Ricardo wins Infrastructure Project Innovation Award for Flood Modelling in the Cooper Creek Region

We are thrilled to announce that Ricardo, in collaboration with Beach Energy, has won the Infrastructure Project Innovation Award (Regional) for our advanced Flood Modelling in the Cooper Creek region at this year’s Australian Water Association SA Water Awards. This award celebrates Ricardo’s innovative approach to safeguarding South Australia’s energy infrastructure from flood risks in one of the country's largest catchment areas. 

The Cooper Creek catchment spans an immense 130,000 km². Senior Consultant Stephen Daenke and the team developed a sophisticated 2D computer model to simulate flood behaviour across this vast landscape. This tool enables Beach Energy and other stakeholders to better plan for potential impacts on critical assets, manage road access during flood events, and optimize operational planning. By forecasting water arrival times, impacted locations, and expected flood depths, this model plays a vital role in enhancing the resilience of infrastructure in the region. 

Winning the Infrastructure Project Innovation Award highlights Ricardo’s dedication to creating better planning tools that lead to both economic and environmental benefits. This recognition is a testament to the hard work of our talented team and their commitment to developing practical, sustainable solutions for flood management in South Australia’s northern regions. 

We extend our gratitude to the Australian Water Association for this honour and to our clients, partners, and stakeholders for their continued support. 

About the Project 

Ricardo’s Flood Modelling in Cooper Creek offers innovative flood risk assessment and management capabilities for regional infrastructure. This model equips energy operators with critical data to manage flood impacts on operational assets and enhance decision-making for site accessibility and safety.