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Member Profile, Bruce Stevenson
Bruce Stevenson
I am a retired Civil Engineer having worked in the Local Government area for over 40 years.
My qualifications include a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) from Darling Downs Institute of Advanced Education (now USQ) completed in 1972, and a Certificate as a Local Government Engineer. I am a Non-Practicing Registered Professional Engineer of Queensland, a Member of Engineers Australia, and a retired Fellow of IPWEAQ. I have worked across seven shires and councils, a federal government department, as well as in private consulting. I retired in 2016.
What was the industry like when you started your career?
In the 1970s, local government engineering offered many opportunities, particularly if you were willing to move to rural areas. The works environment was much less formal than it is now but working in rural areas meant a degree of professional isolation. There were no computers, no mobile phones, WH&S was much less prominent and job quality was assured by adequate supervision and inspection, rather than by more recent QA systems.
Although we didn’t appreciate it at the time, funding for engineering functions was relatively greater than current times, due in part, to councils, particularly rural councils, tending to concentrate on their road, water and sewerage functions, rather than spending significantly on the variety of other functions embraced these days.
Standards were a little lower than today, although adequate for the time, and costs were relatively lower, due in part to there being less “red tape”.
Sheffield, Tasmania during a hiking trip with a group of bushwalkers in 2017 (not every day that you see an alpaca in the main street - Bruce, on the right).
What are the most significant differences then and now as you understand it?
One of the most significant changes between then and now, to my mind, is computerisation.
I started using computers in my job in the late 1990s and now, it would not be possible to function without them. I refer not only to the personal use of computers for things such as day to day report writing and use of spreadsheets, but also to the design, modelling and control functions computers are used for. The introduction of the internet and mobile phones have also occurred over my working career, from being unavailable early on to being essential tools now. It is hard to imagine working without these modern aids these days and there can be little doubt that efficiency has improved as a result. However, I believe there are downsides, including the time taken to service the requirements of these systems, such as emails, and the intrusion on our private lives as a result of being instantly available at all times.
Is it better or worse than it used to be? What changes had the most impact?
There is little doubt in my mind that things have generally changed for the better with local government engineering over the years even though it is tempting to look back, perhaps with “rose coloured glasses”, at how things were, even though some of the changes were certainly challenging at the time of implementation.
Hiking in north west Tasmania during a 2 month caravan trip in 2019.
Lake Alexandrina at the mouth of the Murray River, following a boat cruise up the Murray in 2016.
Significant beneficial changes include the introduction of Workplace Health and Safety legislation which has led to a greater and much needed emphasis on safety in the workforce and the requirement to undertake Asset Management Planning for our various assets, including roads, bridges, water, sewerage, and buildings.
Engineering standards, construction techniques and plant have been improved, and matters such as road safety and environmental issues given more emphasis at design stage.
On the downside, I believe that funding for the basic engineering functions has suffered due to the ever-increasing expansion of local government’s range of functions and exacerbated by the fact that costs have inevitably risen.
What do you consider is your legacy?
This is a difficult question for me to answer because I believe it is up to others to judge the legacy that I may have left. I would like to think that I left the places in which I worked in better stead than when I arrived, with workforces more efficient and producing better quality work, in keeping with the increasing expectations of the industry and that there was a genuine increase in the standards of the engineering assets in those Council areas.
I also believe I did my part in ensuring that the engineering profession continues to be held in high regard within the community.
I am proud of the fact that I was part of the Jondaryan Shire team that negotiated a successful agreement with Toowoomba City to supply water to the Township of Oakey, without which the town would have been in dire straits as the bore water supply at the time was inadequate in both quality and quantity.
Who inspired you in the earlier days of your career and why?
Arnold Philp, who was City Engineer of Rockhampton City, offered me the position of Assistant Engineer in 1973. Arnold and his staff took me in, “showed me the ropes”, and instilled a working habit which served me well all my working life. I was entrusted with challenging projects early on and had to “swim hard” at times to keep afloat, but Arnold had a can-do attitude which I always admired, and the other engineering staff were always there to advise and assist. After four years he encouraged me to start applying for Shire Engineer positions in rural shires, as a way to further my career. I was successful in my application to Booringa Shire as their Shire Engineer and wouldn’t have pursued such an application if not for Arnold’s encouragement.
What did you enjoy most about working as an engineer in public works?
The most satisfying outcome for me, working as an engineer in public works, was the ability to make a difference to the community at a grass roots level. I always made sure I listened to the concerns of the public and tried to facilitate the alleviation of those concerns. The majority of people I worked with, both “outside” staff and “inside “staff as well as Councillors, were great people who were a pleasure to work with.
Engineers are the fourth most trusted profession (after medical professionals) – how have engineers earned this trust and maintained it over such a long period of time?
I believe engineers are generally seen by the public as promoting high standards and having integrity and are seen as can-do people. There is no doubt that organisations such as Engineers Australia and IPWEAQ have had a major role in promoting this trust in the engineering profession and continue to do so.
What do you wish our citizens understood better regarding the engineering of their communities? What are some common misconceptions you’ve had to address?
I have found that the majority of citizens or ratepayers in the areas that I have worked in have been genuine people who generally accept that local government is working in their best interests. However, I think there is a common misconception that once an asset is built; e.g., a road is sealed, a pipeline laid, it should last forever without the need to refurbish or replace at considerable cost.
Wakefield Race Track near Goulburn.
What advice would you pass on to recent graduates?
My advice to recent graduates would be to accept the challenges presented to you and don’t hesitate to ask the advice of your peers and supervisors. Engage with your workers, if you have a supervisory role, as they often have a lot of good, practical knowledge to impart, which can broaden your experience.
Mistakes will be made, so learn from them and move forward and use them as part of your learning experience.
Be honest and fair in your dealings with the public – I have found that they will usually (sometimes reluctantly) accept a negative response if dealt with fairly and given the facts.
How has IPWEAQ been involved in your career? What were your memorable moments?
I first joined IPWEAQ (Institute of Municipal Engineering Australia Queensland Division, it was called back then) in 1977 and attended my first Annual Conference in that year, experiencing wonderful comradery which continued over the years. Older, experienced members were only too willing to offer friendship and advice, which was very welcome given my relative professional isolation out at Mitchell at the time.
Over the years I attended many memorable Annual Conferences and South West Branch Conferences. Additionally, I hosted a SW Branch conference in Oakey on one occasion, which was certainly memorable. The updating of knowledge imparted by the various conference papers was invaluable, but so too was the ability to mingle with fellow practitioners to discuss mutual problems and issues or to simply socialise.
I was fortunate to have been a Board Member with IPWEAQ for a term and have fond memories of a number of trips to the Board Meetings in Brisbane with Ray Moore from Toowoomba City.
If retired, how do you occupy your time? What are your interests and hobbies?
I am often asked how I fill in my days now that I’m retired and do I get bored. My answer is that I don’t know how I had the time to go to work, because there is so much to do – I definitely don’t get bored.
Some of the things I do to occupy my time include travel, usually with a caravan in tow (I have visited many areas throughout Australia, but have only scratched the surface) and family – I have 4 kids and 10 grandkids and spend a lot of time visiting, helping celebrate birthdays, etc. Other interests include bushwalking on the weekends and mid – week, bike riding, playing golf and motorsport.
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