Southern Downs Regional Council engaged SHEPHERD to complete a comprehensive condition survey and valuation of its Other Infrastructure asset class. The project provided Council with updated, audit-ready asset data to support financial reporting, long-term planning and more informed management of community infrastructure.
The Challenge
Council required an up-to-date valuation of its Other Infrastructure assets to meet financial reporting obligations and support effective asset management.
Many assets had not been comprehensively reviewed for some time, creating uncertainty around replacement value, condition, remaining useful life and the accuracy of information held within the asset register.
Council also recognised the need for reliable asset data to support long-term financial planning, prioritise maintenance activities and make informed decisions about future investment in parks, recreation and community infrastructure.
The Solution
SHEPHERD completed a comprehensive field assessment and valuation of Council’s Other Infrastructure assets, with a primary focus on parks, recreation and community infrastructure.
The assessment covered a wide range of assets, including recreational facilities, park infrastructure, landscaping elements, public artworks, pathways, shelters, street furniture, playgrounds, fencing, irrigation systems, saleyards, waste infrastructure and associated assets.
Key services delivered include:
- Onsite inspections across 93 Council sites
- Inspection and assessment of 848 assets
- Condition assessments and remaining useful life estimates
- Capture and validation of asset quantities and key attributes
- Development of unit rates and current replacement costs
- Review of useful lives in accordance with asset condition and valuation requirements
- Reconciliation of field-collected information with Council’s existing asset register
- Delivery of fair value data suitable for financial reporting and asset management purposes
What We Did Differently and Why It Mattered
Rather than delivering a valuation focused only on compliance, SHEPHERD provided Council with a practical dataset that supports both financial reporting and future asset management.
Using GPS-enabled field data capture, GIS mapping, digital inspection tools, valuation databases and quality assurance systems, SHEPHERD collected consistent asset information across a broad and varied portfolio. This improved the accuracy of Council’s asset register and created a stronger foundation for lifecycle planning, renewal forecasting and future investment decisions.
The project also included the creation of a comprehensive public artwork register, giving Council greater visibility and management capability for culturally significant community assets.
By combining field inspections with robust valuation methodology, SHEPHERD delivered a defensible, audit-ready outcome that gave Council greater confidence in the condition, value and future needs of its Other Infrastructure portfolio.
Delivered in Partnership
The project was delivered through strong collaboration between Southern Downs Regional Council and the SHEPHERD team, supporting efficient site access, data validation and timely delivery.
Council’s feedback reflected the quality of the outcome:
“The recent valuation included onsite inspections of SDRC’s approximately 2,000 Other Infrastructure assets, developing unit rates, reviewing useful lives, and valuing the assets in accordance with Accounting Standards. Auditors noted the professionalism and accuracy of the valuation and final reports. SHEPHERD are a great team of people to work with, communicate well, and are leaders in asset management and accounting.”
Following this project, SHEPHERD was awarded the revaluation of Council’s Transport and Stormwater assets, which is now underway. This continued partnership reflects Council’s commitment to strong asset management and the value of reliable, well-structured asset information.
