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Presidents Report - Welcome and Introduction
Welcome to the first newsletter of 2025! I’d like to start by wishing all our members a Happy New Year and thanking you for your continued support. I also want to acknowledge that this newsletter issue has been delayed – thank you for your patience. We’ve hit the ground running this year, and despite the late edition of the Condit, I’m excited to share our updates and plans.
The land development industry is facing some headwinds as we enter 2025. Economic pressures – from rising costs to interest rate impacts – are being felt across projects, and challenges in project delivery timelines continue to test us. However, despite these hurdles, our outlook remains overwhelmingly positive. Demand for development is still strong, and as an association we see opportunities for innovation and collaboration to overcome delivery challenges.
Engagement with Government and Stakeholders
Open communication and advocacy with government agencies and key stakeholders remain a priority. Recently, we had a very productive meeting with the Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) to discuss developer-funded assets. This discussion centered on how infrastructure funded and delivered by developers can be better integrated and accepted into the broader transport network. It was encouraging to see DTP’s receptiveness to industry input. We plan to continue this engagement throughout 2025, ensuring that the voice of land development engineers is heard in policy and process improvements. Our goal is to work with DTP on clear guidelines and smoother pathways for developer-delivered infrastructure, benefiting both our members and the community.
In addition, Melbourne Water has committed to providing an industry update via webinar in the coming months. This webinar will cover important updates on water and drainage issues affecting land development. We recognize not all members have direct access to these insights, so our association will partner with Melbourne Water to bring this webinar to our wider membership in the first half of the year. Keep an eye out for the date – we’ll ensure you have the opportunity to participate, ask questions, and stay informed on the latest from Melbourne Water. These kinds of collaborations with authorities are a key focus for us, as they help keep our members at the forefront of industry changes and best practices.
Revitalising Our Committees
One of the strengths of our association is our committee structure, which allows members to focus on specific aspects of our industry. I’m pleased to report that we have reactivated all our committees, and they are now meeting regularly. Each committee chair is providing monthly reports to the Executive, ensuring a steady flow of information and progress updates. This reactivation has really injected new energy and focus into our activities – and it means more opportunities for you to get involved in areas you’re passionate about. We encourage members to join or contribute to committees of interest; it’s one of the best ways to drive change and have your say in the association.
Key Committee Updates
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Main Drainage Committee: This committee, led by Jamie Tainton, has been working closely with Melbourne Water on drainage infrastructure. Collaboration with Melbourne Water is ongoing to improve standards and processes for main drainage in new developments. The committee’s efforts are helping ensure that our projects effectively manage stormwater and flooding risks, and we thank Jamie and the team for strengthening this vital partnership.
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Local Government Committee: Chaired by Jake Talbot, this committee is actively engaging with councils and is involved in the Engineering Design & Construction Manual (EDCM) Technical Committee. By participating in the EDCM Technical Committee, Jake and his team are helping to refine the standards that many councils use for land development works. This not only elevates the consistency of design across municipalities but also gives our association a voice in how these standards evolve.
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Hydraulic Committee: Our hydraulic committee is developing a handbook on the Construction Auditor role in collaboration with the retail water authorities. This handbook aims to clarify and standardize the expectations for construction audits of water and sewer infrastructure in developments. Under the guidance of Adam King, the committee welcomes contributors who have experience with water authority audits. If you’re passionate about water infrastructure and quality assurance, reach out to Adam to help shape this important industry resource.
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Electrical & Communications Committee: This committee has been focusing on the utilities side of development. A key update is that they have formally requested the reinstatement of the Harmonisation Committee. Many of you will recall that the Harmonisation Committee’s purpose is to align standards and practices across different power and telecom utilities. Reinstating it would be a big step toward consistent, streamlined electrical and communications designs in our projects. We’re hopeful for a positive response and will keep members updated on progress.
These committees are the engine rooms of our association – a big thank you to all the committee chairs and members who volunteer their time. Their monthly reports to the Executive have been invaluable in keeping our entire leadership informed and coordinated.
We’re excited to see these groups continue to drive improvements and provide technical leadership throughout 2025.
2024 Conference Success and 2026 Plans
Looking back, one of the highlights of last year was our 2024 ALDE Conference. The conference, themed “Connecting the Pieces: Crafting the Future of Land Development,” was a resounding success. We had robust attendance, insightful presentations, and great interaction among industry professionals. It truly served as a platform for sharing ideas and fostering connections. I want to thank everyone—organizers, volunteers, speakers, and attendees—who made the 2024 conference such a memorable event.
Building on that success, we are pleased to announce plans for our next conference in 2026. We have begun the early stages of planning to ensure it will be just as impactful. We’ll be seeking member input on topics and themes later this year. If you have ideas on what you’d like to see at the 2026 conference, we’d love to hear from you. Stay tuned for more details as we progress with planning – we’re committed to making the 2026 conference an even greater platform for learning and networking.
Growing Membership and Refined Benefits
Our association’s membership continues to grow, which is fantastic news. We’ve seen a healthy increase in membership over the past year, reflecting the value people see in being part of our community of practice. I extend a warm welcome to all new members – you’ve joined at an exciting time, and we encourage you to get involved and make the most of your membership.
With this growth, we’ve also been taking a close look at membership entitlements and benefits. The Executive Committee has been working on refining our membership packages to ensure that all members – get clear and fair value from their membership. This means clarifying what benefits you receive (such as event access, training discounts, resources, and voting rights) and exploring new benefits we could offer. For example, we are evaluating additional professional development resources and exclusive industry updates for members. Our goal is to have an updated membership benefits framework rolled out later in the year. As always, if you have suggestions on what would make your membership more valuable, please share them with us. Growing our ranks and improving member services go hand-in-hand to strengthen our industry voice.
Regional Growth and Networking Opportunities
It’s not just in Melbourne where we’re seeing momentum – our presence in regional areas is expanding as well. In particular, our Geelong and Gippsland regions have experienced notable growth in membership and activity. This year, expect to see more networking and event opportunities tailored to our regional members. We plan to host informal meet-ups, technical seminars, and networking nights in Geelong and Gippsland, providing forums for local issues and connections. Gippsland members can also look forward to a meet-up in the coming months to discuss development challenges unique to the region (such as rural drainage and coastal development considerations). By fostering strong regional networks, we ensure that no matter where you are – city or country – your association is working for you. If you’re based in these regions and interested in helping organize or lead local events, please get in touch.
Strengthening Governance and Data Security
Good governance is critical to maintaining trust and integrity in our association. To that end, we recently undertook an audit on member data security. With growing membership and increasing digital engagement, we want to make sure that all sensitive information – from your contact details to any payment info – is kept secure and handled in compliance with privacy regulations. The audit reviewed our data storage systems, website, and communication platforms for vulnerabilities and adherence to best practices.
I’m happy to report that the audit found our systems to be generally sound, with no major security issues. We did receive a few recommendations, such as implementing more frequent password updates and enhancing encryption in certain areas. The Executive is now actioning these recommendations to further strengthen our safeguards. Protecting member data is an ongoing commitment, and we will continue to review our practices regularly. Transparency is also important, so if anyone has questions about how we manage and protect your data, please feel free to reach out for more information. Overall, this governance initiative is about ensuring we uphold the highest standards of professionalism not just in engineering, but in how we run our association.
Diversity & Inclusion Initiatives
Our commitment to Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) remains strong. A diverse and inclusive industry makes us all more innovative and resilient. Over the past year, our D&I subcommittee has been very active. One notable activity was our participation in the RMIT Civil Engineering Industry Day. In collaboration with our YIELD (Young Engineers) group and the Education subcommittee, D&I helped host an interactive booth at RMIT’s event, engaging with the next generation of engineers. This was a great opportunity to showcase the land development field to students and to emphasize the inclusive culture we are fostering in our workplaces. We plan to continue such outreach at universities and career expos, highlighting that our industry is welcoming to all and offers exciting career paths.
Keep an eye on our events calendar for D&I events – all members are encouraged to attend and be part of the conversation. Whether you’re a seasoned manager or a young engineer, everyone has a role in shaping an equitable industry culture.
YIELD – Young Engineers Group
Our YIELD (Young Engineers in Land Development) group continues to thrive, and it’s playing a crucial role in nurturing the upcoming generation of professionals. Led by Kieran Ayres, the YIELD committee has been hard at work creating opportunities for younger members to learn, network, and contribute. By providing training in tools like ALDE 12d, we’re helping young engineers build practical skills that will benefit their daily work and career growth. The success of our self-paced 12d online course has shown the appetite for such initiatives, and YIELD plans to organize more technical workshops and maybe even site tours to complement it.
To our experienced members, I encourage you to support Kieran and the YIELD team – whether it’s by volunteering as a speaker at a YIELD event, or simply encouraging the young engineers in your teams to get involved. Our young engineers are the future of this industry and the association, and investing in their development is something we all benefit from. If you or someone in your office is a young professional not yet involved with YIELD, now is a great time to join and take advantage of the networking and learning on offer.
Looking Ahead
In closing, I want to touch on an important topic for the year ahead: clarifying the role of Registered Engineers in our industry. With the implementation of professional engineer registration laws in recent times, there’s been some uncertainty about how these regulations apply specifically to land development engineering. We understand that members have questions about whether certain design certifications or sign-offs require a Registered Professional Engineer, and how this impacts the way we practice.
We’re liaising with industry bodies and regulators to get clear interpretations, and we plan to publish a guidance note to help our members understand their obligations. Our aim is to ensure that every member is well-informed about the expectations and can confidently fulfill their professional duties under the new registration framework.
Overall, 2025 is shaping up to be a year of growth, engagement, and consolidation for our association. We will continue to advocate on your behalf, provide forums for knowledge-sharing, and deliver value for your membership. Despite any challenges that arise, I am confident that by working together and supporting each other, we will achieve great outcomes for the land development engineering community.
Thank you for reading, and thank you for being a part of our association. Here’s to a successful year ahead!
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