Protecting the coastlines we value most

During my time at Haskoning, I’ve worked closely with the state and local governments on the management of the Stockton beach area. Stockton Beach has been significantly impacted by erosion issues with longterm losses of 1m of beach width per year over almost a century. These challenges have become increasingly intense in the last 5-10 years as assets become threatened, especially after multiple extreme storm events.

Working on this project has been technically challenging. At a planning level, I’ve been involved in working on the coastline management program for the Stockton beach area, which was the first under a new legislative framework. This was required to be completed during the COVID lockdown, with a tight timeframe set by the state government. After much investigation and analysis we ultimately put forward the solution of mass sand nourishment as the proposed coastline management action. The approach had not previously been implemented in New South Wales and was considered controversial, but it was ultimately the best solution supported by the evidence.

The project wasn't only about long-term planning. During major storm events, I was regularly on site helping assess risks, protect assets and support emergency response activities. Moving between strategic planning and immediate action demonstrated the full breadth of what coastal engineers do and the impact our advice can have.

Another project I’m proud of was the Coffs Harbour eastern breakwater. This is one of the most exposed breakwaters on the NSW coast and the project required the remediation of the old structure. It was technically complex to come up with a feasible design in a highly constrained environment. As a young female engineer at the early stage of my career, this project stretched and challenged me but ultimately was a milestone moment that gave me confidence Iin my abilities, judgement and what I could contribute.

One of my key clients is the City of Newcastle and I’ve worked closely with them for many years now. This has included going through changes in the team based on election cycles, which can influence what projects get funding committed. But despite those changes, we’ve been able to build a strong relationship that’s based on trust and honesty.

Through the years, I’ve been able to share my knowledge with the client team, to the point where the client builds its own internal capability.

But they know that I’m only ever a phone call away and always here to help them resolve problems as they come up. I see that as a measure of success. The goal is not dependence; the goal is helping clients become stronger and more confident. At the same time, they know we are always available when complex decisions or extreme weather events require additional support and experience.

When I started my career as an engineer over 25 years ago, I was on construction sites where I was frequently the only woman. It’s been fantastic to see this change and have the industry take a bigger focus on gender and diversity inclusion. Having more women, more people from different backgrounds, different personalities and skill sets – it’s been such a positive change, and I think it brings a lot of value. Over the next 15 years, I’m looking forward to seeing more about how different perspectives can make for more creative thinking and more big picture ideas.

Of course, the other big change I’m anticipating is the impact of climate change and how we rise to that challenge. We’re already seeing an increase in the intensity and frequency of major storm events and other natural disasters. That will have a big impact on our work as coastal engineers, especially here in Australia where there is such high population density along the coastline.

I think this will mean that over the next 15 years, we’ll see people being more willing to adapt and make changes. For example, the notion of a ‘retreat’ used to be a dirty word in coastline management. But now I think people understand that while that’s a difficult decision, when you consider the various trade-offs, it can be the best option. So, I think we’ll start seeing those hard decisions made more readily, but with an understanding that those decisions are evidence-based and the best choice out of the options available.