Projects.
Mara Projects
From infrastructure and energy to the places people love, our projects are as diverse as the people behind them.
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At Mara Consulting, we don’t just tick boxes, we roll up our sleeves and work alongside our clients to turn complex into simple. Every project and the challenges that come with it is a chance to create something smarter, stronger, and useful.
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Together, we’re shaping a future with our clients, one project, one partnership and one great idea at a time.
Hunter Transmission Project
Description: From mid-2023 to late-2025, Mara led engagement and communications for EnergyCo’s Hunter Transmission Project, one of NSW’s most complex Critical State Significant Infrastructure projects.
Project type: Energy
Client: EnergyCo NSW
Services: Stakeholder engagement, communications, marketing, graphic design, advertising, event management, media and issues management, place management and landowner liaison, government relations and ministerial communications.
Newcastle Interchange
Description: Mara Consulting supported Laing O’Rourke on the construction of new inner-city rail infrastructure and a train station in Newcastle, leading engagement with directly impacted community members, local businesses, and local and state government stakeholders.
Project type: Infrastructure
Client: Transport for NSW
Services: Communication and engagement strategy, construction notifications, community liaison, community events, communication materials, complaints and issues management, property access and negotiation.
East Maitland Integrated Transport Plan Vision Workshop
Description: Mara brought a range of stakeholders together to obtain input into the development of the project vision and objectives for the East Maitland Integrated Transport Plan. Mara designed and facilitated two workshops that provided a strategic context for the Plan, explored a shared vision for East Maitland and addressed constraints and opportunities.
Project type: Local Government
Client: Transport for NSW
Services: Workshop facilitation and strategy development, stakeholder mapping, strategic communications and engagement framework. 
Newcastle Light Rail 
Description: Management of a large team of consultants and subcontractors to deliver all external communication and engagement with impacted and interested stakeholders. The disruption of the CBD was a high-impact and controversial project.
Project type: Infrastructure
Client: Hunter and Central Coast Development Corporation 
Services: Strategy development, community and stakeholder engagement, digital engagement and consultation, strategic communications and marketing, creative and content production, landowner liaison and place management.
Wamberal Beach Coastal Protection 
Description: Wamberal Beach is one of NSW’s highest-risk erosion sites, prompting Central Coast Council and the Wamberal Seawall Advisory Taskforce to seek community input on long-term coastal protection and sand nourishment options.
Project type: Local Government
Client: Central Coast Council
Services: Stakeholder engagement strategy, communications consultation, strategic communications, digital engagement and reporting.
Honeysuckle Ideas
Description: Honeysuckle Ideas was a community and stakeholder engagement program delivered during the COVID-19 pandemic to inform a high-profile divestment and the future use of remaining land at Honeysuckle West.
Project type: Property Development
Client: Hunter and Central Coast Development Corporation
Services: Strategy development, consultation, engagement, digital engagement, communication, marketing, graphic design, advertising, research and focus groups.
Hunter River Estuary Wastewater Masterplan 
Description: Mara led a stakeholder program engaging councils, agencies, industry, Local Aboriginal Land Councils, environmental groups and residents, building trust and reducing consultation fatigue through early, transparent communication, Plain-English materials, FAQs and digital tools such as Social Pinpoint supported clear, two-way dialogue.
Project type: Environment
Client: Hunter Water Corporation
Services: Strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, scenario planning, regulatory consultation, community and government relations. 
Dungog Common Recreation Reserve Strategic Plan 
Description: Develop a Strategic Plan and engagement program guiding the transition of the Reserve to Aboriginal ownership under the Karuah Local Aboriginal Land Council (LALC). 
Project type: Local Government
Client: Dungog Common Recreation Reserve Board 
Services: Strategy development, community and stakeholder engagement, facilitation, communication, visioning workshop design, engagement materials and outcomes reporting. 
Glencore environment and community engagement strategy
Description: Glencore sought a more consistent, values-led approach to stakeholder engagement across its coal operations.
Project type: Environment
Client: Glencore Coal Assets Australia
Services: Workshop facilitation and strategy development, stakeholder mapping and SWOT analysis and strategic communications
Australian International Aviation College
Description: AIAC faced growing community complaints about aircraft noise at Port Macquarie Airport, with criticism and media attention focused on the college despite multiple operators and amplified by misinformation and online commentary.
Project type: Corporate
Client: Australian International Aviation College (AIAC) 
Services: Media relations and issues management.
Macquarie Park Cemetery
Description: Northern Cemeteries engaged Mara to deliver a sensitive, engagement program, supporting long term planning amid changing expectations, land constraints and end of life preferences.
Project type: Corporate
Client: Northern Cemeteries
Services: Stakeholder engagement strategy, reporting and recommendations.
Tunkuwallin Oval Precinct Plan
Description: Central Coast Council engaged Mara to lead community and stakeholder engagement to inform the precinct plan for Tunkuwallin Oval.
Project type: Government
Client: Central Coast Council
Services: Stakeholder engagement strategy and execution, strategic communications.
Centennial Change Management
Description: Centennial engaged Mara to run a consultation program to develop a workplace safety campaign and staff-facing communications, logos and materials.
Project type: Corporate
Client: Centennial
Services: Behaviour change communication campaign, stakeholder engagement and consultation
Newcastle Grammar School
Description: Mara conducted consultation to meet the planning approval requirements for the proposed redevelopment.
Project type: Property development
Client: Newcastle Grammar School
Services: Community and stakeholder engagement, social impact assessment and strategic communications