Industry leader, consultant and coach Stacey Daniel has built an engineering career defined by contrast. From the red earth of Kalgoorlie to the alpine landscapes of Falls Creek, she has worked in places shaped by scarcity, excess and everything in between. Each experience reinforced her view that regional water development is often grounded in local conditions.
Stacey said her early years in Western Australia were a powerful education in the realities of water scarcity.
“I had a real appreciation for water resources in going to an arid environment,” she said. “When you are talking about rehabilitation, you are talking about re-establishing the land ideally to what it was. It is pretty challenging.”
Her work involved reshaping landforms to capture limited rainfall and designing revegetation programs that could survive without ongoing intervention. The process required careful experimentation with soil types, seeds, slopes and surface conditions. It also taught her how closely engineering outcomes depend on the local environment.
Returning to Victoria made the contrasts even sharper. Falls Creek, where she later served on the Board of Management, relied on natural runoff and high-mountain lakes.
“In some cases, you can have natural system solutions, but then in other cases you need to engage a very engineered, manufactured solution,” she said.
From desalination plants on minesites to hydro-supported alpine lakes, she saw firsthand how different communities built resilience using the tools available to them.
- Want more information on what Inside Water is up to? Sign up for our weekly email, landing in inboxes with the latest news.
- Do you want the magazine delivered to your letterbox? Sign up here to subscribe.
How is water security evolving across regional Australia?
Stacey has watched attitudes toward water security mature over the past two decades and points to the emergence of national frameworks as a major shift.
“There is a need for water of certain quality and quantity in different areas, and also the ability to plan for what future demands might be relative to population, industry and commercial growth,” she said.
“Every solution has got to be tailored for the region, and that is where action plans can come in, because they provide a framework for some common direction.”
She said national planning initiatives helped overcome the fragmentation that often slowed or complicated regional water decisions and that bringing councils, agencies, and communities together in one conversation made long-term planning more achievable.
Stacey’s exposure in northern Victoria reinforced this. At the time, central Victorian towns were reaching their supply limits and multiple pipeline projects were proposed to support anticipated growth.
“There was a focus on continuing to provide water to meet demand than managing demands to meet limited supplies ,” she said.
She said the scenario demonstrated how regional resilience is built through forecasting, scenario planning, and investment, rather than reactive decision-making.
What can innovation look like outside major cities?
Stacey believes innovation in regional water development is accelerating, especially in industries such as tourism and agriculture, which rely on real-time environmental understanding.
“I think there is so much opportunity with how we can use technology to really advance our monitoring and understanding,” she said.
She highlighted the growing use of soil moisture sensors, climate-aware irrigation systems and data platforms can improve decision-making for land managers. She also pointed to snowmaking technology in alpine resorts as an example of how climate adaptation is influencing water use.
She described Mount Buller’s recent efforts to refine snow crystal generation as a sign of how technology and climate pressures intersect. These innovations, she said, demonstrate how regional communities are adopting new tools to respond to environmental uncertainty.
How does collaboration shape long-term outcomes?
Although Stacey has seen many successful partnerships, she also noted that not every promising idea progresses due to timing, competing priorities or changing roles.
She shared an example from early in her career involving an industrial site, a golf course and a nearby freeway project. The concept explored whether recycled water could be transferred between sites to support more sustainable land management.
“It was really interesting,” she recalled. “There was a real win-win opportunity for both sites. It balanced out with what the needs were at the golf course.”
She said the experience highlighted the importance of collaboration, continuity, and transparent discussions to advancing regional water projects and decision making.
“Infrastructure can only go so far, but it is the human side that we also need to bear in mind,” she said.
Her involvement with Engineers Without Borders programs strengthens this perspective. Helping implement water, sanitation and hygiene programs in Cambodian schools highlights how education, local ownership and long-term engagement create more durable outcomes.
What opportunities exist for future professionals?
Daniel’s recognition at this year’s Women in Industry Awards reflected her leadership and advocacy for engineering careers and voices in governance and decision-making.
“It was really great to get recognised for the work that I have done where I have seen a need,” she said.
She said regional pathways offer unmatched opportunities for early-career engineers to contribute meaningfully to communities, develop broad technical skills and participate in high-impact projects.
“Regional places are fabulous,” she said. “There is a need for water delivery, there is water engineering, and there are career opportunities in the industry all over the country.”
She also said modern communication has made regional work far more accessible for people who want different lifestyles and career flexibility without losing connection to family and friends.
Daniel’s expertise in sustainability and development also saw her recently appointed to the Regional Development Australia Melbourne Committee, providing support to the broader regions.
What will shape the next decade?
Stacey sees the next decade as a period of significant opportunity for regional water development. National frameworks are strengthening, climate data is improving and community expectations are rising.
“There is so much breadth and diversity with all of these projects considering different factors right across the country,” she said.
She believes the future will reward engineers and technologists who can combine local understanding with national thinking, and who can balance environmental, cultural and economic priorities.
Her message for emerging professionals is optimistic. The field is expanding, the work is meaningful, and the needs of regional Australia ensure there will always be space for motivated professionals who want to make a difference.