| Col’doro Mining |
Seeking approvals for a high value resource extraction activity
tda was contracted by Col’Doro Mining to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for a proposed gold mine in Ophir, Central Western NSW. The proposed mine involved the annual extraction of 50,000 tonnes of material, including alluvial deposits. The mine was complex in that it was proposed to be an open cut operation in steep country surrounded by reserves of significant heritage value. The site itself is located within an area that saw the first payable gold in NSW and eventually instigated the gold rushes of the mid 1800’s. The operational footprint was also situated above a creek integral to the water catchment of the city of Orange.
tda liaised with the local Council, Department of Primary Industries, local landholders and community groups to develop a proposal and means of extraction in this location with negligible environmental issues or costs to the community. After development consent was obtained tda continued to be involved in the project developing a Mining Operations Plan to manage the ongoing matters associated with the mine’s operations. |
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| Manthing - clean water filming |
Environmental risk management on a film set
tda’s involvement on this feature film included undertaking comprehensive water safety evaluation for Occupational Health and Safety. This assessment was especially important following accidental leakage of dynamic lifter into the indoor heated swamp that had been built and stocked with live plants. Consequently 18 crewmembers were taken sick with gastro intestinal illness and filming had stopped. tda was able to provide prompt strategic advice on how best to treat the water and when it would be safe to resume filming.
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| Cape York Land Council |
Vegetation management and indigenous land use in Cape York
tda was engaged by the Cape York Land Council to provide scientific advice in relation to the ecological and social implications of a draft Code for clearing vegetation for special indigenous purposes under the Vegetation Management Act 1999. tda was engaged to provide a strategic review of the draft Code and facilitate negotiations between the Queensland Government, Department of Natural Resources and Water, Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries and the Cape York Land Council.
tda’s role in the development of this Code has enabled indigenous land users throughout Queensland to gain special provisions for clearing of vegetation, while actively contributing to maintaining ecological processes, essential habitat and mitigating the diverse and significant impacts of climate change. |
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| Gadens Lawyers |
Developing systems to manage corporate sustainability
The implementation of a tailored environmental management system for Gadens Lawyers Sydney, has enabled this innovative legal service provider to become leaders in corporate environmental responsibility within the legal industry.
Gadens is now experiencing direct benefits as a result of their tailored EMS. Along with direct financial savings resulting from improved resource management, Gadens is experiencing the benefits of a culture of sustainable development amongst its staff and stakeholders. |
| www.gadens.com.au/DynamicPages.asp?cid=106&navid=7 |
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| Western Arthur's Expedition '08 |
Examining the interface between development and climate change
In the winter of 2007 the founding directors of tda embarked on an ambitions adventure; to complete the first unassisted mid-winter ascent and coverage of the Western Arthur’s mountain range in the Tasmanian wilderness area in over 10 years, while exploring the impacts of climate change on alpine ecosystems.
Tasmania and its pristine wilderness areas continue to bear the brunt of human development. Fire, forestry, feral animals and now a rapidly changing global climate all serve to put notice on the sensitivity of individuals, populations and communities, both human and non-human occupying this unique ecological region of Australia.
tda’s winter adventure served to raise the profile of the Tasmanian environmental issue while providing a unique office location for undertaking the type of work tda does best. |
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| Bumblebee Live Import Assessment |
Developing a live import risk analysis for Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and Arts
tda is actively involved in research into the potential and actual environmental and social impact of invasive organisms on native environments. Our research explores the relationship between policy and science in an attempt to understand the ability of different government agencies to assess the potential risks of importing new species into Australia.
tda has been involved as an expert panel member of Biosecurites Australia’s live import expert register for the past 4 years. Our role on this register has been to contribute to the design and development of live import risk analyses (IRA) for a diversity of proposed plant and animal live import specimens.
tda prepared the live import risk analysis for the proposed introduction of the large earth bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) onto mainland Australia for pollination of greenhouse tomatoes. Since this species is already established in Tasmania the responsibility for assessing the live import suitability of this species bypasses Australian Quarantine Inspection Services (AQIS) and Biosecurity Australia and falls upon the Commonwealth Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA). This case study provided an opportunity to review and integrate the import risk assessment processes employed by DEWHA and Biosecurity. |
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| EnergyAustralia |
Auditing an Environmental Management System
Through our respected role as an auditor of environmental management systems against the international standard ISO14001, tda Environmental Consulting was engaged as sustainability and environmental management auditors for one of Australia’s largest energy suppliers EnergyAustralia. EnergyAustralia maintains an electricity network of around 22,275 square kilometres and has operational control over the supply of electricity to over 1.5 million homes and businesses. tda’s corporate environmental management team has been working closely with EnergyAustralia during one of the most dynamic periods in the history of the New South Wales energy sector, which has included a proposed State Government sell-off and the varied risks and opportunities arising from a rapidly changing global climate.
In 2008 tda Environmental Consulting undertook the first external audit of EnergyAustralia's whole of organisation environmental management system, encompassing a strategic and systematic review of both operational and corporate environmental performance. tda has also been engaged to audit EnergyAustralia's ongoing performance against the Energy Supply Association of Australia (ESAA) code of sustainable practice. |
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| Sustainable Event Solutions |
Developing an industry wide event sustainability framework
Historically events, functions and other meetings have been poorly managed in relation to sustainability. For many years events have been staged with little regard for the impacts they may have on scarce resources, the natural or social environment, and endured needless costs associated with the disposal of excessive waste. At the beginning of 2007 tda began assisting Sustainable Event Solutions in the development of the worlds first event sustainability-rating framework, known as the Sustainable Event Management System (SEMS). The framework was developed to consider all aspects of an event’s supply chain and be consistent with the emerging British Standard 8901:2007.
The framework brought together a common language for sustainability for the events industry allowing universal application to any type of event, and recognition that offsetting carbon emissions alone is not a measure of an event’s sustainability. |
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| Stealth - zero footprint filming |
Filming in a World Heritage Wilderness National Park
Seeking approval to film in the World Heritage Wilderness Blue Mountains National Park, involved developing systems to manage filming infrastructure and absolutely protect the natural environment, and key threatened species.
Working with the international film crew, as their environmental representatives, tda secured approvals to shoot key scenes for the adventure film, in many of the most visually spectacular locations in Australia. The custom solutions provided complete protection for the often sensitive environments in a practical manner enabling confidence for all involved, including the Production Company, Determining Authorities, and local Indigenous groups.
tda’s pioneering work on the Stealth project changed the face of legislation in NSW, made the worldwide press and developed a model for environmentally sustainable filming activities in Australia. |
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| Target snowlands |
Managing filming activities in sensitive drinking
tda was contacted by the NSW Film and Television Office to liaise with an advertising group attempting to film an advertisement for a retail company promoting winter clothing. The retail company was developing its winter line and was consequently looking to film snow in the middle of the Australian summer.
As part of this project the special effects department opted to use a potato derived artificial snow to dress the trees and surrounding location. The area in question was adjacent to Prospect reservoir, Sydney’s primary source of drinking water. tda’s role was to devise a system and safeguard for the filming this project and how to prevent artificial snow interacting with the water catchment and acting as nutrient plume that may have caused algal blooms or other contamination. tda devised a containment method and series of controls that mitigated these risks and documented them in a site environmental management plan. Filming was successful with the EMP approved by the regulatory authority and all material safely captured and contained. |
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| Seram, Indonesia - Triple C scoping study |
Developing carbon projects for conservation and community benefit
At the end of 2006 two of the directors of tda ventured to Seram, Indonesia with an objective of walking south to north across the small island within the Moluccas and traverse the intriguing Manusela National Park, with its 3000m mountain range and dense cloud forest ecosystem. As part of the journey tda also sought to explore the interactions between the conservation outcomes of the National Park gazettal, the influence and experience of local community and the increasingly impending implications of a price on carbon.
This trip was part of the research phase that has underpinned tda’s expanding presence in the project management of carbon and sustainable forest projects throughout the Asia Pacific region. tda is continuing to explore a number of projects and opportunities throughout the region with a view to establishing sustainable projects that deliver a “triple C” benefit, in other words tangible Community and Conservation outcomes as part of a portfolio of Carbon related assets. |
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| other |
Some of the other organisations we have worked with include:
Local Government
Tumut Council
Blue Mountains City Council
Leichhardt City Council
Shoalhaven Council
Blacktown City Council
Government Agencies
National Parks and Wildlife Services
Sydney Water
Taronga Zoological Gardens
Rail Infrastructure Corporation
Private Sector
Habitat Planning
Belvale Homes
Masterton Homes
Samurai Films
AFG Talons
Valley Mist Mineral Waters Pty Ltd
Non Profit Organisations
World Wildlife Fund for nature
Tasmanian Conservation Council
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