The Reconnecting River Country Program is a key Murray-Darling Basin initiative essential to creating healthier functioning river systems in the Murray and Murrumbidgee valleys.Currently, rivers connect to wetlands and floodplains less often than is needed to maintain healthy ecosystems, due to river regulation and extraction. Water for the environment aims to restore the balance, however constraints restrict the effective use of this water contributing to the continual decline of the health of Country, including the species depending on these environments to survive.The program is proposing to remove constraints to enable the flexible use of water for the environment to increase the frequency and extent rivers connect to their wetlands and floodplains. Removing constraints is critical to achieving the Murray-Darling Basin Plan’s improved environmental outcomes and making best use of existing water recovered from communities.

Formerly known as DJ Pearce Consulting Pty Ltd

Strategic delivery of Sydney Water’s property acquisition program for land and easements, specialising in the Western Sydney growth area. Providing senior-level technical guidance, advisory support, and expert management for a diverse range of expansive, high-value, and complex acquisition projects. Multi-stakeholder, landowner and NSW agency engagement. Working within compliance and regulatory requirements aligned with the Sydney Water ACT 1994 and Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensational Act) 1991.

PROJECT: Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport, an $11 billion city-shaping infrastructure project in Greater Sydney. Expected completion date 2026CLIENT: Sydney MetroWORK LOCATION: Western SydneyRESPONSIBILITIES: – Management of the land acquisitions team and the acquisition of 60+ properties and 10+ temporary leases.– Project risk management.– Stakeholder engagement including with engineers, solicitors, infrastructure designers, heritage consultants, surveyors, land owners, city planners, communication strategists, Native title specialists and government entities (e.g. Roads and Maritime Services NSW; local councils).– Site review research and preparation of various reports related to land acquisition and access rights.EXPERTISE:– Understanding of land/property ownership from public records and other sources.– Ability to interpret certificates of title, deeds, easements, leases, permits, licenses, etc.– Ability to understand CAD and engineering drawings to ensure consistency with acquired property boundaries.

PROJECT: Australia-Singapore Military Training InitiativeCLIENT: Department of DefenceWORK LOCATIONS: NSW, ACT, Far North QueenslandRESPONSIBILITIES:– Leadership of a large-scale acquisition project that incorporated a Native Title strategy, land acquisition strategy, procurement plan and cost plan.– Stakeholder engagement. – Coordination of the Department of Defence’s legal and valuation consultants to ensure deliverables were completed within the limited timeframes available.EXPERTISE:– Knowledge of Native Title.– Negotiation skills under complex and dynamic political, land and seller relationships.– Problem-solving skills that deliver mutually beneficial outcomes.

PROJECT: Sydney Metro City & SouthwestCLIENT: Transport for NSW (now Sydney Metro)WORK LOCATION: SydneyRESPONSIBILITIES:– Management of property acquisition services, including compulsory acquisitions, under the Land Acquisition Just Terms Compensation Act to TfNSW for the Sydney Metro project.– Stakeholder engagement and communication.EXPERTISE:– Knowledge of the Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Act 1991.– Understanding of contract Valuation and Quantity Surveying services.– Negotiation skills for the acquisition of high value freehold and leasehold interests in property.– Excellent communication skills for the management of stakeholder relationships.– Team management skills.

Provided specialist valuation services for family law and acquisition purposes.

Employed as a Land Economist and contributed to the management of projects in various leadership roles, including:1. Acting Office and Depot Facilities Specialist (Asset Strategy/Asset Management Group)2. Acting Planning, Approvals and Access Manager (Southern Operations Property and Environmental Assets Group)3. Acting Property Planning and Development Manager (Land Assets and Facilities Group)WOK LOCATIONS: NSW, ACT 1. Property acquisitions• Multiple regional NSW property acquisition projects. Executed rural land use agreements on surplus land. easements and freehold land were negotiated for all property types through the Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Act 1991.• Solely negotiated the first easement to be registered on title for a power transmission company in the ACT and enacted the first compulsory acquisition of easements in the ACT through extensive negotiations and interpretation of the ACT Lands Acquisition Act with the ACT Government.• Acquired easements and freehold land for over 60+ properties for the upgrading of a transmission line in Western Sydney. • Strategic transmission line acquisition project in Southern Sydney. 2. TransGrid office and depot redevelopment• Project management and developer liaison for two new builds (Ultimo and Tamworth, NSW) and two major renovations (Wallgrove and Tumut, NSW) for TransGrid buildings. • Change management for the Sydney region, moving from multiple sites into new buildings at Ultimo and Wallgrove. 3. Building lifecycle assessments• Co-ordinated the first full condition assessment of all TransGrid offices, depots and substations across NSW. All assessments were delivered and analysed on time and budget. Resulted in a review of building lifecycle assessments.• Designed and managed the maintenance and facilities budgets and strategies which led to major changes made to facilities for the TransGrid management strategy, enabling a significant change enacted by another department.

Residential and commercial valuations for mortgage providers, mortgagee in-possession acquisition companies, liquidators, capital gains and family law purposes, across all areas of greater Sydney, the Central Cost and the Southern Highlands.

Residential valuations for government departments including the Department of Defence Housing and the Department of Aged and Disability Home Care. Valuations carried out across all NSW.

Property Valuer, PRDnationwide Commercial Valuations (2001–2004; 3 years): Residential valuations across all of greater Sydney and training of new graduates.

Commercial Property Manager/Strata Manager. Managed sites across the Hills District and surrounds.