Leading provider of climate resilience, adaptation management, and maritime engineering, Royal HaskoningDHV, has announced the promotion of two of its senior engineering team to support further growth in the waterfront development and coastal resilience sectors. Principal Coastal Engineers Natalie Patterson and Dan Messiter have both been promoted to the expanded role of Market Lead for Coastal and Waterfront Development, while also retaining their current engineering positions.
A report revealed Australian governments will need to invest $30 billion in large-scale coastal protection and adaptation projects over the next 50 years due to climate change heightening the vulnerability of coastal communities, property, and infrastructure. Royal HaskoningDHV has bolstered its team to help support governments and communities through this important development phase to strengthen long-term coastal resilience within the country.
“As climate change continues to amplify flood and coastal risks, planning for resilience is more critical than ever. I’m pleased to take up this new role, bringing my decades of expertise in coastal resilience projects to this area and helping to drive impactful change in coastal regions both locally and globally,” said Patterson.
With more than 25 years’ experience across the UK and Australia markets, Patterson is a specialist in the investigation of coastal processes and hazards, emergency coastal erosion management, development of coastal management programs, and the design and construction of temporary and permanent coastal protection structures. Committed to sustainable development, she is focused on delivering effective coastal planning and management.
Messiter brings over 25 years’ experience in port, coastal, estuarine, ocean, and environmental engineering, specialising in conceptual, numerical and physical modelling, coastal structures, dredging assessments, recreational boating infrastructure, coastal management and resilience, nature-based solutions, risk management and environmental impact assessments.
“With more than half of the world’s population living within coastal areas, it’s a global priority to support environmental resilience to flooding and coastal change. I’m looking forward to working with locals, governments and the private sector to bring awareness to this critical industry and better safeguard communities,” said Messiter.
Royal HaskoningDHV provides support, guidance and development in coastal and waterfront development for local residents, trade, and tourism. The company is highly experienced in this area, with notable projects including designing a seawall for Waverley Council to meet modern surf lifesaving and beach access standards, and to address coastal protection needs and the impact of rising sea levels.
The team also designed repair solutions for minor ports entrance breakwaters at Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour and Nambucca Heads. These critical infrastructure repairs ensure long-term protection and stability to regional township areas, safeguarding communities and associated business and tourism against climate change uncertainty.
Royal HaskoningDHV continues to support the resilience and protection of Queensland’s Gold Coast coastline through its Sand Sourcing and Supply Study, a key initiative aimed at combating the impacts of climate change. With decades of experience in coastal management, the company was engaged by the City of Gold Coast to plan for future large-scale beach nourishment projects that will protect local infrastructure, tourism, and community livelihoods.
The Royal HaskoningDHV team’s coastal expertise has also been commissioned for several resilience projects in Pacific Island countries including Nauru, Tonga, Tuvalu and the Marshall Islands where mitigating coastal climate change challenges is at the heart of the nation’s existence. Similar work is being completed in the Torres Straits Islands.
The company takes a multidisciplinary approach to creating tailored plans that ensure efficient, sustainable, and resilient waterfront developments by addressing both engineering and environmental contexts on land and in the water.
Both Patterson and Messiter will be presenting at the NSW Coastal Conference in Batemans Bay in November 2024.
