Yellow Jack Project, greenfield gold mine, ecology, and EA
Project details
Client: Bravus Mining and Resources
Location: 200km railway from an existing railway north of Moranbah through to a mine within the Galilee Basin, 160km North of Clermont, Queensland.
Industry: Mining and Rail
Business Services Provided: Environmental support during the design phase of the project and ongoing environmental support for approvals
Summary
The Cowie Environmental Services (Cowie) team provided environmental design support as part of an integrated design team from 2019 to 2020. Cowie also provided additional environmental support from 2020 through to completion of the project in 2021. Through this ongoing support, CES provided support and deliverables through multiple stages of the project including the following:
- Environmental review and input to the detailed design drawings to ensure designs met the relevant permits, approvals and legislation
- Development Applications including clearing native vegetation, waterway barrier works, water licences and material change of use
- Creation and management of an Environmental Compliance Register to ensure compliance with the EPBC Act Approval, Species Management Plans, Development Application requirements and other commitments
- Development of a fauna connectivity strategy
- Environmental Design Summary Report
- Erosion and Sediment Control plans and audits
Key Roles and Responsibilities
- Environment and Approvals Manager - Cowie were responsible for managing all environmental aspects associated with the construction of the rail and ensuring that all construction activities maintain compliance with all relevant project conditions, commitments and legislative requirements. Cowie managed a team of environmental specialists to implement in situ solutions to manage the various issues that arose when developing in a highly sensitive environment. Cowie successfully developed, implemented and managed the environmental monitoring program for the whole project alignment, which included aspects such as noise, air, dust, vibration, soil and water quality.
- Environmental Design Manager - Cowie personnel were also responsible for managing all environmental aspects associated with the design of the Carmichael Rail Network. This involved ensuring that the design was compliant with all relevant project conditions, commitments, and legislative requirements. Cowie managed a small team of environmental professionals to develop compliant design for a highly sensitive environment.
- Environmental Advisor - Other key Cowie personnel supported the Environmental Design Manager in the development of the compliant environmental design for the Carmichael Rail Network. This role included the drafting of the environmental design summary report. Cowie collaborated with engineers and managers to achieve best practice environmental outcomes and for the design to comply with all relevant approval conditions.
- Senior Environmental Engineer - Cowie was responsible for developing erosion and sediment control plans to meet the conditional requirements of the project. Cowie was also responsible for auditing the implementation of the plans onsite.
Key Outcomes
- Cowie successfully provided environmental support through multiple phases of the project (design and construction) across a range of roles
- Cowie delivered a number of management plans, input into design, forms and documents to ensure the project met legislative requirements
- There were no non-compliances with any project conditions.