People.

Joel Di Fonzo-Georgas is a Chartered Civil Engineer with a career built across both client-side consulting and development assessment in NSW. He has worked at the intersection of engineering design, flooding, stormwater, subdivision and development policy for more than a decade, beginning as a cadet and progressing into senior local government and consultancy leadership roles.

He established Perennial Consulting Engineers to provide practical, outcome-driven civil engineering and stormwater solutions for residential, commercial, industrial and public-sector projects. His approach combines technical accuracy, contemporary policy understanding, and a strong appreciation for how developments are assessed in practice. He brings a holistic view from concept through to construction, built on experience designing, reviewing, certifying and coordinating works across a wide variety of project types.

Joel’s professional background spans both private consulting and local government, giving him a deep understanding of development processes, assessment expectations and engineering risk.

• Perennial Consulting Engineers – Stormwater management, WSUD, drainage design, grading and development advisory services.

• Sutherland Shire Council – Team Leader (Acting), Senior Development Engineer (Acting) and Development Engineer roles assessing stormwater, access, flooding, subdivision and civil design, including policy review and implementation.

• Northrop Consulting Engineers – Stormwater, WSUD and civil design for major residential, health, education, government and commercial projects, including mentoring within the graduate program.

• SitePlus Pty Ltd – Flood modelling, stormwater design, construction support and traffic assessment for private development.

• Wollongong City Council – Development assessment in stormwater, flooding and traffic; early foundation as a Civil Engineering Cadet.

He has contributed to major residential, commercial, industrial, public domain and infrastructure projects throughout NSW, as well as stormwater policies, DCP chapters and engineering specifications.

Technical Engineering

• Stormwater management design (DRAINS), WSUD and MUSIC modelling

• Flood studies and impact assessments using TUFLOW

• Civil and subdivision design, bulk earthworks and grading (12d)

• Construction documentation and AutoCAD drafting

• Access, traffic and parking assessment (AS2890.1, turn-path analysis)

• Certification, inspections and superintendency of civil works

Development Assessment & Policy

• Strong working knowledge of LEPs, DCPs and engineering policies across NSW

• Detailed understanding of stormwater, flooding and subdivision requirements

• Preparation and assessment of technical reports for DA, CDC and CC

• Navigating complex constraints, site limitations and stakeholder expectations

Project Delivery & Communication

• Coordination across consultants, authorities and contractors

• Clear, concise reporting and technical advice

• Knowledge of discounted cashflow (DCF) analysis for early-stage development feasibilites

• Understanding of how engineering design requirements affect project viability, staging and capital costs

Joel has delivered and supported a wide range of civil, stormwater and flooding projects across NSW, spanning residential, commercial, industrial, education, health, infrastructure and government sectors. His project experience includes concept design, detailed design, modelling, assessments for development applications, construction documentation, inspections and certification.

He has worked on large masterplanned developments, boutique infill sites, major public facilities and complex sites constrained by flooding, access, existing infrastructure or planning requirements. This includes contributions to:

• Residential & Mixed Use – Urban infill, apartment developments, subdivisions and build-to-rent projects involving civil design, stormwater management and flood advice.

• Commercial & Industrial – Business parks, industrial estates, retail tenancies and commercial refurbishments requiring drainage design, grading, access assessment and civil coordination.

• Health & Education – Hospital upgrades, new school facilities and major campus projects, delivering stormwater, bulk earthworks, drainage and WSUD elements.

• Public Sector & Government – Fire control centres, parks infrastructure, public domain works and utility coordination for state agencies and councils.

• Infrastructure – Road upgrades, subdivision infrastructure, utilities design and flood impact assessments associated with major transport and access works.

• Seniors Living & Community – Villages, community facilities and places of worship requiring detailed hydraulic, flood and civil engineering input through design and construction.

Across these projects, Joel’s focus is on practical, compliant and cost-effective engineering solutions that support quality development outcomes while meeting local and state regulatory expectations.