Designing flood resilience with nature in mind

A real turning point in my career was Astrolabe Park, which was my first time working on a large design and construct project in the flooding, drainage and stormwater area. I’d previously worked on other types of design and construct major projects, like motorways and port projects, but this was the first time I was applying those skills in my specialist area of water management.

The focus of the project was to improve water quality in the Eastlakes and Botany Bay catchment through stormwater diversions around a historic landfill, gross pollutant traps and the construction of a wetland system. It involved working closely with the client, Sydney Water, and the lead civil contractor. This really established Haskoning as an expert in designing and constructing stream restoration projects, paving the way for many successful projects that followed.

Another project that I’m incredibly proud of is our work with the Hunter Valley Flood Mitigation Scheme. Living and working in Newcastle, I had a front-row seat to see the impacts of consecutive major floods across the Hunter Valley during 2021 and 2022. Seeing the damage first-hand made the project feel deeply personal. Over the years since, we’ve closely partnered with the NSW government, local communities and landowners to repair and strengthen flood protection infrastructure. One of the most rewarding moments was hearing directly from a landholder who thanked the team for making a difference. It was a simple reminder that engineering is ultimately about people.

Strong partnerships bring together different perspectives, technical expertise and experience to solve challenges that would otherwise be difficult to tackle alone.

One of the partnerships I value most is our relationship with JK Geotechnics. For more than 12 years, we've drawn on their geotechnical expertise to support projects such as the Hunter Valley Flood Mitigation Scheme and other dam and levee projects. Combining geotechnical analysis with flood and river engineering knowledge gives us greater confidence when tackling complex challenges and helps ensure we deliver the best possible outcomes for our clients.

For me, partnership isn't just about combining technical skills. It's about trust, open discussion and being confident enough to challenge ideas in pursuit of the best possible outcome.

I remember being at primary school, over 40 years ago, and having teachers talk to us about climate change. It’s been frustrating throughout my career to see the world not deal adequately with this threat, but I think we’re finally seeing change. Governments, communities and organisations are increasingly investing in resilience, adaptation and long-term planning.

Over the next 15 years, climate change will continue to influence every aspect of our work, from increasing rainfall intensity and sea level rise to more frequent and severe flooding. The challenge is no longer preparing for a distant future. It's responding to impacts that are already being experienced today.

As engineers, we won't always have a structural solution for every problem. Our responsibility is to think beyond the immediate brief, consider communities and natural systems together and provide advice that is practical, proportionate and responsible. The projects that excite me most are those where engineering, science and nature work together to deliver lasting resilience.