Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) & Approvals

Environmental impact assessment (EIA) and approvals management are fundamental to any project's success – to both minimise risk and maximise outcomes.

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GHD is recognised for providing holistic and integrated solutions in managing and preparing project impact assessment and approvals. Our environmental and community planning specialists, engineers and scientists work to better understand complex issues associated with our clients new developments – from concept phase through to decommissioning. This approach delivers better environmental and social outcomes, and reduced approvals timeframes and compliance costs.

GHD focuses on the identification of potential environmental constraints and opportunities in the early stages of a project. This allows environmental and social factors to be reflected in the development of the project and mitigation measures to be devised to minimise potential impacts. In doing so, community acceptance is maximised and delays in implementation are significantly reduced.

An EIA considers a range of diverse factors including human and health issues, social networks, community engagement, visual and landscape issues, heritage and archaeology, flora and fauna, water quality, air quality, noise and vibration, geology and soils, energy resources, waste management and transportation. Management of these issues on a project promotes sustainability and balances any environmental, social and economic implications.

GHD also has experience in managing, what can often be, complex and lengthy statutory approvals processes. A proactive approach to managing the approvals process has been shown to significantly reduce approvals timeframes and consequently project costs.

Our team has extensive experience in the preparation of EIAs for a wide range of projects ranging from high profile proposals to ongoing augmentation of existing facilities. Projects include major industrial facilities, water and wastewater, mining, port development, transport infrastructure, power generation and transmission.  Our multi-disciplinary skills base allows us to tailor an experienced team to meet your requirements internationally.

For more information, please contact:

Bryce Skarratt
Tel: 61 8 6222 8757
Email: Bryce Skarratt

Air Monitoring in Western Australia

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GHD conducted one of the most comprehensive ambient air monitoring programs ever to be undertaken by an Australian company, on the remote Burrup Peninsula in Western Australia.

The project, for Woodside Energy, on behalf of the North West Shelf Venture, involved GHD’s environmental team designing a program to monitor the ambient and occupational air quality around the Karratha gas plant and offshore facilities, particularly for benzene, toluene and xylene (BTX) emissions.

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Bauxite Mine Enviro Impact

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GHD have been working with Chalco Australia, a commercial arm of the Aluminium Corporation of China, in their tender and approvals for development of the Aurukun Bauxite resource in north Queensland.

This included initial site assessments, preparation of the environmental components of the pre-feasibility study and preparation of environmental approvals for both the mine and refinery components of the project. Key to the approvals will be Environmental Impact Statements currently in preparation for both sites.

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Designing Ports for Easter Island

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Easter Island, located in the Pacific Ocean 3700km to the west of continental Chile, is dependent on shipping to supply goods for the local population and for its growing tourism industry.

The island, however, lacks a sheltered all-weather port. Ships that arrive to the island unload goods offshore onto smaller boats. These boats unload the goods at a small-scale dock in Hanga-Piko.  This system delays the delivery of goods to the island and increases transport costs.

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East Timor Sea Oil

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GHD has recently undertaken an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for an exploration drilling campaign.

The aim of this study is to obtain an approval  for the implementation of the proposed drilling campaign and to evaluate and identify potential adverse impacts of the proposed drilling activities.

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EIS for Kangaroo Valley sewerage scheme

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Shoalhaven Water is preparing to develop and install a sewerage scheme for the Kangaroo Valley village. This will improve community amenities and the quality of the water that flows into the Kangaroo Valley and forms part of the Sydney drinking water supply.

GHD was engaged to undertake a comprehensive Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), including community consultation, assessments of traffic and transport, surface and ground water, flora and fauna impacts, indigenous and cultural heritage assessment, air and noise assessment, and visual amenity.

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Environment Approval quarantine waste

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GHD was commissioned by the Mackay Port Authority in Queensland to provide consulting services for the proposed quarantine waste incinerator at Mackay Port.

The services include the initial feasibility study, site selection assessment and the development approval application (with the supporting site-based management plan).

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Environmental Appraisal for Transport for London

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In December 2007, Colin Buchanan was commissioned by Transport for London (TfL) to undertake a Scheme Identification Study for Henly’s Corner, the signal-controlled junction of the A406 North Circular and the A598 (Regents Park and Finchley roads) in the London borough of Barnet. 

This signalised junction is usually heavily congested during peak hours and has a history of serious and fatal accidents.

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Kingscliff Sewage Treatment

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GHD was instrumental in delivering a complex, high capacity sewage treatment plant in the northern New South Wales town of Kingscliff. The plant not only met all operational requirements, but also achieved rapid commissioning and compliance with new environmental licence provisions.

GHD worked with Tweed Shire Council for four years to deliver the project, playing a key role in all stages from planning through to commissioning. The project was completed with the assistance of GHD’s Brisbane office.

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Manufacturing Facility Upgrade

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Interface Australia is Australia’s largest manufacturer of carpet tiles for residential, commercial and industrial use. The company engaged GHD to assist with a major upgrade of its manufacturing facility. 

It was important to the client that any upgrade was arranged so as to minimise disruption to ongoing plant operations.

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New Mount Gambier Library

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GHD was commissioned by the City of Mount Gambier to provide documentation and construction phase services for the Mount Gambier Public Library.

The new public library is a focal point in the centre of the Mount Gambier township and includes various elements that make the facility a functional space for a broad cross-section of the community.

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Notional Seaway EIS

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The Coordinator General engaged GHD to develop an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Notional Seaway Project in Queensland.

The project centered on a cruise ship terminal and marina for yachts and other vessels. As part of this process, it was necessary to understand and identify the land use planning and land use regulatory matters that were relevant to the proposal.

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Oxley-Wacol WWTP Upgrade - EIS

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GHD developed two and three-dimensional hydrodynamic and water quality models for Brisbane Water as part of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIS) for a proposed upgrade of the Oxley and Wacol wastewater treatment plants (WWTP).

The assessment involved quantifying the impact of the existing wastewater treatment plant configurations as well as determining the relative impacts of two proposed upgrade options on receiving water quality.

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EIS Ports of Hay

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The Ports Corporation of Queensland (PCQ) will be undertaking capital dredging at Port of Hay Point to increase water depth for ships departing the port.

An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) has been completed for the project in accordance with approved Terms of Reference (ToR) and the requirements of Commonwealth and state approval agencies. All development approvals have now been obtained for the project and dredging was approved to commence on 1 May 2006.

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Route Optimisation for EECA

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GHD was commissioned to evaluate the benefits of route optimisation for the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA).

GHD delivered a number of route optimisation reports detailing before and after evaluations using in-car groups to determine fuel, travel time and CO2 reductions of route optimisation.

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The Darra to Springfield Transport Corridor

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The Darra to Springfield Transport Corridor is the first large-scale integrated road and rail project for South East Queensland.

The purpose of the AUD1.5 billion project is to improve road, rail and public transport links between Darra and Springfield to service the growing population centres along the corridor and will be built in two stages.

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World’s Quietest Truck

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Mt Arthur Coal mine is a large open-cut mine in the Hunter Valley, New South Wales, Australia.

To meet the most stringent noise limits for mining operations, GHD was commissioned by WesTrac (Caterpillar dealers for NSW/ACT and WA) to acoustically attenuate three Caterpillar 789C off-highway trucks.

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Bryce Skarratt

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Bryce has nearly 20 years' experience working on a wide range of environmental assessment projects. These include environmental impact studies and environmental management plans for major infrastructure projects (dams, road and rail corridors, industrial and residential developments, wastewater treatment plants, gas pipelines and transmission lines). He has been involved in all aspects of this type of assessment, including project management, agency coordination, technical review, community consultation and document preparation. He has also undertaken peer review of similar studies for both the proponent and regulatory authorities.

Bryce is GHD’s Service Line Leader for Environmental Impact Assessment and Approvals. He also chairs the Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand’s Special Interest Section on Impact Assessment. Bryce brings a wealth of experience in the planning, scoping and delivery of impact studies for major infrastructure projects.

Position: Service Line Leader, Environmental Impact Assessment & Approvals
Tel: 61 8 6222 8757

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