Fyfe's environmental scientists, engineers, and GIS analysts have assisted our clients in many of Australia’s significant basins, supporting the development of wells alongside gas and water gathering networks, including providing in-depth environmental plans for each detailed engineering design.
Before and during the construction period of the lease pads and access tracks that allow clients to access each site, several environmental conditions must be met.
Fyfe team members ensure minimal environmental impact and that pad construction and associated infrastructure, such as access tracks and Right of Ways for water and gas pipelines, comply with environmental regulations and meet the stipulations in the client’s contracts with landowners.
Fyfe’s environmental role and responsibilities
- Site specific environmental management plans (SSEMPs) for each lease pad
- Erosion and sediment control (ESC) plans for each site
- Post-construction re-instatement management
Approach
Before Fyfe engineers design civil pads, for instance, our GIS analysts work alongside the environmental team to identify the best location and whether or not those pads need to be shifted slightly for better environmental and civil outcomes.
This may involve reducing the level of earthworks or limiting or avoiding the impact of any vegetation present, for example. Mitigation early in the design process means less need for repeat designs, expediting the process for each site.
In addition, Fyfe’s Senior Environmental Engineer oversees many projects and is a Certified Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control (CPESC), which indicates a high level of experience and technical knowledge of all aspects of erosion and sediment control and regulatory compliance.
Holding this qualification means that our environmental team can certify that each ESC plan meets state regulations and best practice guidelines for erosion and sediment control measures outlined by the International Erosion Control Association (IECA).
There are also several sets of regulations: those from state environmental authorities such as the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) and those from the federal government as set out within the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC).
Fyfe team members must also ensure that the client’s proposed works meet the terms of their contracts with landholders. Weed management is tailored to each property to mitigate the potential of spreading noxious and defined Class 2 weeds as required under legislation and to avoid economic impact on landholders, for instance, some hold an organic certification and contractors must ensure that certification isn’t invalidated.
Working together across our integrated teams means our environmental experts can make sure that all our client’s environmental obligations are met, mitigate any potential issues early, and ensure efficiency across the whole process, from initial civil engineering design to post-construction environmental and rehabilitation management.
Fyfe provide a comprehensive range of environmental services, and Fyfe team members hold expertise in site contamination, hydrogeology, geoscience, hydrology, erosion and sediment control, and auditing and due diligence.
Please contact our team today to find out how we can assist you with your next project.
