focusinterview
Business Minds with Sam Wardman of CornerPost Creative
Simon Waterworth GeoLINK
W
elcome to Business Minds, Simon. How did you come to call the beautiful
Coffs Coast home? I studied at UNE in Armidale and used to come down to the Coffs Coast to have a break from the cold weather. My wife (whom I met at UNE) and I, had always “earmarked” the region as a place we would love to settle. I managed to snag a job as a town planner at Bellingen Shire Council in late 2000, so we moved to the lush green Bellinger Valley from the hot, flat black soil plains of Dalby in Western Queensland, where the only place you could get a takeaway coffee was the local service station. To say I haven’t look back is an understatement. Tell us about GeoLINK and what services you provide. We are an environmental and engineering consulting firm that has been working in Northern NSW for around for 25 years. We provide an integrated mix of environmental and engineering consultancy services, including: town planning, ecology, environmental impact assessment, civil and environmental engineering, and urban and landscape design. We help our clients with the design, approval, construction and monitoring of their projects, and we are committed to finding the best social, environmental and economic solutions for their projects. Our consultancy service range expands from Newcastle to Tweed Heads, and
we also work extensively throughout rural NSW too. We love what we do and have a fantastic team based in four office locations, including: Coffs Harbour, Armidale, Lennox Head and Lismore. How has GeoLINK evolved over the past decade or so? About four years ago we had a complete change in ownership and management of the company. The three previous directors retired and sold the company to the current owner: Simon Williams, Duncan Thompson and myself. There has been a big shift in the direction of the company since the change of ownership. We have really focused on improving the financial performance of the company and expanding into markets that aligned with our existing skill set, such as the agricultural industry. We’re lucky to have a team of very talented and respected professionals to help deliver this strategic change for not only us, but our clients too. What interested you about a career in town planning, and what does a town planner actually do? I get that question a lot … and I kind of fell into town planning. Like many who leave school, I didn’t really know what I wanted to do. I read a bit about town planning and about UNE (University of New England) and Armidale and thought it looked OK. I was very lucky, I guess, that I grew to really like the profession. As a consultant Town Planner, my main role is to assist individuals, developers and government agencies negotiate the rather complex NSW Planning System to get their
based on minimal impact projects approved. These to the environment, projects can range from I think people are demanding as well as designing to subdivisions, roadworks, a greater consideration meet the current needs hospitals, residential of the environment and without compromising flat buildings, shopping ecologically sustainable the future generation’s centres etc. Town design in urban design. needs has become more Planners also have an This is filtering through in some prevalent in recent important role in Local of the more recent developments projects. and State Government, we have been involved with, Living and working which includes especially in the residential sector. on the coast has its development assessment advantages. What are and regulation and your stand outs? strategic planning. Living in Bellingen Share with us one of has to be the stand out for me. It’s a small but your favourite projects you’ve worked on vibrant community that has a great range of to date? restaurants and bars, and, has arguably the I have been doing a lot of work for NSW highest ratio of coffee shops per capita of any Heath recently in preparing Development town in Australia! I also love that it is only a Applications and Environmental Impact 15-minute drive to the beach too. Statements for large hospital developments in Striving for a work/life balance is what regional areas. Hospitals are such important every professional aims for. How do you assets to regional communities, so it’s very master yours? rewarding work. We have just lodged I am lucky in that I rarely work weekends. I development applications for a new hospital in think we all need two days to get away from Macksville and a major upgrade to the Coffs the jobs we do. Harbour Hospital, which are both exciting If you could give a student finishing the projects for the Mid North Coast. HSC one piece of advice, what would it be? What are some of the trends you are Don’t be too concerned about your first seeing in your industry? career choice - there will be many opportunities I think people are demanding a greater to change directions in your working life. So, consideration of the environment and just do your best for now. ecologically sustainable design in urban design. Favourite quote/motto? This is filtering through in some of the more My uncle used to say to me (and still does), recent developments we have been involved “If you are not 10 minutes early - you’re late!” with, especially in the residential sector. Thanks Simon. Sustainability in its true sense of designing Coffs Coast focus 63