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Marine Environmental Monitoring

For works conducted in and around water, a Qualified Environmental Professional (QEP) is required to be on site on behalf of the proponent. The monitor’s role is to ensure conformance with environmental legislation through documenting and guiding construction for environmental protection of resources and sensitive ecosystems.

Our staff is trained and experienced in environmental construction monitoring and can be involved from pre-construction planning to post construction monitoring. Monitors liaise with regulators and project crew in the development of Marine Environmental Management Plans (EMP) which define strategies for how to prevent or minimize environmental harm. Such methods include setting up site isolation zones to exclude wildlife from entering a work area, relocation of wildlife within the zone, or stopping activities such as blasting that produce sonic shockwaves that may impact marine mammals. The QEP selects appropriate mitigation and sediment/water management tools such as silt curtains and guides equipment operators during sensitive projects. After construction, we prescribe site rehabilitation measures to speed up re-vegetation of native species (see Habitat Restoration here {link to habitat restoration page}. To show conformance of all regulations, the monitor will provide a report detailed with annotated photographs of equipment and works.

Monitoring

  • Marine infrastructure installations
  • Shoreline fills and concrete works
  • Pile driving, blasting operations, dredging
  • Dock and boat ramp installations
  • Vegetation salvage and transplant
  • Compensation/mitigation construction
  • Performance audits

Duties

  • Liaise with governmental staff and contractors
  • Draft Environmental Management Plans (EMPs)
  • Observe and record baseline conditions before, during and after works
  • Evaluate effectiveness of erosion and sediment mitigation
  • Water quality monitoring
  • Modify or stop operations that may lead to harm of the marine habitat or animals
  • Direct construction of water diversions
  • Report with photos detailing works completed
Marine environmental monitoring

Placing a blast mat along the marine foreshore