Appropriateness, process and outcomes evaluation for government strategies, grounded in systems analysis.
8 projects ·Capability statement →
Strategy & business development: green innovation
The Green Living Centre was established in 2002 as ‘The Watershed’ and funded through the NSW Government’s Stormwater Trust Program. Its initial focus was on stormwater and local business environmental issues. Over the years this focus broadened to becoming a sustainability 'hub'.
Basin Plan Evaluation Framework and Program Logic
Following the Basin Plan’s commencement, the Murray–Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) needed a coherent evaluation framework to assess whether the Plan was achieving its environmental, social and economic objectives under the Water Act 2007. The task was to translate the Plan’s Chapters, Schedule 12 “Matters for evaluation and reporting”, and statutory Key Evaluation Questions into a practical, Basin‑wide system of program logic, indicators, data and methods that could guide annual, five‑yearly and ten‑yearly evaluations.
Business case through to production company tender
A new music festival and conference was imagined for Western Sydney (WS).
Read the case study — National Music Festival Western Sydney →
Evaluating the NSW EWMP
Cobalt59, with ARTD, were commissioned by The Department of Planning and Environment, Environment, Energy and Science to evaluate the NSW Government’s Environmental Water Management Program from 2014-2019.
Systems evaluation environmental water management
The NSW Water for the Environment (WftE) Program manages environmental water across multiple river, wetland and floodplain systems to improve ecological condition, support regional livelihoods and uphold cultural values. After a decade of significant reform and two prior evaluations, the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water needed an independent evaluation of the 2019–2024 period that could credibly assess efficiency, equity and outcomes in a complex social–ecological system, and provide clear recommendations for the next phase.
Read the case study — NSW Water for the Environment Program Evaluation →
Strategic Business Case Development
Parramasala is an arts and cultural festival in Parramatta that aspires to be the first nationally significant arts and cultural festival based in Western Sydney.
Evaluating a water conservation program
Cobalt59 evaluated the WaterFix Residential Program for Sydney Water and the NSW Climate Change Fund. The fund gave money to Sydney Water to dramatically boost the program during a serious downturn in water inflows into the Sydney Drinking Water Catchment.
Audits of Sydney Water Catchment
The independent catchment audit report is direct to the responsible minister. It is designed to protect the health of the Sydney catchment to ensure reliable, quality drinking water for five million people of Sydney and the Illawarrra, Blue Mountains, Southern Highlands, Goulburn and Shoalhaven regions. The audit seeks to understand land use, businesses, industries, community groups, and public authorities within the catchment – all of whose actions can affect water quality.
