Byron Shire Council to consider call-up of retired engineers to address flood recovery works

Byron Shire Council is set to consider a novel plan to enlist the skills of private civil engineers - even those who have retired - to address the mountain of post-flood public works. Here’s how it would work.

Councillor Duncan Dey.

A call may go out to Byron Shire’s civil engineers - even those who have retired - to get back on the tools in a bold push to progress flood recovery works.

Councillor Duncan Dey has put in a notice of motion seeking to rally the troops and address a critical shortage of civil engineers across the Northern Rivers.

Mr Dey said his plan would ensure that civil engineers could supervise flood-damaged work sites for “the betterment of public infrastructure to withstand future impacts of natural disasters”.

If the proposal succeeds, retired and local practising engineers would work alongside council employed engineers.

Under Mr Dey’s plan, any new people coming on-board would have to be members or better of the Institution of Engineers Australia - including retired members, who could act as mentors for council’s own engineers.

Wilson's River looking downstream to Ballina Rd Bridge.

Mr Dey believes his plan could work as Byron Shire is home to many experts, including civil engineers.

At council‘s Infrastructure Advisory Committee meeting on June 16, there were “frank discussions” about the delays that may “frustrate the general public in the delivery of post-flood projects”.

Mr Dey said a contributing factor to project delays was “shortages of qualified engineers” and his mentoring plan would mean “ultimate control remains in the hands of councillor employees, but they’d have advice at their fingertips”.

“I greatly support the concept of mentoring, which enables experts with the experience to guide and empower more newly qualified engineers to learn,” he said.

Workers put sandbags in place at Thai By Knight restaurant in River Street, Ballina ahead of forecast flooding. Picture: Liana Boss

Current private and retired civil engineers could provide advice on technical design, standards, tendering, contacting supervision and more.

Council’s Infrastructure Services director, Phillip Holloway, puts Byron Shire’s current estimate of infrastructure recovery in addition to business as usual infrastructure works at some $200 million.

This is likely to increase as additional grant programs are released in response to the event.

Mr Holloway notes while council has a “staff resource deficiency”, some issues might have to be addressed if outsiders were brought in, like the need to maintain confidentiality and non-disclosure on works.

“If mentors have been out of the industry, skill sets would need to be determined to have current skill ability and knowledge of current legislation,” he said of Mr Dey’s plan.

Byron Shire Council’s next ordinary meeting is on October 27 at Mullumbimby.