Applied Environment & Safety are implementing sustainability into our business through the CCIQ ecoBiz program. We have been awarded three star ecoBiz partnership through our energy, water and waste initiatives.

CCIQ ecoBiz is a free program, funded by the Queensland Government, that helps businesses save money through reducing energy, water and waste. ecoBiz has been very successful, and worked with thousands of Queensland businesses. 

Applied Environment and Safety has been an active participant in the ecoBiz program and a recognised Star Partner for several years. Given that our business operates either from our home office or client locations, the ecoBiz assessment this year was completed on merits of best practice rather than a quantitative analysis of business resource intensity. 

The assessment was based on initiatives and behaviours which demonstrate implementation of business sustainability practices, and minimisation of environmental footprint. Our sustainable business initiatives for 2020-21 for energy, water and waste are listed below.

Energy

Aim: Progression towards carbon neutrality

• Carbon offsets to be purchased for employee flights taken through the 2019-20 financial year
• Track and record vehicle travel
• Switch to carbon neutral electricity including explore costs for installation of solar panels on home office

Water

Aim: Protecting local waterways

• Opportunities to donate (time or money) to a local catchment group
• Ongoing rehabilitation of council verge bushland at home office including removal of weeds, replanting native plants and mulching as waterwise garden

Waste: 

Aim: Shift towards zero-waste

• Implement office clean-up including recycling or donation of disused electronic equipment
• Ongoing implementation of Containers for Change Refund Scheme including when working with our clients
• Opportunities to contribute to upcycling and recycling programs such as The Breadtag Project. This is a campaign raising awareness for the ubiquity and overconsumption of single-use plastics

We will keep you updated on the progress of these initiatives. Tracking of our carbon offsets, container recycling and donations are reported on our website. Visit our about us page to find out more about the team.

For more information on ecoBiz.

Applied Environment & Safety provided onsite environmental support for the rebuild of the TransGrid Wagga Wagga to Tumut transmission line. This was a substantial project involving the replacement of 243 structures over an 18-month period. 

The transmission line traversed diverse landscapes from low lying cropping paddocks to steep rocky terrain within the Snowy Mountains region. The project’s most significant environmental challenge was sediment and erosion control for the large scale construction of access tracks and structure pads. 

Sediment and erosion control measures included: 

• Preparation of sediment and erosion control plans.
• Full engagement with the civil contractors on construction requirements for tracks and pads.
• Ongoing maintenance of controls over the life of the project.
• Rehabilitation of disturbed areas following completion of works.

Prior to breaking ground, Applied Environment and Safety worked closely with the civil contractors to ensure best practice controls were incorporated into construction. Ensuring the access tracks and pads were constructed correctly decreased the maintenance required over the project lifespan.

Some sites proved especially challenging with highly erodible soils, steep terrain and livestock. Livestock enjoy investigating and quickly destroying a well-designed catch drain. 

Routine inspections throughout the project ensured erosion and sediment deposition was avoided, and controls were maintained.

Following completion of the works, disturbed areas were rehabilitated in accordance with the requirements of landowners and best practice. Applied Environment and Safety worked closely with landowners throughout the project to ensure a mutual understanding of how disturbed areas would be remediated. 

Generally, rehabilitation works involved levelling the subsoil back to natural ground level and spreading stockpiled topsoil over the site with a pasture seed mix. Alternatively, disturbed areas that were to remain following the project were upgraded with longer term, more durable erosion and sediment controls. This included rock drains and coir logs for erosion control.

For information on other power and transmission line projects that we have supported, visit our Projects page.

Last year Candice provided environmental monitoring support to transmission line maintenance projects in northern Queensland. This included bird watching, bird species identification, observation of breeding places and active management of birds’ nests. Active management of birds’ nests was conducted as per the Damage Mitigation Permit, Impact Management Plan for Tampering with Animal Breeding Places and Species Management Plan for the project. Any nest removals were performed under the guidance of qualified personnel and all live young were taken to Wildlife Carers to ensure the best chance of survival (see previous Blog Post for success stories).

Over the summer, Candice took the opportunity to continue her passion for ecology as a tutor with the Bond University for the Environmental Field Analysis of Rainforest and Coastal Regions program.

During this program, Candice assisted international university students with local ecology studies on North Stradbroke Island. This included bird monitoring through species identification and awareness of bird interactions with the local environment. As well as introducing students to international treaties aimed at helping to protect migratory shore birds and their coastal habitats. 

Student groups were provided with the opportunity to select a local habitat and conduct bird species counts. Habitat type, habitat use and bird behaviour were recorded. Urban coastal areas were sampled with differences in local microhabitats observed. Ongoing bird monitoring and species identification were noted throughout the day trips around the island. Students presented their findings at the field trip completion and were graded upon the knowledge they had gained. 

A special bird of note observed during the study was the Eastern Curlew (Numenis (Numenis) madagascariensis), a critically endangered bird that migrates north from Australia to China and Southern Russia to breed annually. 

Candice continued to develop her species identification and observation skills during the fieldwork. As well as be part of these ongoing studies which provide important data for the global networks which protect migratory birds and their known habitats. She continues to develop her skills in Mackay as an active member of the Birdlife Mackay community group. 

Applied Environment and Safety has provided onsite environmental support to a transmission line maintenance project in northern Queensland. These maintenance works require blasting and painting of the towers to extend their life. 

Prior to commencing works, all bird nests are removed. During the recent nesting season, two active nests were identified with six Australian Raven (Corvus coronoides) chicks. All of the chicks were rescued, and under the care of Fauna Rescue Whitsundays, are growing well.

As they have developed further, two of the chicks have been reidentified as the native parasitic bird, Channel-billed Cuckoo (Scythrops ovaehollandiae). 

With ongoing care, it is expected that these birds will be successfully released back into the local environment. Applied Environment and Safety provided a donation towards the care of these birds.

To learn more about this overall project take a look at our ElectraNet Eyre Peninsular Transmission Line Project.

Applied Environment & Safety was recently engaged to assist a new client improve their current practices. Following several changes in ownership and loss of key staff, environmental management practices were lagging at this company.

Following a recent inspection from the Department of Environment and Heritage, and a potential fine greater than $1,000,000, this company needed assistance.

After an onsite meeting and site inspection, the initial steps to improve current practices were suggested.

Firstly, assisting the client close out actions and respond to the Department was initiated. Building good communications between the client and Department was the first action to be implemented.

Then the Environmental Management Plan was updated to the requirements of the environmental approval. A simple plan which can be implemented by operational staff.

Additional engineering controls to prevent pollution are being designed and constructed.

Support and commitment from upper management will need to be addressed. Further administrative controls are required including staff training and awareness.

However, starting with the critical environmental requirements and implementing effective measures is the first step in improvement. A start that we have been happy to be able to provide assistance.