our services
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At Morrison Low we offer a range of consultancy services to our clients. Click on one of the service lines below to find out more about the types of services we provide. Asset Management Community Services Financial Consulting Infrastructure Management Operational Review Organisation Wide Procurement Project Management Sustainability Waste Management |
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A number of Morrison Low's consultants are asset management specialists, having undertaken responsibilities for many aspects of asset management across a variety of government organisations.
Our expertise allows us to undertake gap analyses across one or more asset classes based on the International Infrastructure Management Manual, which we use to identify priorities for improvement and help prepare an improvement plan covering all aspects of asset management.
We can also assist our clients with the development of asset strategy, policy and planning. We can also assist in the preparation of asset management system specifications and the procurement of the right system. We also specialise in creating a tie-in of asset management with the long-term financial plan/strategy of an organisation.
Recently we have introduced a twelve month joint programme for a group of clients to mentor, facilitate and lead them through an accelerated, structured asset management development path.
To view our Asset Management track record click here
Morrison Low’s consultants have considerable experience in planning, managing and operating all of the activities that often fall within the umbrella of community services.
We have experience in assisting national and regional organisations and community funding agencies with projects supporting local government or community initiatives. Recently we have undertaken organisational reviews of community services departments, helped develop strategy for a variety of community issues and assisted develop improved business planning practices for community services activities. Our current experience also includes a variety of park related projects including mentoring key staff, contracting reviews, open space and urban forest planning.
Morrison Low provides a range of financial services that focus on building capacity and assisting councils to develop a greater knowledge of their financial strategies, issues and options.
Morrison Low has a strong track record in helping councils in Australia develop strategic financial planning frameworks and Long Term Financial Strategies. The LTFS is a strategic tool that the can used to quantify the strategies of council and model alternative scenarios to assist short, medium and long term decision making.
With performance increasingly measured against principles such as Quadruple Bottom Line (QBL) Reporting and financial sustainability, the traditional principles of financial management need to be developed to address social, cultural and environmental outcomes. We work to develop strategies that enable achievement of both financial and non-financial targets depending on the individual requirements of every project.
Our team draws on their experience as chartered accountants, consultants, line managers and general managers to apply the tools of the trade to complex problems and come up with solutions.
To view our Financial track record click here.
Morrison Low has a deep understanding of the breadth of public infrastructure provided by local government, its sustainable upkeep, and the way in which aging infrastructure and growth pressures impact on the balance sheet. The classes of infrastructure we typically deal with are; roads, libraries, pools, town centres, parks, landfills, recreation centres and special event centres to name a few.
We are prepared alternative funding strategies for new infrastructure and reviewed revenue streams for a number of operations from landfills to libraries, swimming pools to wastewater treatment. We have implemented improvements through developing public/private partnerships, adopting commercial models, recommending the use of special rates and adjusting levels of service.
Morrison Low also has significant experience in managing the client end of new project development when the internal resources and/or skills to progress the works are lacking.
To view our Infrastructure Management track record click here.
A primary focus of our services to public sector clients has been in the area of improving the delivery of operational services.
Morrison Low has undertaken operation reviews and improvement planning across many Australasian public sector organisations, looking at a wide range of services from the delivery of infrastructure-related services through to community facilities and services and corporate and administrative support services.
We have well-developed methodologies we use to undertake these assignments, typically employing highly consultative approaches, conducting thorough audits and generating expert opinions. The staged approach we tend to follow leads to focused outcomes and value-for-money, practical solutions. We are proud of our track record of projects where clients have implemented our recommendations.
To view our Operational Review track record click here.
Over time all organisations gradually change in nature – often because of staff changes, new political imperatives or external impacts. At times these changes can lead to inefficiencies or disruptions in the delivery of services to the community.
Councils sometimes need to stand back and take stock of how the organisation is currently placed to be able to deliver to its strategic and operational plan requirements.
Morrison Low’s Enterprise Review service has been developed to offer a short high-level review process of all key result areas within an organisation, concentrating specifically on structures, systems and processes. After analysing a council’s ability to meet strategic and operational goals and objectives, a development plan is produced identifying recommended improvements, how to implement these, a timetable with key responsibilities and the expected outcomes.
Councils that use the Enterprise Review report favourably about the outcomes, whether the project has been organisation wide or within select internal groups.
To view our Organisation Wide track record click here.
Procurement strategies and processes can have significant financial impact on organisations, whether it be the purchase of goods and services or operations and capital works procurement. Choosing the right procurement strategy for your particular needs and circumstance is critical to ensuring you achieve the desired response from the market and best value.
Morrison Low has crafted many strategies designed to procure the right 'partners' and create successful relationships that deliver to expectations. We specialise in longer term relationship contracts where success depends upon the client and contractor to work as a team to deliver the best outcome for the public. Considerations of scoping the work to best fit with industry capability, appropriate risk allocation and reducing transaction costs are key drivers to the final form of the contract relationship. The approaches we may take extend from conventional facilities management using a scheduled rates approach to sophisticated partnership or alliance arrangements with various incentives and risk sharing. We have assisted councils to develop professional services consultancy procurement panels to facilitate effective procurement processes and maximise the value of the relationships.
We also regularly undertake or manage the procurement process on behalf of our clients, largely due to our in-depth understanding of the process and because we are seen as neutral by both professional services firms and contractors.
To view our Procurement track record click here.
The Project Management umbrella requires a range of technical expertise and hands-on experience. Our consultants have managed a wide variety of large and small projects in both the private and public sector, applying our substantial skills in such areas as; Complex Contract Management, Programme Management, Procurement Business Divestment, Business Systems Requirements Specification, Selection and Implementation, Implementation of Complex Strategic Business Projects, Project Re-Alignment and Rectification and Quality Risk Management of Strategic Projects.
Project Management is an integral part of what we do. Morrison Low is often engaged as the facilitator between a large number of stakeholders, so we have well developed processes for managing the challenges that can arise in these situations and arrive at timely and successful outcomes.
Many councils are following the corporate sector trend in recognising the value of managing their major and high profile projects more professionally. These councils are encouraging the use of project management methodologies and skills training by staff who manage projects on a regular basis. Often however council staff remain under trained in project management as this is not the major part of their job and does not warrant a large investment of money or staff time in professional training. Similarly many councils are cautious about adopting overburdening project methodologies that dictate how the organisation works and are expensive to support.
To help meet a need for a project management solution, Morrison Low has developed a simplified Project Management Framework. The Framework is quickly tailored to fit each organisation's own structure and the way the Council works – so councils do not need to change processes to ‘fit in’ with a methodology approach. Councils using the Framework acquire a complete project management manual and templates suitable for all project types and project management skill sets. Applying the easy to use Framework noticeably de-risks council against the lack or project training that might exist.
In the context of the public sector, sustainability refers to a set of values, issues and processes that organisations must address to minimise harm from their activities and to help them create environmental, social, cultural, and economic value at both a corporate and community level. By placing greater attention on sustainability, councils can make better decisions and future proof their plans and projects to ensure costs are minimised and future crises avoided.
We have established a team of nationally recognised sustainability consultants to guide our clients through these important concepts.
We can provide a sustainability assessment that looks at key aspects of a council’s corporate activities and community service delivery to determine levels of incorporation of sustainability principles within processes and projects. This can lead to identifying priority projects or the development of a sustainability framework that embeds sustainability thinking into corporate activities, policies, and council project planning, delivery and decision making.
Morrison Low offers a range of services in the waste management field, from strategy and infrastructure development through to contract management and implementation of waste services.
We have a proven track record with a number of clients in New Zealand and Australia in dealing with complex projects, often in a shared services environment, that have required unique solutions.
The waste management field is a complex area where there is a myriad of legislative requirements and increasing expectations from the public to pursue waste minimisation options. These considerations need to be balanced against the associated costs and risks. Issues that often need to be addressed are the ownership and control of assets, competition and availability of service providers, costs, and the provision of minimum levels of service and options for ratepayers.
Through our extensive knowledge and contacts within the industry, Morrison Low has a unique basis for achieving practical and cost effective solutions. However, as we exclusively work for local, regional and central government, we deliberately have no direct affiliations with any of the industry players to maintain an independence that allows us to provide unbiased and objective solutions to our clients.
To view our Waste Management track record click here.