Major projects can deliver significant economic benefits to regional communities, but they also create complex and cumulative pressures on local infrastructure and essential services. In regions supporting major economic activity, where large-scale projects often operate concurrently and rely heavily on both resident and FIFO/DIDO workers, understanding cumulative impacts is critical for effective planning.

This presentation showcases a bespoke web-based application developed by REMPLAN in close collaboration with Karratha and Port Hedland Councils. The app is built on REMPLAN’s Cumulative Impact Model (CIM) and was specifically designed to address local requirements that could not be met through standard population reporting or off-the-shelf modelling tools. The platform was co-designed with council officers to reflect local project pipelines, workforce behaviours, service constraints, and decision-making needs.

The CIM web app brings together project-specific information, regional economic data, and demographic modelling to estimate how multiple projects collectively influence population change over time. It captures both temporary and permanent workforce movements across project phases — from construction through to operation — and translates these changes into clear, interactive insights on demand for housing, health services, education, utilities, and emergency services. Through an intuitive visual interface, councils can explore when demand peaks, how pressures accumulate, and where service gaps are likely to emerge.

The presentation will focus on the design and functionality of the CIM app, demonstrating how cumulative impacts can be visualised and interrogated through an interactive digital platform. It will also outline the collaborative development process and key considerations involved in building a bespoke tool to support infrastructure and service planning in regions shaped by major projects.