Our focus needs more focus: aligning project risks and expenditure for better environmental outcomes
Graeme Bartrim A and Laura Hahn B CA Independent Contractor, 4/1 Bergin Street, Milton, Qld 4064, Australia.
B Lorax Environmental Services, 17 Musgrave Street, Toowong, Qld 4066, Australia.
C Corresponding author. Email: lorax@aapt.net.au
The APPEA Journal 57(2) 405-409 https://doi.org/10.1071/AJ16252
Accepted: 27 March 2017 Published: 29 May 2017
Abstract
Project environmental management is becoming increasingly complex and costly. Is the environment best served? Does the community get value? Does the shareholder get value? Will project legacy be land that is stable, uncontaminated, rehabilitated and suitable for future use?
Environmental outcomes and effectiveness will continue to suffer while our focus and scrutiny during the project life cycle is misaligned. The community, government and environmental groups fixate on assessment, approval and conditioning within a maze of requirements (federal, state and local). But are key environmental issues addressed as effectively as possible? How do we prevent short-term administrative urgency and ‘green-tape’ detracting from taking on-ground action to address long-term impacts and liabilities?
This paper explores how better environmental outcomes and greater effectiveness can be achieved with better planning of project expenditure using current tools, by following a more disciplined approach to (i) employ an objective and transparent approach to risk, leading to achievable compliance requirements; (ii) systematically focus on short- and long-term risks using independent inputs; (iii) prioritise timely on-ground actions; and (iv) regularly review and align effort with risk.
The challenges and benefits of such an approach are discussed in relation to three time-consuming environmental activities that span project lifecycle: negotiating regulation, offsetting biodiversity impacts and rehabilitating disturbed areas.
Keywords: biodiversity offsets, building trust, collaboration, environmental outcomes, environmental management systems, financial constraints, impact, integrity, ISO 3009, ISO 14001, project expenditure, rehabilitation, risk management, social license to operate.
Graeme Bartrim is an independent consultant with more than 30 years’ experience in the environmental field, particularly in the oil and gas industry and biology. Graeme has experience promoting visible and effective environmental leadership, achieving meaningful ecological outcomes, and developing and implementing robust environmental management systems. Recent experience includes managing upstream environmental matters and Australia Pacific LNG’s upstream offsets portfolio, as operated by Origin. Earlier environmental experience was gained in the aluminium, electricity and mining industries often with a focus on continuous improvement and biodiversity. Graeme has a Bachelor of Science and is a member of the Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand. |
Laura Hahn has 25 years’ experience in environmental management for the petroleum, mining, energy and manufacturing industries. Laura consults on environmental, biodiversity and sustainability issues. She developed the Australia Pacific LNG Offsets Strategy and Portfolio including the coordination of a co-ownership agreement between three top CSG/LNG projects. She also assisted in the establishment of the Gas Industry Social and Environmental Research Alliance including the selection of research projects. Laura has a Bachelor of Environmental Studies (Honours) and is a member of the Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand. She lives in Brisbane and is the Director of Lorax Environmental Services. |
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