EA Sydney President's Message - October 2014
Engineers are central to our society’s health, wellbeing and prosperity.
Now is an exciting time to be a professional engineer in this state. New South Wales is the largest state of Australia; one-third of the national population – 7.5 million people. It has the largest economy and is growing.
One of the pleasures of being President this year, has been learning about the exciting work done by engineers across our state. This month, let’s travel across New South Wales…
New South Wales
Engineers are central in our society for health, wellbeing, prosperity and success. We are a strong and innovative profession. Engineers Australia, the peak professional body for engineers, has more than 100,000 members around the world. 26% of the members of Engineers Australia live in New South Wales.
New South Wales has a diverse state economy. More than 80% of our economy is knowledge-based, including industries based on professional services, financial services, ICT, tourism and the creative industries. In education, NSW is recognised internationally for our universities. NSW has the largest share of manufacturing in Australia.
Development, innovation and engineering occurs in Sydney and across the state of NSW. This month I shall discuss some of the developments in our regions.
Snapshot - Diversity of Regional Development
It has been a pleasure, as President, to visit our diverse regions across New South Wales. This month, I would like to share some brief snapshots with you. There is interesting and creative engineering work occurring across the state.
Riverina and Murray
Having a background in the food industry, I especially looked forward to my visit to the food bowl of Australia - the Riverina. The locals were proud of their area, and invited me to visit “Beautiful Wagga Wagga”. I was pleased to visit local meat and dairy facilities, and cultural institutions. New industries are moving are into the Wagga Wagga industrial zone, capitalising on the locational advantages such as cheap land, capable work force, rail access and mid-way between Sydney and Melbourne. I visited Charles Sturt University and we discussed plans for a new Faculty of Engineering.
Central and Far West
Engineering work in the Central and Far West of the state includes mining, land development (subdivisions), utility services (water, sewerage, electricity, and telecommunications), road management (local & state government), agriculture and food processing. Local consultancies represent the majority of engineering positions. There are some very interesting new projects. The Solar Flagship 103 MW Photovoltaic Project at Nyngan (1.4 million individual solar panels) is currently underway. Major irrigation scheme modernisation projects worth close to $200 million are taking place at Narromine and Warren (channel relining, new control gates and systems, stock and domestic pipelines to serve individual farms that are converting from irrigated to dry land farming). A $1 billion zirconia and rare earths mine and processing plant shall be south of Dubbo. The NBN is now being rolled out in Dubbo.
Southern Highlands and Tablelands
Engineering work includes land development, utilities, environment, transport and roads. Industries employing engineers include mining, construction, agriculture, local government, and local consultancies. On my visit to the Southern Highlands, I was especially intrigued by the environmental issues and the discussion about water conservation, land use, and recycling. The Engineers Australia regional group has been especially active in promoting engineering careers to schools and the southern highlands group has taken the lead in organising our NSW Regional Convention to be held this weekend.
Illawarra, Shoalhaven and South
The engineering of the Illawarra region is ‘famous’ globally – with the spectacular sights of Sea Cliff Bridge on the Grand Pacific Drive being a popular destination for filmmakers and tourists. The University of Wollongong has 3,000 students enrolled in engineering degrees. I was intrigued at the amount of development; there is much current engineering activity in the development of local infrastructure, transport, shopping centres and the NBN rollout. The area has undergone transformation in recent years. There are vibrant construction, mining and manufacturing sectors in the Illawarra.
Further south, the Shoalhaven and far south Coast, there are regional industries such as dairy, and the area is undergoing rapid land development. The associated civil, construction, utilities and environmental work has led to an increase in engineering job vacancies this year. The far south region is also home to an International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark… This year, it is forty years since work finished on the Snowy Mountains Hydro-electric Scheme in 1974.
Greater Western Sydney (GWS)
Although we might not consider Greater Western Sydney (GWS) within standard definitions of ‘regional engineering’, it is sometimes helpful to consider the GWS community separately to central and eastern Sydney. The challenges and opportunities within GWS are distinctive. The area of Greater Western Sydney is a tremendous area of opportunity. Approximately 2.5 million people live in GWS, including the Blue Mountains. This is the third biggest ‘population’ in Australia (after Sydney and Melbourne – it is bigger than Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide,…). GWS is the largest area of manufacturing industry in Australia. New developments taking place in Parramatta, include the decision by the University of Western Sydney to build a campus in central Parramatta. A major focus is infrastructure development such as Badgerys Creek airport and associated transport links (rail and road). Decisions by governments shall have an enormous impact on GWS.
Engineers are actively engaged in their regional communities
A strength within regional areas is often the strong engagement with the regional communities. Engineers in regional areas often have a strong connection with the local community – because they live and work in those communities.
Our Engineers Australia regional groups are active in using their networks to promote the profession of engineering – with dinners, speakers, and site visits. The choice of topics and visits raises awareness of engineering issues and lifts the profile of the profession in regional areas.
Local collaborations include the work of Engineers Australia regional groups to support school students in maths and science, and to encourage the next generation to have an interest in engineering and technology careers.
One example in schools is the Science and Engineering Challenge, where Engineers Australia regional groups are actively engaged, together with the local Rotary groups, to reach school students across the Southern Highlands and Tablelands, Central West and West of the state. Challenge events were hosted in Mittagong, Moss Vale, Goulburn, and Dubbo. Cobar runs an “Outback” Challenge.
Another example is Discover Engineering day where students engage in engineering activities and meet representatives from the universities and TAFE. Two hundred students participated this year in the Discover Engineering Day held in Wagga Wagga. I like one story especially about the passion and commitment… this year, a bus load of students from further west, travelled for three hours to participate in Discover Engineering Day at Wagga Wagga… a six hour return trip by bus!
Together, these regional initiatives provide the opportunity for thousands of school children to engage in fun learning activities that promote the joy of science and engineering, as well as the practical opportunities. Without the work of Engineers Australia and local partners and sponsors, these opportunities would not be available to our students in regional areas.
Achievements of our Regional Members:
There are many ‘quiet achievers’ in our regions. I admire the innovation of our regional engineers in dealing finding resourceful solutions to practical problems.
On a global scale, there is also success by our regional engineers. The University of Wollongong with joint entrant TAFE NSW Illawarra Institute, Team UOW 'Illawarra Flame' Solar Decathlon Home, was the 2014 winner of the President’s Award for Engineering Excellence “Illawarra Flame” is an innovative multidisciplinary project which points the way towards the future in sustainable housing. The project uses world beating design and techniques to transform something old, into something outstanding. Team UOW competed in China in the world’s largest student-run global competition to beat teams from around the world, becoming world champions, with the highest ever score in the history of the competition.
Engineers Australia Regional Engagement
Voice of the Profession
This year, with the new focus on ‘voice of the profession’, Engineers Australia has had stronger public and media engagement than before, and the regions have fully embraced this.
In 2014, Engineers Australia has been on TV, Radio, newspapers, and social media. Examples in our regional areas include ABC radio discussion about engineering profession and careers, and WIN TV feature about manufacturing in regional areas.
Inaugural Regional Fellows Luncheon
A new initiative in 2014 was the Inaugural Regional Fellows Luncheon held in Wollongong in July. There were 55 Fellows in attendance, and seven received their Fellow Certificates on the day. Fellows had travelled from Riverina, Shoalhaven, Illawarra, Southern Highlands and Bathurst to attend the inaugural event.
Member Services and Opportunities through digital technologies
These days, everyone wants the convenience of being able to access services, CPD and networks where and when we need them. This is especially true for our regional members.
Embracing new technologies is an important transformation, which brings special benefits to our members. This year, we have seen strengthening engagement with electronic communications. Members can now gain continuous professional development online through a new product, EOL. Our younger student and graduate members can connect with employers through another new product, EA Connect.
Regional Coordination
Nationally, the National Special Interest Group for Regional Engineers was created in 2012 has allowed a cross-Divisional focus to develop. Approximately 15% of all Engineers Australia live or work in regional areas.
In New South Wales, almost 30% of the members of Engineers Australia live outside of Sydney.
Our regional members are important to us. This year we made improvements in regional coordination and supportive networks for office bearers. Groups are supported through networks of the Regional Chairs committee, Board of Engineering Practice, and the new Annual induction process. During 2014, from Sydney Division, there has been strong staff support, staff visits to the regional groups, and Chartered workshops run in the regional areas.
New South Wales Regional Engineering Conference
This week, we hold the New South Wales Regional Engineering Convention. I look forward to this and congratulate everyone involved. Next month, we shall be able to report on the outcomes.
In Conclusion…
I thank the members of the regional groups, especially Illawarra Regional Group, Riverina Regional Group, Southern Highlands Regional Group and Western Sydney Regional Group for their hospitality during each of my visits.
I hope my column this month has celebrated the diversity of engineering across the state of New South Wales and the wonderful job done by our regional engineers and groups.
A few final words, looking more broadly…
This week, the Federal Government has released its science, innovation and competitiveness agenda. Engineering policy continues to be uncertain, and is not specifically addressed within the agenda. We shall closely analyse the strategy and its implementation.
This year, Engineers Australia is again breaking new ground. Convention 2014 brings together a range of conferences, in the one place, at the one time – to be held in Melbourne, next month, in November. I encourage members to consider how you might wish to be part of this landmark event.
Alexandra Meldrum FIEAust CPEng FIChemE FAICD
President, Engineers Australia, Sydney Division
References and Further reading
- Sources of NSW statistics: Census data, Treasury data, NSW Trade and Investment, ABS statistics.
NSW Regional Development:
Engineers Australia has a number of programs at schools
Engineers Australia Media and Public Affairs produces a range of materials:
Engineers Australia Member Services - New Digital Services in 2014
Engineering online (EOL)
- EOL provides online professional development for engineers.
www.engineeringonline.com
EAConnect:
- EA Connect is an exclusive website for student and graduate members to find work placement opportunities suited to their level:
- For students and recent graduates:
http://www.engineersaustralia.org.au/students-and-graduates/ea-connect-s...
http://www.engineersaustralia.org.au/professional-development/ea-connect...