behalf of the Great Southern Development Commission (GSDC), Keston Technologies completed a Royalties for Regions business case and cost-benefit analysis for a network of Regional Botanic Gardens Project, identified as a potential project for funding under the Southern Investment Initiative (SII). The business case took a robust, evidence-based approach to support a request for Royalties for Regions under the SII. The project will encompass the development of master plans, construction and design and regional marketing for network of regional botanic gardens in the Great Southern. The business case included a robust cost-benefit analysis based on the valuation of a range of benefits that would be projected to accrue from the network of regional botanic gardens.

Business Case for New Albany Menshed Workshop and Social Meeting Place (2014)



On behalf of the Albany MenShed (AMS), Keston completed a business case for a project to develop new clubrooms, including a wood and metals workshop and meeting spaces. The AMS were previously using premises that were too small for their needs, unable to be properly fitted out due to the use of borrowed and shared spaces, and with an unsecure future due to planned Centennial Park developments.  The $800,000 men’s shed was supported by a $20,000 Royalties for Regions Community Chest Fund grant through the Great Southern Development Commission, $550,000 through Lotterywest and $50,000 through the Jack Family Trust. The building was completed and commissioned in 2016.

Business Case for the Albany Tourism and Information Hub (2014)



Keston developed a comprehensive business case for a project to create an iconic building on Albany’s main street that co-locates the previously poorly located Albany Visitors Centre (AVC) with the existing Albany Public Library.

The project aimed to facilitate the creation of a state-of-the-art tourist information hub, and showcase of regional food and wine, to be better able to provide visitors with an enhanced experience during their travels and promote tourism in a region that is otherwise somewhat hindered by the ‘tyranny of distance’.

The business case included a robust cost-benefit analysis, and it was successful in attracting substantial investment from Regional Development Australia under the National Stronger Regions Fund (NSRF), Round 1. The $2.7m building was completed and commissioned in 2018. 

Business Case and Funding Applications for Regional Sheep Saleyards in Katanning (2011)



Keston worked with the Shire of Katanning to develop the business case for the re-development of the regional sheep saleyards. The Katanning saleyards is one of two major stock saleyards in Western Australia, and the business case looked at the re-development of the yards to create a world-class facility. The project involved extensive stakeholder and community consultation, together with economic modelling and cost-benefit analyses. On the basis of the business case developed, the state government has committed funds to the redevelopment of the saleyards and the Shire secured Federal funding under Round One of the Regional Development Australia Fund (RDAF). This funding was secured in the face of stiff competition; over 550 applications were submitted but only 35 were awarded funding. The Katanning project was one of only four funded in Western Australia and the only one in the south west and received the sixth highest amount of funding from across Australia. The $26m saleyards are now the largest undercover sheep selling complex in the southern hemisphere, officially opened in 2014.

Needs Assessment, Feasibility Study and Business Case for the Centennial Park Sports and Recreation Precinct in the City of Albany 2011)



Keston has undertaken an in-depth analysis of the needs and impacts for a sports and recreation precinct in the City of Albany. This study undertook a range of stakeholder and community consultations and analysis (including comparative provision and demographic analysis) in order to establish the rationale for the investment in a multi-sports facility in the precinct. The work culminated in the development of a comprehensive business case for the project and associated cost-benefit analysis. The business case was successful in attracting substantial investment from state and federal funds (notably the Regional Development Australia Fund (RDAF)). Delivered in two key stages across three seperate precincts, the $33m project included cricket and soccer pavilions and sports fields, Centennial football stadium and football fields.