Sample Projects
We have been commissioned to conduct projects for a variety of clients in the public and private sectors. Some samples of projects follow for the major service areas catered for by Molino Stewart.
Flood Education, Planning and Response |
Ecological Studies |
Sustainability Education
Stakeholder Consultation |
Environmental Management
Flood Education, Planning and Response
Evaluation of Victorian Flood Warning Systems and Community Flood Education. Molino Stewart researched the status of flood warning systems and community flood education in Victoria. It then recommended ways that the Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES) could take the lead with the warning systems and education. It provided VICSES with an implementation plan and business case based on these recommendations.
Flood Evacuation Planning for the Hawkesbury Nepean Valley. Molino Stewart has provided independent advice and evaluation on flood evacuation planning for urban developments of between 1,000 and 5,000 lots on the Hawkesbury Nepean floodplain, the highest risk floodplain in Australia. This work has been carried out for state and local government and developers.
Hunter Flood Warning Evaluation. Molino Stewart conducted community surveys to evaluate the effectiveness of flood warnings in the Hunter Valley during the June 2007 floods. The study was done for the NSW State Emergency Service and was compared with the results of similar surveys conducted by Molino Stewart following floods elsewhere in Australia.
Ecological Studies
Green and Golden Bell Frog Local Management Plans Recovery Plan Implementation. Molino Stewart facilitated nine stakeholder workshops in Sydney, Wollongong and the Hunter Valley to develop local management plans for key populations of this threatened species. Provided a technical overview presentation on the GGBF and the recovery program. Formulated site specific management plans for Port Kembla, Greenacre/Upper Cooks River, Kurnell, Lower Hunter, Upper Hunter, Middle Hunter, Lower Cooks river/Arncliffe, Georges River and Parramatta River key populations of the species.
Aquatic and Terrestrial Ecological Assessment of Bellfield College Site. This project involved undertaking a survey and assessment of the aquatic biota inhabiting a large dam on a rural property that was proposed for redevelopment as a private college. It also required an assessment of the terrestrial flora and fauna and their potential habitats in the vicinity as well as relate this to various state and national environmental legislation.
Fishway Construction Ecological Study. Undertook aquatic and riparian zone terrestrial ecological surveys to assess potential impacts of a proposed fishway in the Sydney suburb of Turrella. This involved undertaking freshwater and estuary surveys for fishes and benthic macro-invertebrate as well as surveys for reptiles, amphibians and birds.
Sustainability Education
Evaluation of the Industry Sustainability Project. Molino Stewart carried out an evaluation for the Australian Government of an innovative project that aimed to build sustainability through education in ten key industries. The project, implemented by the Australian Research Institute in Education for Sustainability (ARIES), was evaluated through comprehensive interviews to gauge stakeholder perspectives. Molino Stewart then wrote a detailed report on the evaluation findings.
Lower Hunter Valley Threatened Species Teacher Resource Kit. Molino Stewart wrote lesson plans and student activity sheets to help teachers teach about threatened species in the Lower Hunter area of NSW. The lesson plans and activity sheets formed part of a Kit CD that was launched and distributed to local teachers.
Hunter and Lower North Coast NRM Education Strategies. Molino Stewart interviewed stakeholders (e.g. farmers, industries, local councils, government agencies) to find out their education needs to support natural resource management (NRM) initiatives in the regions. This information formed the basis of NRM education strategies developed through local community committees facilitated by Molino Stewart.
Stakeholder Consultation
Environmental Flows and Fish Passage at Weirs on the Upper Hawkesbury-Nepean River - Stakeholder Engagement Plan. The State Government has decided that there will be releases of water from major urban water storage dams on the Hawkesbury-Nepean system for environmental purposes. Stakeholder engagement is proposed to obtain key stakeholder involvement in the development of options to achieve the flows and then to obtain community feedback on these options. Molino Stewart prepared the Stakeholder Engagement Plan which sets out how the desired community feedback is to obtained, as well as keeping other stakeholders informed.
Land and Water Management Plans for Irrigation Areas in the Murray Region of NSW. Ran one of the most extensive and intensive community involvement programs undertaken in Australia, involving literally hundreds of stakeholder meetings. The result was four community driven plans which had broad acceptability in community, agency and government circles.
Review of Environmental Champions Program for the Ricegrowers' Association of Australia. The RGA had been running the Environmental Champions Program for about two and a half years when it decided an independent review was appropriate. The program aimed to improve the environmental performance of rice farmers through education. Conducted the review in terms of the appropriateness, effectiveness and efficiency of the program at the program process and content levels, farmer behaviour change level and environmental change level. The information for the review was obtained by formulating questions for survey, focus group meeting and interview purposes and then conducting the consultations.
Environmental Management
Botany Bay Cable Project - Environmental Assessment. Prepared this Assessment under Part 3A of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act. The proposal was to replace old electricity feeders from Marrickville to Bunnerong Sub-transmission Substation (STS) with a new supply from Kurnell STS, and involved crossing Botany Bay. Key environmental issues included the impact of cable laying on seagrass beds, heritage, noise, traffic, safety and visual amenity. Molino Stewart also prepared the Submissions Report which analysed submissions received on the proposal during the public exhibition of the Environmental Assessment.
BP Solar Plant at Homebush Bay - Environmental Law Compliance Audit. Conducted an environmental law compliance audit for the BP Solar's operations at its Homebush Bay site. The audit set out the specific provisions of all of the environmental laws found to apply to the site, the evidence or otherwise of the company's compliance with these provisions and the compliance status in respect of the particular provision.
Namoi Catchment Point Source Pollution Project. Developed a data base of scheduled and unscheduled premises in the Namoi Catchment Management Authority area and generated a spatial data set for use in strategic planning and the development of proactive sustainability education and capacity building initiatives as well for auditing purposes (POEO Act) by the CMA, Councils and NSW DECC.