Locally Speaking Sydney
Locally Speaking Sydney
SYDNEY
Issue 2
Quarter 3 2008
www.golder.com
Golder Associates Sydney now enjoys harbour views from their new office in St. Leonards on the North Shore.
New Office
Due to growth and expansion of our services, Golder Associates Sydney moved to larger premises in February 2008. We have experienced a high staff growth rate over the past two years, says Office Manager Graham Scholey. Our new accommodation will give us room for any additional growth required to ensure we can always respond to our clients needs. As of the end of Q2 this year, the office experienced a 14% annual growth taking the total staff count to more than 50. The new office has several meeting room options for client meetings, and a large entertainment space. Of the new space Scholey says, We are looking forward to welcoming clients to our new home. Staff also enjoy the views of the harbour from the large kitchen and lunch area. New internal structures have also been put into place to enhance our efficiency towards our clients by sharing resources and improving communication. Golder Associates Sydney is now located at 124 Pacific Highway, St. Leonards, New South Wales 2065, Australia. Other contact details remain unchanged: PO Box 1302, Crows Nest NSW 1585. T: +61 2 9478 3900.
IN THIS ISSUE
02 LANDSLIDE HAZARD MAP | NEW NSW WASTE CLASSIFICATION GUIDELINES 03 PORT BOTANY EXPANSION | LANDFILL GAS SEMINARS 04 SEWERAGE SCHEME | ISO AUDIT SUCCESSFUL | NEW APPOINTMENTS: CRAIG SCHULZ
Issue 2
Quarter 3 2008
www.golder.com
The crest of the largest landslide partly undermined the rear of several properties causing significant damage but no loss of life.
The map illustrates the geographic distribution of the likelihood of landslides relative to other locations within the mapped area. The map does not explain the consequences and hence the risk to persons or property from landslides. There were several hundred houses in the area of concern, and a risk assessment for every property on the hill would have been expensive and time consuming. The landslide hazard map was used to help prioritise risk assessment to a limited number of properties with the greatest likelihood of landslides. To build the map, Golder Associates considered factors that influence the likelihood of landslides. These typically include the slope of the land, geology and soil types, and type of land cover. For example, landslides are more likely in steeper terrain, and are more likely in certain types of geological conditions. Further, the slope of the land may have a greater impact on the likelihood of landslides compared to the type of land cover. Weighting values were assigned to each of the factors relative to the others. For example, slope was given a 40% weighting compared to land cover, which was given a 10% weighting. In addition, different weightings were given depending on the steepness of the slope, type of geology and type of land cover. The factor land cover slopes which were vegetated, for example, were given a lower weighting value than slopes that had been cleared of vegetation, and were hence considered more vulnerable to landslides. The weightings were used to calculate a hazard score for finite areas. The hazard scores were then converted to qualitative hazard classes (from very low to very high) which were plotted to create the landslide hazard map. Subsequent to this map being developed site-specific risk assessments were carried out for the properties within high and very high hazard areas. The outcome was the need for risk management strategies at some of the properties. Contact: Graham Scholey T: +61 2 9478 3900.
New waste classification guidelines will affect anyone moving fill from one area to another in NSW.
The new regulation is named the Protection of the Environment Operations Amendment (Scheduled Activities and Waste) Regulation 2008. The new DECC document Waste Classification Guidelines - Parts 1 & 2 (April 2008) replaces the Environment Protection Authoritys (EPAs) previous Environmental Guidelines: Assessment, Classification & Management of Liquid & Non-liquid Wastes (1999, 2004). Further changes were introduced on 20 June 2008 relating to a General Exemption under the POEO (Waste) Regulation for Excavated Natural Material (ENM). This exemption applies to excavated natural material not otherwise classified as Virgin Excavated Natural Material (VENM) which meets a set of chemical analysis criteria. Contact: David Johnson, Shane Doyle, Ian McLennan or Colm Molloy T: +61 2 9478 3900.
A landslide hazard map was developed as a result of concerns raised following several landslides occurring in a hilly residential area of SE Queensland after rainfall of up to 600 mm over a three-day period.
Issue 2
Quarter 3 2008
www.golder.com
Presenting for Golder Associates were Bob Gregory and Colm Molloy. Bob is based in the UK and is a global leader in landfill gas with more than 25 years experience in landfill gas management in the UK and Europe. Colm (pictured) is based in Sydney and is Golder Associates NSW landfill gas leader. Feedback from both the Waste and Finance sectors indicated that the seminars provided them with greater clarity and direction within this changing regulatory Managing Problem Waste environment. Golder Associates Waste team has since been invited to tender for several collaborative projects as a direct result of opportunities raised at the seminars. Landfill owners are increasingly selling landfill gas as energy. Golder Associates performs financial project analyses to utilise this energy source and to prove economic viability. In addition, we provide credit valuation knowledge on multiple exchanges, including registration costs and projecting yearly revenues, to provide best value for greenhouse gas credits. Contact: Colm Molloy T: +61 2 9478 3900.
An artists impression of the expanded facilities at Port Botany, due for completion in 2011.
Issue 2
Quarter 3 2008
www.golder.com
New Appointments
Craig Schultz is a hydrologist with 30 years experience gained on projects across Africa, Ireland and Mauritius. He joined the Sydney office in April 2008 and says he is very much enjoying the positive attitude of his Sydney colleagues. Craigs work covers consulting business in the water sector as well as multidisciplinary project management, research, education, hydrological model development and data management. Craig, a former director of a South African engineering consultancy, specialises in both surface and groundwater resources in areas including integrated catchment management, hydrological modelling, reservoir yield analyses, quantification of water requirements and the development of water-related software. His risk-based time series models of rainfall recharge to groundwater have been used on mining sites in Ireland and prospects in Malawi. Other projects include the Zincor smelter site, South Africa; Orapa mine, Botswana; and Cahora Bassa Dam Hydropower, Mozambique. Sydney has a strong groundwater team and Craig will be looking to further complement this by growing the surface water business. He is particularly interested in the impact of climate change on water resources. Contact: Craig Schultz T: +61 2 9478 3900.
The grazing land at Freemans Reach will benefit from the Three Towns Sewerage Scheme.
Golder Associates carried out a geotechnical investigation for the project, which involved horizontal directional drilling and microbores under a railway line. The geotechnical investigation provided assessment of the ground conditions throughout the alignment to assist with design and selection of construction methods for the pipelines, and gave recommendations for the design of sewage pumping stations. Residents will see health benefits from connecting to the sewer by cutting the number of septic systems in their area. This reduces risks to public health and helps improve local waterways. If approved, construction is expected to start on the scheme in early 2009. Connections are likely to be progressively available from 2011 in stages across the three towns. Contact: Bernie Francis T: +61 2 9478 3900.
AUSTRALIA OFFICES: ADELAIDE +61 8 8213 2100 BRISBANE +61 7 3721 5400 CAIRNS +61 7 4051 2033 HERVEY BAY +61 7 4194 0590 MAROOCHYDORE +61 7 5475 5900 MELBOURNE +61 3 8862 3500 PERTH +61 8 9213 7600 SYDNEY +61 2 9478 3900 TOWNSVILLE +61 7 4727 1700
Locally Speaking Sydney is a local publication for valued clients and employees of Golder Associates Pty Ltd. Please contact Graham Scholey, [email protected] or 02 9478 3914, if you have any questions or comments. A new issue of Golders innovation newsletter Technically Speaking is now available online at www. golder.com. This issue looks at some of the ways our clients are taking action to reduce the effects of activities that could potentially contribute to climate change, as well as steps to address changes that have already occurred.
Editor: Sally Wilkes. Designed and produced by Golder Associates. 2008 Golder Associates Pty Ltd.