Inside the Vision: The Team and Strategy Behind ‘Fair Go for North Arm Cove’
- Dejan & Tatjana
- Jul 9
- 4 min read
Updated: Jul 12
As part of the “Fair Go for North Arm Cove” initiative, the Marion and Walter Living Lab Co-op has released an Addenda highlighting both the expanding interdisciplinary team behind the project and the strategic thinking that guides it.
Below you’ll find a breakdown of the Professional, Research and Industry network supporting the initiative, followed by a detailed PESTEL (Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Environmental, Legal) analysis outlining the constraints and opportunities influencing this work.
Our Growing Team
Professional Consultants / Advisors
DESIM-Arch
• Dejan Simovic - development management, design, circular economy, urban design, BIM
• Tatjana Djuric Simovic - planning, heritage, urban design, community engagement
• Alan Johnson - urban design, master planning
• Vladimir Hripac - urban design, master planning
• Thomas Murray - regional issues, BIM
• Piotr Wawrzyczny - project management services, infrastructure
Aboriginal Land Council, Karuah - Indigenous heritage and land governance
DLR Group - urban design, master planning
A2M - urban design, AI, Net Zero
Arcadia - landscape, urban design, planning
BMT - stormwater
C&M Consulting Engineers - civil, subdivision, services
Mobility Thinking - transport
Research and Innovation
DESIM-R&D - Circular Economy, Digital Twins
A2M - AI
Arcadia - Smart Modelling, Digital Twin
newDEMOCRACY Foundation
Adventurous Systems - Blockchain
Well Space - Healthy living standard
UTS - Transport, Digital Twin, AI
Newcastle University - Urban Design
Western Sydney University - Circles of Sustainability
Industry
Bentley Systems - Digital Twin platform
Altogether - Water management and infrastructure funding
Trio Property Group - development management
Sky Energy - power
Energy Synapse - micro grid
Blue Eco Homes - Passive House
C-Coat - Insulation, energy efficiency
Nu-Rock - Building materials (recycled)
MUDTEC - earth blocks
3VIMA - 3D printing construction
KUPENGA Consulting - Precinct infrastructure consulting
PESTEL Analysis - Strategic Foundations
Political
❌ Constraints
Split responsibilities across Local, Regional, State and Federal levels
Poor local representation despite being a major rate-paying area
Regional coordination is lacking
Long-term Council underperformance and poor relationship with community
✅ Opportunities
Direct community involvement in planning and governance via Citizen Assembly
Better representation at local and regional levels
Implementation of government policies: Affordable Housing, Circular Economy, Smart Cities, Place-Based Planning
🗨️ “We are proposing an alternative approach for our precinct - Citizen Jury/Assembly - already in use in other parts of Australia.”
Economic
❌ Constraints
Unrealistic population growth forecasts
Ageing population (average age 65)
Low employment and income levels
Low urbanisation despite already subdivided land
Underutilised land and low land value
Threats to aquaculture (e.g. oyster industry)
Underdeveloped tourism sector
Limited access to employment centres
Untapped water transport opportunities
✅ Opportunities
Affordable housing options on small government-owned lots
Growth in tourism, education, construction, healthcare and other industries
Job creation for younger people
Improved land value through value-capture infrastructure
Maritime industries and transport near the M1
🗨️ “Value Capture could provide 10x land value increase by delivering infrastructure.”
🗨️ “Altogether has expressed interest in participating, helping reduce costs to government.”
Social
❌ Constraints
Poor demographics and social division
Historical neglect and discrimination against landowners
No local health resources
Large economic disparities
✅ Opportunities
Using government land to benefit the broader community
Affordable housing in a natural, coastal setting
Youth retention through employment and housing
Social cohesion via community involvement in planning
Equity and redress for long-neglected landowners
🗨️ “It’s hard to see how a city can be good for all its people unless they are involved in its creation.” - Paul James, Western Sydney University
Technological
❌ Constraints
No water and sewer infrastructure
Inadequate stormwater and electricity systems
Poor internet and telecom service
Basic road infrastructure
Incorrect cadastral digital mapping
✅ Opportunities
Circular economy to boost long-term sustainability
Smart infrastructure across transport, water, power and planning
Use of Digital Twins for monitoring and modelling
Blockchain for governance and investment
AI-driven planning and data use
Indigenous knowledge to address bushfire risk
🗨️ “We propose implementation of new technologies in achieving better quality of life.”
Environmental
❌ Constraints
Area neglect and illegal tree removal
Poor-quality soils and historical land clearing
Bushland often inaccessible, even to wildlife
Limited Council capacity for environmental maintenance
✅ Opportunities
Environmental living
Eco-tourism and wildlife sanctuaries
New governance models for sustainable and resilient precincts
🗨️ “NAC is surrounded by protected areas, but the subdivision itself doesn’t hold exceptional value per Council’s own reports.”
Legal
❌ Constraints
Diverse and fragmented land ownership
History of poor service provision and forced land acquisition
Past neglect of a vulnerable community
✅ Opportunities
New participatory models of land governance
Application of Community Land Development Act 2021
Circular Economy-based risk and infrastructure management
Legal resolution of land rights tied to early colonial grants
🗨️ “Castlecrag, also zoned C4-Environmental Living, offers a planning model for NAC.”
Closing Note
This Addenda offers a comprehensive look at the expert team guiding the North Arm Cove project, and the strategic thinking driving its next steps. Built on innovation, inclusion and sustainability, “Fair Go for North Arm Cove” is about more than planning - it’s about justice and community renewal.
Fair Go for North Arm Cove
For further information:
Dejan Simovic
Director, Marion and Walter Living Lab Co-op
📞 0404 55 24 74
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