Maria McCrann · Stormwater & Flood Risk Advisory

We stop flood problems from stopping projects.

Independent specialist flood and stormwater engineering for developers who need answers before they commit, engineering teams who need a specialist, and councils who need independent advice.

Buying a site? Start here → How We Help
21+
Years flood & stormwater
CPEng
Chartered Professional Engineer
48hr
Site report turnaround
Maria McCrann
Maria McCrann
Founder & Principal Engineer
CPEngNERMIEAustMEng RPEVRPEQTUFLOWRORBHEC-RAS
"Clients don't need a flood model. They need their project to move forward. That's what I focus on."
Before You Commit

Thinking of buying a development site?

"Before I spend $30,000 on surveys and flood studies, is this site going to be a nightmare?"

This is the question most developers ask too late. Flood constraints, drainage issues, planning overlays and water authority requirements can all affect cost, yield and approval time. None of that shows up in the contract price.

Our Pre-Purchase Due Diligence service tells you what you're buying before you commit. Fast, clear and independent.

  • Flood overlay assessment and flood constraints
  • Planning overlays and relevant council policies
  • Existing drainage issues and catchment characteristics
  • Water authority and servicing requirements
  • Likely investigations and approvals required
  • Approximate engineering cost range
  • Initial risk opinion, see panel
Request a Pre-Purchase Assessment →
Initial Risk Opinion
Included in every pre-purchase report
✅
Low RiskManageable flood and stormwater constraints. Standard engineering pathway likely.
⚠️
Medium RiskSome constraints identified. Engineering solutions available but budget accordingly.
❌
High RiskSignificant flood or drainage constraints. Approval pathway uncertain or engineering costs high.
From $495 · Delivered within 48 hours
Also: Engineering Second Opinion
Not sure whether to commission a full flood study? One hour with Maria. Walk away knowing exactly what you need and what it costs.
$450 · Fixed price · Online or phone
How We Help

We fit into the work you're already doing

We don't sell services from a menu. We work alongside you at the stage your project is actually at. Choose your journey below.

🏗️ Developer
🏢 Engineering Consultancy
🏛️ Council
1
Pre-Purchase Due Diligence
Before you sign a contract, understand the flood, stormwater and planning constraints that could affect your budget, yield and approval timeline. This conversation alone can save you from the wrong site.
From $495 · 48-hour report
2
Pre-Development Engineering Advice
Before spending on detailed investigations, understand exactly what engineering pathway your project needs, what investigations are required, what they cost, and in what order. Avoid spending money on the wrong thing.
Fixed fee · Online workshop option
3
Flood & Stormwater Investigations
Flood impact assessments, stormwater strategies, drainage design, hydrologic and hydraulic modelling, when you need the technical work done.
4
Design Support
Specialist stormwater and drainage advice during detailed design, ensuring the engineering solution is practical, approvable and cost-effective.
5
Independent Review Before Submission
An experienced engineer reviews your flood report or drainage design before it goes to council, catching issues before they become delays. Fixed price, 2–3 day turnaround.
From $1,500 · Fixed price
1
Overflow Specialist Support
Your senior modeller resigned. You're at capacity. A major project came in and you don't have the flood specialist to cover it. Maria integrates directly into your team, TUFLOW, RORB, HEC-RAS, drainage design, reporting.
Daily rate · Retainer available
2
Independent Technical QA
Before your report goes out the door, an independent flood specialist reviews it. Catching issues internally is far cheaper than a council referral back.
Fixed price
3
Hydraulic Modelling Assistance
Complex model builds, model QA, ARR2019 compliance, peer review support, specialist assistance for the technical parts your team needs help with.
4
Engineering Automation
We identify the repetitive tasks costing your team the most time and build custom tools to automate them, proposal generators, drainage calculators, GIS dashboards, QA checklists. Fixed-price projects.
Fixed-price project
1
Independent Peer Reviews
An independent review of flood studies, drainage reports and hydraulic models submitted by applicants, giving your team the confidence to make sound planning decisions. Fast turnaround, clear written report.
From $1,500 · Fixed price
2
Development Referral Advice
Specialist flood and stormwater advice on development referrals, helping your team navigate complex cases without maintaining full in-house specialist expertise.
3
Technical Advisory Support
Ongoing specialist support on a retainer or as-needed basis, for councils that handle regular flood-related referrals and want a trusted independent specialist to call on.
4
Flood Study & Stormwater Strategy
Council-commissioned flood investigations, stormwater management strategies and hydraulic modelling, for catchment-scale studies and infrastructure planning.
Project Experience

Selected Representative Experience

Maria McCrann has contributed to projects including the following across 21+ years in consulting practice and local government.

Project details are representative. Confidential client information and employer identities are not disclosed.

Residential Development · Victoria
Multi-Stage Subdivision, Flood Assessment & Stormwater Strategy
Role
Led hydraulic modelling and stormwater strategy for a multi-stage residential subdivision in a flood-affected catchment.
Scope
TUFLOW 2D modelling, flood mapping, overland flow management and detention design.
Outcome
Planning approval achieved. Drainage strategy modified to satisfy referral authority flood conditions.
Local Council · Victoria
Independent Review, Major Flood Study
Role
Independent peer review of a consultant-prepared catchment flood study prior to council adoption.
Scope
ARR2019 compliance review, model QA, assessment of flood mapping methodology and reporting.
Outcome
Technical issues identified before adoption, reducing council risk and improving study integrity.
Industrial Development · Victoria
Stormwater Strategy, Industrial Precinct
Role
Specialist stormwater subconsultant, developing the stormwater management strategy for a new industrial precinct.
Scope
Detention design, water quality assessment, overland flow management and authority referrals.
Outcome
Strategy accepted by council and water authority. Delivered efficiently using engineering automation tools.
Commercial Development · Victoria
Pre-Purchase Engineering Advice, Constrained Site
Role
Provided independent pre-purchase advice to a developer on a site with complex flood and stormwater constraints.
Scope
Constraint assessment, approval pathway advice, approximate engineering cost range and risk opinion.
Outcome
Developer made an informed decision before committing. Engineering risks were understood and priced into the offer.
The Engineer Behind the Work
Maria McCrann
Founder, Stormwater & Flood Risk Advisory

I started this business because I kept seeing the same problem. Clients were spending money, sometimes a lot of it, in the wrong order. A developer would commission a $30,000 flood study before knowing whether the site was even viable. A council would accept a flood report without anyone checking whether the model was right.

My job is to get in earlier, ask the right questions, and make sure the engineering actually serves the project. Not the other way around.

I've spent 21 years in flood and stormwater engineering across consulting practice, local government and infrastructure delivery in Victoria and Australia. I've built hydraulic models, reviewed hundreds of flood reports, advised councils on development referrals, and managed projects from pre-purchase all the way through to construction.

I'm also Colombian. I'm bilingual in English and Spanish, and I support engineering firms in Latin America who need access to Australian methodologies and international specialist expertise.

The tools I've built are a product of working this way for a long time. When I kept doing the same things over and over, I automated them. That's it.

CPEng · NER · MIEAust · MEng · RPEV · RPEQ 21+ years experience Australia & Colombia TUFLOW RORB · HEC-RAS GIS & automation English & Spanish
Maria McCrann
Maria McCrann
CPEng · Founder & Principal Engineer
Chartered Professional Engineer (CPEng), NER, MIEAust, MEng, RPEV, RPEQ
21+ years flood, stormwater, hydrology & hydraulics
TUFLOW, RORB, HEC-RAS
Local government & consulting experience
AI Automation Specialist
Bilingual, English & Spanish
Victoria, Australia · Australia-wide · International
Proprietary engineering technology enables us to deliver site assessments, model reviews and technical reports faster and more consistently than a traditional engineering approach, without compromising on the quality of engineering judgement behind every recommendation.
Work with us →
💧
Project Advisor
Stormwater & Flood Risk Advisory
💧
Hello. I can help you work out where to start, whether you're buying a site, preparing for a lodgement, or need a specialist for your team. What's your situation?
Project Advisor

Not sure where to start?

Project Advisor can guide you to the right starting point, or help you prepare for a conversation with Maria.

I'm buying a development site I need a flood report reviewed My team needs modelling help I don't know what I need I want to automate engineering tasks
Get in Touch

Let's talk about your project

A quick conversation is usually all it takes to work out what you need. Response within one business day.

📧
Email
maria.mccrann@floodriskadvisory.com.au
📞
Phone
+61 400 812 316
🌐
Website
floodriskadvisory.com.au
📍
Location
Victoria, Australia
Serving clients nationally · English & Spanish