Do I Need An Environmental Assessment – See What’s Involved And If You Require One?

Spray Grass Australia (SGA), inherently provides prospective clients with practical and sustainable environmental solutions through the means of an Environmental Assessment – An integrated component of the planning process designed to assist in producing a tailored solution for various projects including:

Mine Site Rehabilitation Topsoil Replacemen

Revegetation, Dust Suppression Erosion Control Blanket

Soil Stabilisation Rehabilitation Performance Monitoring

This assessment tool facilitates sustainable development and improves decision-making by introducing site concern early in the planning processes. Bringing together scientific insights and business experiences to help breakdown the methodological complexities, around the environmental issue. These insights are activated during the following five-step company processes: 1. Consultation, 2. Site and Environmental Analysis, 3. Scientific Analysis, 4. Plan, and 5. Proposal.

1. Consultation

At SGA, the consultation procedure is a vital aspect of the environmental assessment process. This action facilitates and builds an enhanced understanding of the ecological issues and implications that may be facing the site location and environmental topography; by providing the prospective client and stakeholders with the opportunity to present knowledge and observations that will assist in project development and formal decision-making.

To ensure that we are the right fit for the client, we discuss our capabilities, project approach, along with a comprehensive overview of previous relevant projects, and a broad spectrum of indicative costs for multiple solution options. During this opportunity, we record the client’s expectations, objectives, long-term goals, timeframes and responsibilities.

Following on from the consultation is a comprehensive review of the site facility; which provides additional opportunities to discuss project solutions with the client, based on an observational point of view.

2. Site and Environmental Analysis

The Site and Environmental Analysis is a highly prescribed format of approaches, beginning with a thorough environmental assessment of the topography and landscape conditions. This opportunity allows the team to view the site in person along with gathering quantitative and qualitative data from a combination of soil samples and 3D drone surveying.

Soil Samples
Our team carefully take soil samples from around the site areas, where they are sent off for comprehensive testing. This soil is a significant component within our site analysis – containing extensive quantifiable data that will aid in selecting a recommended solution. The extracted information is designed to complement an align with management decisions.

Surveying
Multi-Spectral drone surveying is a vital process in developing a greater understanding of the characteristics that are unattainable through the human eye. Technology from intelligent mechanisms, combined with high-performance monitors and with HD camera technology, provides access to sophisticated data obtained through the means of a 3D survey, such as, the varying contours, gradients and area size of the project.

3.  Scientific Analysis

The role of science is an indispensable component within the observational stage of the environmental assessment, designed to assist in the conceptualisation of the proposal planning phase; unlocking the complexity and ‘invisibility’ of spatial relationships between the stipulated issue, the environmental conditions and the scientific findings. The scientific analysis determines the feasibility and efficiency of the recommended project solutions.

Soil Testing
Detailed descriptions of the soil profiles are a fundamental contribution to soil science and soil-landscape analysis. They can be read, understood, and interpreted by our inhouse soil scientists. An essential component of the assessment process looks closely at the physical, chemical and biological disturbances of the soil such as pH, fertility, microbial community and various soil nutrients. This information is valuable, even if the client’s intention isn’t to revegetate, as it provides indicators that assist in selecting the right solution to complement the substrate ecology.

Drone Data
Environmental monitoring plays a central role in diagnosing climate and management impacts on the natural and agricultural systems, enhances an understanding of the geography and substrate contours, along with information concerning landscape features at various spatial scales. The collated data allows our environmental experts to effectively analyse the Thermal Mapping, Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Normalised Difference Red Edge (NDRE) and Chlorophyll, associated with the ecological and vegetation conditions of the scalable site.

Thermal Mapping: Allows access to the temperature and moisture condition of the substrate surface, and determines the high-risk areas that require a specialised risk assessment and approach to product application.

NDVI |NDRE: These methods determine crop health, constructed from a combination of two distinct frequencies of light, measuring the index of plant fertility and chlorophyll in the Red Edge sensors.

4. Plan

Planning determines the complexity and scale of the site recommendation and forms the basis of all development opportunities, through the means of examining and evaluating documented data and asking questions such as; what solution would suit the substrate, what plant and equipment should be used and what it will cost to execute and operate the project. These answers provide essential information to underpin a dynamic, tailored project proposal.

5. Proposal

The proposal cements the framework for action and accountability in moving forward with the client by identifying the project plan in full. The custom document describes procedures and recommendations that will be implemented on behalf of the SGA to meet the site and environmental objectives associated with the ecological issue and the proposed project scope. These recommendations underpin the scientific analysis and data collected onsite along with the environmental conditions that align the solution with the client’s ongoing goals and objectives. This document provides an opportunity to discuss findings and reflect on the ecological issues based on the on-site variables backed by experience and science.

The finalised proposal, demonstrate how we can partner with our clients to provide safe and effective solutions for the areas of concern, supported with a guarantee mutually agreed upon by both parties. This sensitive document will be provided to the client discussing the following topics:

• Summary: addressing background issues
• Recommendations
• Prescriptions for management
• Stakeholder roles and responsibilities
• Pre-project procedures: safety environmental and quality management plans, risk assessments, quality plans, inspection and test plans
• Task methodology
• Plant and equipment
• Project scope
• Schedule of works
• Rehabilitation and performance monitoring
• Costings