Duncan - Team Leader, Floodplain Planning & Response
“How do you stop it raining?”
That’s the question Duncan is inevitably asked when he tells people he manages flooding on the Northern Beaches.
While Duncan can’t control the weather, he does his best to protect our lagoons in this extraordinary part of the world we live in.
“Each day is different, one day I’ll be planning on how we can best respond to a natural disaster, or managing the contractors working on our lagoons and the next I’m researching new technologies that Council can use to better prepare for severe weather.”
Duncan moved from Western Australia to the Northern Beaches when he was 22, specifically to take up a floodplain management role at the former Warringah Council.
“After six years, I still feel so privileged that I not only live in such a beautiful part of the world but also get to make a real difference about an area that I care about.
“The joy and sometimes difficulty about local government is that you are working on everyday issues that impact the lives of our community. Instead of writing high level policy or working with another level of government, local Councils directly influences the liveability of the places we love.
“That’s why I love it- I see tangible on-the-ground results on projects that I am so passionate about.”
As for his team, Duncan says he couldn't’t do his job without them, “A large part of why I love my job is the people I work with. I’ve been at Council for most of my 20s and have almost grown up with my colleagues. They are so passionate that they motivate me to do my job to the best of my ability.”