Projects
Contaminated Land
Eltham Community Foundation - Detailed Contaminated land Assessment
The old railway workers cottage at Eltham supports soil contamination as a result of its proximity t the railway line, as well as the contamination from the lead-based paint used previously on the outside of the building.
LFA was engaged to prepare a Detailed Contaminated Land Assessment of the site. Sampling was undertaken across the site to determine the lateral and vertical extent of contamination. Remediation of the site is required, and a Remedial action Plan will be developed once an overall site plan has been established.
Southern Cross University, Gold Coast Campus - Contaminated Land assessment for Building C and at-grade Carpark
LFA prepared a Contaminated Land Assessment associated with the development of Building C and an at-grade carpark. The assessment included the engagement of ANSTO to undertake sampling for ‘naturally occurring radioactive material’ (NORM) as well as sampling of soil,surface water and groundwater for Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs).
Large quantities of soil were excavated from the site and liaison was undertaken with Gold Coast Airport Limited, QLD Department of Environment and Heritage Protection and various landfills to ensure soil material was managed appropriately.
Southern Cross University, Coffs Harbour Campus - Preliminary Contaminated Land Assessment for new Health Science Building
A preliminary Contaminated Land assessment was undertaken associated with the development of the new Health science Building. A review of historic aerial images revealed that banasas were grown in the broader locality, indicating the potential for arsenic and/or dieldrin contamination at the site.
Soil imported for the construction of the adjoining sports oval also needed to be characterised, as did a large stockpile of soil that occurred elsewhere on the Site.
gold coast Airport Limited - Contaminated Land assessment for redevelopment of a carpark
LFA undertook a detailed site history review and soil and groundwater sampling associated with the redevelopment of a carpark at Gold Coast Airport.
Sampling was undertaken for acid sulfate soils and a range of contaminants including PFASs.
Ecology
Grafton District Golf Club - BDAR
LFA undertook an ecological assessment on behalf of the Grafton District Golf Club to determine the constrains associated with the development of an aged care facility. The BAM was triggered due to the prescribed clearing threshold being triggered. The majority of the clearing associated with the project is the removal of planted eucalypts that lined the now defunct fairways.
Findings of particular interest from the project is the extent of utilisation by koalas of the primary food trees that have been planted extensively around the golf course. A number of these trees will be removed as part of the development, however the impacted habitat is of low value relative to the high usage areas associated with the creekline that occurs remote from the development.
south ballina sand quarry - ecological restoration management and monitoring
LFA oversees the implementation and monitoring of the conservation and maintenance of approximately 32.83 hectares of native vegetation at South Ballina Sand Quarry. The work is managed in accordance with the approved Rehabilitation and Vegetation Offset Management Plan (RVOMP), which has been prepared by LFA.
The work has been underway since 2010 and since that time approximately 2000 trees have been planted, some of which are now 8-10m tall and providing beneficial habitat to local fauna. LFA has produced nine Annual Monitoring & Evaluation reports to date.
Wollongbar Park Estate Rehabilitation Action Plan and compliance
Preparation of Rehabilitation Action Plan (RAP) and ongoing coordination of the RAP implementation.
LFA is involved in ensuring the future public reserve will be an example of subtropical rainforest regeneration. LFA undertakes liaison with the bush regenerators, the local landcare group and council.
Environmental Compliance
SCU Gold Coast Campus Environmental Compliance Officer
LFA staff were the appointed ‘Environmental Compliance Officers’ (ECO) overseeing the implementation of several Construction Environmental Management Plans (CEMPs) for numerous projects associated with the Gold Coast Southern Cross University Campus (SCU) from 2011 to 2018.
The ECOs monitored the construction of the 11-storey Building B and Building C and prepared numerous by-monthly and final environmental compliance monitoring reports. ECO monitored the work sites generally on a weekly - basis and provided detailed feedback after each visit.
Wastewater
Goonellabah - Assessment and system design
As is the case with many parts of the hillier areas of Goonellabah, the subject site supported large amounts sub-surface rock. The rock combined with the heavy clay provided a constraint to the on-site wastewater system design.
The method developed to mitigate this was implementing the use of reed beds to provide secondary treatment, a flout to provide dosed distribution, and low-pressure effluent dosing (LPED) to maximise the effluent distribution across the land application area.
Bushfire
Ballina Public Events Bushfire Protection
Develop a set of bushfire-protection assessment guidelines and associated conditions for events occurring on public land within Ballina Shire Council.
The guidelines can be applied by event applicants, to ensure adequate bushfire protection measures are implemented for such events when they occur on bushfire prone land. This work was also utilised to support an Local Environmental Plan amendment for special events
Wollongbar Park Estate Bushfire Assessment and compliance
Undertaken s.100B Bushfire Assessment for 92 lots subdivision. Obtained Bush Fire Safety Certificate. Preparation of four bushfire certificates for subsequent subdivision stages. Paola Rickard has been involved with this project since 2009.
Project Management and Planning
South Ballina Sand Quarry Development
Develop a set of bushfire-protection assessment guidelines and associated conditions for events occurring on public land within Ballina Shire Council.
Major Project application for Sand Quarry Extraction. Leading, coordinating, and reviewing all studies, reports and assessment required for lodging an Environmental Assessment and three subsequent modifications under the former Part 3a of the EP&A Act and consulting and liaising with relevant authorities. Providing strategic planning advice. Writing submissions.
Coordinating implementation of consent conditions. Preparing and obtaining three subsequent modification of approval for increase in annual sand production and footprint expansion.
Compilation of Rehabilitation and Offset Management Plan, Environmental Management Strategy and Annual Environmental and Management Report. Monitoring and compilation of nine Monitoring and Evaluation reports of the Rehabilitation and Offset Management Plan and ten annual quarry monitoring reports
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