Design It. Build It. Forget It? Harout Tcherkezian on the Stormwater Problem and Why Engineering Responsibility Doesn’t End at Approval

In Episode 6, Matt sits down with Harout, civil engineer and Director at Ocean Protect, to unpack a hard industry truth: approval is not the finish line.From Olympic construction projects to leading a 100-person environmental engineering business, Harout has seen stormwater systems at every stage - concept, design, construction, and years later when they’re opened and inspected.This episode dives into:Why most stormwater systems are never properly maintainedThe gap between modelling and realityConstruction-phase failures that damage environmental assetsPFAS, microplastics and emerging contaminantsWhy engineering responsibility extends decades beyond approvalIf you work in council, consulting, or construction, this conversation challenges how you think about ownership and accountability.Timestamps[00:00:00] Introduction to Harout[00:02:00] Early Signs of an Engineer[00:04:00] Migrant Expectations and Career Pressure[00:05:30] Bachelor of Technology Pathway[00:07:00] From Theory to Site[00:09:30] Lifestyle Reality of Construction[00:12:00] Entering Technical Sales[00:14:00] “Sales” as an Engineering Skill[00:16:00] Transition into Stormwater[00:18:00] What Actually Happens When It Rains[00:21:00] Biofiltration and Rain Gardens Explained[00:24:00] MUSIC Modelling and Compliance Culture[00:28:00] Construction Phase Failures[00:31:00] The Maintenance Gap[00:34:00] Lifecycle Accountability[00:37:00] Scaling Ocean Protect[00:41:00] Emerging Contaminants[00:45:00] Stormwater vs Sewage Misconceptions[00:48:00] Environmental Impact in Real Terms[00:52:00] Responsibility of Councils, Consultants and Contractors[00:56:00] Creating Roles for Passionate Engineers[01:00:00] R&D and Innovation in Practice[01:05:00] Wildlife and Ecosystem Impact[01:09:00] Advice for Engineers[01:14:00] Final ReflectionsAre we designing for approval… or for performance in 20 years?If you work in council, consulting or construction, this episode is worth your time. Listen to Episode 6. Share it with your team. Start the internal conversation about lifecycle accountability. Join the Full Send Engineering community. Like. Comment. Subscribe. Because what leaves your site does not disappear. It ends up somewhere.Additional ResourcesWebsite: fullsendengineering.comEmail Matt: [email protected] Protect: oceanprotect.com.au