Service 02

Feasibility & Concept Design

Structured analysis and concept design that give clients the confidence to commit — or the evidence to reconsider.

Feasibility & Concept Design

Turning complex infrastructure challenges into clear, buildable solutions.

Before committing to major infrastructure investment, organisations need robust options analysis and concept-level design to test the feasibility, cost and risk of different approaches. DWS provides structured feasibility and concept design services grounded in engineering rigour and commercial awareness.

Talk to our team Explore services
Options assessment
Concept design
Constraints analysis
Business case support

Decision-focused feasibility from the outset.

Evidence-based • Practical • Defensible
🔎
Step 1

Define the Problem

Clarify the decision context, success criteria, and constraints before evaluating any options.

📋
Step 2

Identify Options

Generate a long list of options, screen against criteria, and develop a shortlist for detailed analysis.

📐
Step 3

Develop Concepts

Concept designs developed to support cost estimation, risk identification, and programme planning.

📊
Step 4

Recommend & Report

Clear recommendation backed by analysis, structured for internal review and external stakeholders.

Confidence to move forward — or the evidence to reconsider.

Infrastructure investment decisions made without rigorous options analysis carry significant risk — technically, financially, and reputationally. A well-structured feasibility study reduces uncertainty, identifies constraints early, and creates the decision-making foundation that all subsequent project work depends on.

Key challenges we address

New trunk infrastructure — pipelines, pump stations, reservoirs
Network augmentation for growth or performance improvement
Integrated water management options — recycled water, stormwater harvesting
Regulatory compliance infrastructure upgrades
Greenfield development servicing requiring concept-level assessment

The value DWS brings

Reduce risk before committing capital
Identify constraints and opportunities early
Support defensible investment decisions
Deliver business-case-ready documentation
Align stakeholders around a preferred option
Provide the basis for detailed design

We structure our feasibility work around a clear decision framework — defining what success looks like before evaluating options. This keeps analysis focused and makes conclusions easier to defend at every level of an organisation.

End-to-end feasibility and concept design capability.

Our services take clients from ambiguous infrastructure challenges through to clearly defined, costed and documented options — ready for decision-making or progression to detailed design.

01

Options Assessment

Structured identification, screening and multi-criteria comparison of infrastructure options to support shortlisting and informed decision-making.

02

Concept Design

Concept designs developed to a level that supports order-of-magnitude cost estimation, risk identification, and programme planning for shortlisted options.

03

Constraints Analysis

Technical, environmental, and regulatory constraints identified early to avoid costly surprises downstream in the project lifecycle.

04

Business Case Support

Documentation and analysis structured to support business case preparation, regulatory submissions, and internal governance requirements.

What we do

Specialist feasibility capability

Options identification and long-list screening
Multi-criteria assessment and comparison
Concept design for shortlisted options
Constraints identification — technical, environmental, regulatory
Order-of-magnitude cost estimation and uncertainty analysis
Site feasibility assessments for development
Hydraulic assessment of servicing options
Business case support and documentation
Recycled water and stormwater harvesting options
Stakeholder-ready reporting and presentations

What we deliver

A clear, defensible recommendation backed by analysis
Confidence to proceed to detailed design
Early identification and mitigation of project risks
Stakeholder-ready business case documentation
Concept-level designs and cost estimates
Practical, implementable outcomes — not just reports

Why DWS

Decision-focused — analysis structured around what needs to be decided
Engineering depth across water, wastewater and stormwater
Commercial awareness and cost-conscious thinking at every stage
Defensible conclusions, clearly communicated to all audiences
Strong track record across Australia and New Zealand utilities

Connecting engineering rigour with commercial reality.

Effective feasibility work requires more than technical analysis. It requires understanding the decision context, the stakeholder environment, and the commercial constraints — so that the recommended option is not just technically sound, but practically achievable.

Hydraulic assessment
Options screening
Risk & constraints analysis
Cost estimation
Environmental inputs
Regulatory compliance

Our people and expertise

Our team brings deep experience in water infrastructure feasibility across a broad range of project types, scales and client environments.

Water and wastewater network feasibility studies
Greenfield and infill development servicing assessments
Pump station, pipeline and reservoir concept design
Stormwater harvesting and recycled water options analysis
Developer contribution and infrastructure charging frameworks
Regulatory submission support and business case development
Multi-criteria assessment and options comparison frameworks

Feasibility & Concept Design in Action

A selection of recent projects demonstrating our feasibility and concept design capability across development, utility, and council clients.

01
Bluesox
Glenquarry Rural Land Subdivision — Site Feasibility Assessment
Project Description

DWS was engaged to provide a site feasibility assessment for a proposed 51.3-hectare rural land subdivision at Glenquarry, NSW, planned to yield approximately 500 residential lots. The assessment covered water supply, wastewater, and stormwater servicing options to inform early-stage planning and development approvals.

Scope
  • Assessed spare sewer capacity and connection options to Wingecarribee and Shoalhaven networks
  • Determined available water supply pressures and network connection options
  • Assessed stormwater detention, quality treatment, and rainwater reuse requirements
  • Identified riparian corridors, controlled activity implications, and flood risk constraints
🏆 Outcome

Provided a comprehensive site feasibility assessment covering all servicing options, supporting informed decision-making for the development approval process and early-stage infrastructure planning.

02
Redland City Council
Sewerage Catchment Netserv Update — Sewerage Diversions
Project Description

Redland City Council engaged DWS to re-evaluate pump station diversions integrated into updated Netserv models, in preparation for the council’s Netserv Plan submission. The project addressed potential deviations from the original diversion plan and assessed the impacts of proposed network changes on the ultimate sewerage catchment scenario.

Scope
  • Reviewed previous Netserv documentation and sewer hydraulic models for relevant catchments
  • Updated the hydraulic model to reflect proposed diversion changes
  • Assessed the ultimate development scenario and identified changes to the previously agreed network configuration
  • Estimated costs and summarised changes to the Netserv program
🏆 Outcome

Provided updated hydraulic model outputs and a clear summary of changes to the Netserv program, supporting a timely and well-evidenced Netserv Plan submission.

View all Feasibility & Concept Design projects
Start a Conversation

Ready to assess your infrastructure options?

Tell us about your project and we’ll identify the right approach and the right team.

Contact DWS View Projects