Case Studies

Background

Mitchell Shire is one of Victoria’s fastest growing local government areas, with strong population growth concentrated in Wallan and surrounding townships driving demand for community, sport, and recreation infrastructure. Located within walking distance of Wallan’s town centre, Greenhill Recreation Reserve is a 50-hectare site that currently functions as a local sporting hub. The site is home to a culturally and environmentally significant Green Hill Volcanic Cone. In response to the growing population and need to renovate Greenhill Recreation Reserve facilities, Council adopted the Greenhill Recreation Precinct Master Plan in September 2024 to guide the staged transformation of the site into a premier sporting, health, and environmental precinct. The project will deliver new regional-scale facilities, including aquatics, gymnastics, and indoor sports infrastructure, while enhancing access, connectivity, and environmental outcomes. REMPLAN was engaged to prepare an Economic Impact Analysis and Business Case to assess the project’s economic, financial, and social merits and to support informed investment decision-making by Council.

Project Goals

The Economic Impact Analysis and Business Case were prepared to support the Greenhill Recreation Precinct Master Plan and inform investment decision-making. The purpose of the assessment was to understand the economic activity generated through construction and ongoing operations, evaluate the project’s long-term viability, and determine whether the anticipated benefits outweigh the costs. The findings were intended to support Council’s investment decisions and provide evidence consistent with public-sector appraisal requirements.

REMPLAN’s Involvement

REMPLAN was commissioned to deliver an economic assessment to support the development of the Greenhill Recreation Precinct. This included modelling the economic impacts associated with construction and operations, estimating employment and revenue outcomes, and assessing flow-on effects to the regional economy. REMPLAN also undertook a cost-benefit analysis to evaluate the net public value of the project, incorporating social, economic, and environmental considerations. The analysis was underpinned by detailed operational inputs, population and demand projections, and benchmarking against comparable facilities, ensuring the assessment was robust, transparent, and decision ready.

Results

The economic analysis indicates that Stage 1A construction will support up to 128 direct and indirect FTE jobs in Mitchell Shire and deliver $42.4 million in value-added to the local economy, with wider impacts of 204 FTE jobs and $70.7 million in value-assed across Victoria. The cost benefit analysis confirms the project delivers value for money, with benefits of up to $1.60 returned for every $1.00 invested and a net present benefit for $70.9 million over 30 years. Beyond economic returns, the project delivers significant community benefits through improved access to inclusive recreation facilities, enhanced health and wellbeing outcomes, and strengthened social connection.