Specialist low-impact, seabed coring equipment will be used to carry out environmental and geotechnical testing over the next few weeks which is required under the Resource Planning and Development Commission guidelines for the proposed Lauderdale Quay project.

Walker State Manager Lia Morris said today that Cardno, Australia’s foremost environmental consulting firm and a recognised world leader in marine modelling, had been engaged to coordinate the Integrated Impact Statement (IIS) for the project.

Mrs Morris said Walker was committed to the RPDC process and the guidelines for the integrated assessment of the environmental, social, economic and community impact of the project were very comprehensive.

“We believe the guidelines and Walker ’s use of recognised world experts to carry out the work will give the public confidence in the process,” Mrs Morris said.

Walker’s $300 million Lauderdale Quay will provide unique waterfront housing in Tasmania, a marina and public access to a range of new facilities.

Mrs Morris said that while a significant amount of work on environmental and other studies had already been done, further detailed environmental assessment work was due to commence this week with the arrival on site of a coring unit which will operate from a barge in the bay off Lauderdale.

Senior Principal of Cardno’s Environment unit Michael Chessells said a management plan had been prepared for the relevant Tasmanian and Commonwealth authorities and the necessary licence and approvals had been granted.

“The company we have selected to carry out the environmental and geotechnical testing, GeoCoastal, has specialist low-impact, environmental coring equipment designed by Dr Trevor Graham to create minimal disturbance,” Mr Chessells said.

“These tests will tell us what soil and other material is present and the results of the tests will be included in the IIS that we present to the RPDC and which will then be on the public record,” Mr Chessells said.

Dr Graham said: “as environmental coring specialists we have designed equipment that can access difficult and sensitive places with minimal impact, and at the same time obtain high-integrity core samples for chemical and physical analysis.”

“These objectives have directed our development program over the past 10 years, and GeoCoastal are now recognised by premier Commonwealth and State research bodies, and government regulatory authorities, as the nation’s leading providers of these services,” Dr Graham said.

Mrs Morris said the public would be consulted during the preparation of the IIS and there would be an opportunity for further input during the RPDC assessment process.

“The project has the potential to be a great asset for Tasmania and bring major benefits for the Lauderdale community in particular, so we want a project that both we and the local community can embrace and be proud of.”


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