“Contaminated land can have major economic, legal and planning implications for the community. Contamination may limit land use potential or increase costs for developers and councils.”

• Due Diligence, Property Transactions and brownfield re-development
• Environmental Site Assessments
• Risk Assessments
• Remediation; In-situ remediation
  
  • Passive and active product recovery
  • Cut off Walls
  • Interception trenches
  • Groundwater pump and treat systems
  • Sparging , soil vapour extraction
  • Oxidation and reduction of metals from groundwater
  • Chemical enhancement and soil stabilisation
  • Bioremediation
• Waste Classification
• Validation

“Our Environmental Site Assessment advice is technically defensible, responsive, and strategic and will result in a streamlined and regulatory approved project.”

Environmental Site Assessments including Stage 1—Preliminary Site Investigation and Stage 2—Detailed Site Investigation are used to evaluate environmental contamination impacts in vapour, soil and groundwater on all kinds of properties to assess the risk to human health and the surrounding environment.

Our ESA team assess the site condition by understanding the site history, site processes and the nature and extent of contaminating activity on your site.

We identify areas and chemicals of potential concern and other site-specific conditions. Where intrusive subsurface investigation is required, our specialists will use best practice sampling design techniques under HEC standard operating procedures to determine the actual chemical impacts in soil, soil gas (vapour) and groundwater on your site.

At HEC we are very experienced in developing multiple lines of evidence in our assessments so that we can align with your broader planning or project objectives.

We keep up to date with the most current legislation, regulations and guidelines to appropriately determine the risk profile of your site and provide you with both a business benefit and clear direction.

“HEC are remediation specialists, we understand the science and the regulators to deliver the best remedial solution”

Remediation, Validation and Monitoring

“Contaminated land can have major economic, legal and planning implications for the community. Contamination may limit land use potential or increase costs for developers and councils. “

Remediation options vary considerably depending on the site conditions, the contaminant, allowable time and budget.

Before HEC develops a remediation strategy, our remediation team will:

• Evaluate the client’s needs and objectives;
• Apply our detailed understanding of legislative requirements;
• Validate the conceptual site model (CSM) from a review of site data;
• Define the remediation approach and remediation assessment criteria from the perspective of acceptable risk to human health and the environment;
• Evaluate acceptability and availability of clean-up technologies using cost benefit analysis
• Determine the time required to achieve clean-up, implementation and the ongoing costs of clean-up;
• Develop a practical Remedial Action Plan (Stage 3 – RAP) with contingencies to respond to unforeseen issues that could arise on the project.

Remediation Technology Options

“Often it is impractical or too expensive to remove impacted soil to landfill and innovative and cost-effective solutions need to be applied to clean soil and groundwater in situ and render sites suitable for continued occupancy or to be developed for more sensitive end uses.”

Many sites contain contaminated groundwater which can cause on site and off-site liabilities and risks to human health and the environment.

At HEC we have the depth of corporate experience and regulatory acceptance to develop a solution which is not only robust, but also cost effective. This solution is based on a proven track record of successful remediation systems and risk management.

At HEC we provide Remediation technology option evaluation, design and implementation which includes:

• Passive and active product recovery
• Cut-off walls
• Interception trenches
• Groundwater pump and treat systems
• Chemical enhancement and soil stabilisation
• Bioremediation
• Air sparging
• Soil vapour extraction
• Multi-phase extraction
• In-situ metal stabilisation in groundwater and chemical oxidation systems
• Vapour mitigation systems

Vapour Risk Assessment

“HEC have the in house capability and knowledge to deliver reliableeffective and precise assessment methods.”

The risks and hazards posed by volatile hazardous vapours from contaminated sites has become a growing concern in Australia.

An increasing regulatory focus has sought to address vapour risks with additional guidance on how to assess and model the presence and transport of volatile vapours in the sub-surface environment.

In cases where there is a potential risk to site occupants the adopted remedial strategy must ensure the protection of human health, the environment whilst also considering the objectives of the sites end use.

We have a detailed knowledge of the national guidance framework for the assessment of contaminated sites, which is crucial to ensuring risks to hazardous vapours are appropriately assessed.

The capability to manage and remediate complex sites with hazardous vapour intrusion issues requires extensive knowledge of a variety of both ex-situ and in-situ remediation technologies.

At HEC we have developed sophisticated, and defensible vapour collection techniques and modelling to apply appropriate input parameters to our risk assessment modelling of the human health effects of vapour plumes. Where necessary, we have been involved in the conceptual design, installation and operations and maintenance of vapour mitigation systems closely working with vapour barrier contractors.

Due Diligence, Property Transactions and Brownfield re-development sites

The increased potential value of former industrial and pastoral lands means that they are increasingly being seen as residential development opportunities and are keenly sought for acquisition and redevelopment.

The acquisition and development of former industrial land with long and rich industrial heritage is however fraught with risks due to the presence of soil and groundwater contamination by the past activities and practices of the site.

Environmental due diligence is a key first step in most transactions leading to site development. Prospective purchasers at a minimum need to understand;

If contamination is present

How it may be addressed

What it will cost?

How long it will take?

On the other side of the transaction, sellers who own legacy contaminated sites often need to develop strategies that minimise any long-term environmental responsibilities in connection with properties they are divesting and understand how they can make their sites more attractive to investors and/or developers.

At HEC we offer many essential services and strategic advice to our clients including;

• Site audits, which are frequently required as part of property transfers and site developments;
• Environmental Site Assessment (ESAs) which are used to evaluate environmental contamination impacts in soil and groundwater on all kinds of properties to assess the risk to human health and the surrounding environment;
• Advising our client on cost-effective remedial strategies and how such strategies may be integrated within the plans and specifications for development of the property;
• Providing advice concerning financing including advising lenders and purchasers as to lender environmental due diligence activities and requirements, and drafting and negotiating the environmental terms of loan and mortgage documents.

“HEC has the skill to develop groundwater models to assist in predicting and minimising groundwater impacts”

Our services include:

• Dewatering plans
• Groundwater investigations and impact assessments
• Groundwater feasibility and monitoring
• Groundwater remediation
• Dewatering licensing applications
• Groundwater fate & transport modelling
• Water Resource Supply for drought affected regions
• Mining and water resources

Dewatering Management Plans and licence applications

“HEC has the skill to develop groundwater models to assist in predicting and minimising groundwater impacts.”

Construction of basements and infrastructure beneath the water table often requires dewatering prior to and during the excavation of the development.

Council and Water Regulators require dewatering assessments at different stages of the development process to ensure that there will be no significant impact.

In an urban environment this dewatering process can have a negative impact on neighbouring properties and the environment if not appropriately assessed and managed with care.

Our qualified hydrogeologists have the capability and experience to facilitate your site development by completing the hydrogeological dewatering assessments and plans required for Council consent.

Dewatering plans include;

• Hydrogeological characterisation and development of conceptual site models;
• Assessment of the type of dewatering works and estimate of volumes to be pumped from excavations;
• Estimation of the extent of lowering of the water table, which assists with geotechnical assessment of potential damage to adjacent buildings due to settlement and potential impacts on other groundwater users;
• Assessment of groundwater quality and control measures;
• Recommendation for groundwater discharge or re-injection to meet regulatory requirements.

Hydrogeological Investigations for Groundwater Resources and Mining

Groundwater is a valuable resource especially in the ever-increasing drought affected areas of Australia.

Recent changes to legislative and licencing requirements for extracting groundwater or intercepting aquifers means that the resource needs to be adequately assessed under the NSW Office of Water Aquifer Interference Policy and Water Sharing Plans.

This is to ensure that the amount of groundwater which may be drawn from the aquifer is sustainable and that there are minimal impacts to key water dependant assets from the mining operation.

When accessing groundwater resources, it is imperative to obtain the best supply from the available bores, and to ensure that a yield of water is obtained which will not deplete the aquifer in the long term and which will not adversely impact neighbouring properties.

Our qualified hydrogeologists have experience in the development of groundwater resources throughout NSW, Australia and overseas. We have expertise in the design and commissioning of well screens tailored to the individual geology of a site to maximise water entry to the well and minimise turbidity in the water obtained. We take a scientific approach to locating and designing water wells to obtain the best available water supply.

Our capacity includes hydrogeological assessment design, pumping test analysis of aquifer characteristics, practical understanding of hydrogeology, hydrogeochemical modelling, 3D groundwater flow and contaminant modelling.

In the case of mining, the nature of mining (open cut or underground means that some impact on the local groundwater environment is often unavoidable.

Our team have the expertise to provide a comprehensive scientific review of the the hydrogeological environment at a mine site, as well as a robust understanding of the hydrogeochemical behaviour at the site.

Services that we offer to the water resources and mining and industry include:

• Mine dewatering studies
• Groundwater impact assessments
• Coal seam gas risk assessments
• Pumping tests and analysis
• Groundwater supply and water resource evaluation
• Groundwater fate and transport modelling
• Due diligence and liability assessment
• Statutory and non-statutory contaminated land audits
• Environmental monitoring and assessment
• Regulatory compliance and permitting services
• Remediation

Rod Harwood is a Principal Hydrogeologist with over 30 years’ experience in various sectors of the environmental industry and has wide expertise in contaminated land assessment, remediation and management, and water resource hydrogeology. Rod is also a Contaminated Land Auditor, accredited by NSW EPA and DWER WA. He has provided input into the development of codes of practice and pending regulatory guidelines.

His long career has involved pioneering in-situ clean-up in Australia (bioremediation, separate phase recovery, air sparging, soil vapour extraction, ISCO in-situ metal precipitation and removal in groundwater), groundwater investigations and establishing major groundwater supplies, natural resource management, and rehabilitation of water wells. Rod has worked around the world for a large range of industries including transport, hospital, defence, gasworks, mining and petroleum.

An expert in his field, he has been called on as a key witness on numerous occasions in remediation and contamination court cases. He has written and reviewed various environmental impact assessments as both a regulator with Department of Land and Water Conservation (now Office of Water) and as a consultant. His publications mainly relate to specific water resource projects and contamination issues, while he has given numerous lectures on groundwater to Council, regulatory bodies and drilling industry groups as well as lecturing at the UTS CSARM short course.

CORE SKILLS
Phase 1 Environmental Audits
Environmental Management
Systems & Plans
Assessments
Insitu Clean-Up
Statutory Compliance Review
Groundwater Impact Assessments
Groundwater Resources
Expert witness
Peer Review
Natural Resource Management
Monitoring
Site Assessment and Remediation

QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor of Science (Geology), University of NSW
Grad Diploma (Hydrogeology) University of NSW
Certified Contaminated Land Specialist (EIAUST/NZ Accredited Contaminated Land Auditor, NSW EPA, WA DWER Registered Lead Auditor International Association of Hydrogeologists
40 Hour and Refresher OSHA Training since 1989