About the client
Situated in the Pilbara, the client operates one of Australia’s largest iron ore mines. The site is large and complex, with infrastructure spanning mine operations, rail assets and port facilities.
The ask
The client engaged ERS to provide specialist environmental support and compliance solutions to support the mine’s safe operations.
The scope included the management of vegetation and fauna to reduce fire hazards, as well as the control of pest species that could impact safety, operational continuity and the surrounding environment.
ERS was also requested to undertake environmental planning and fire hazard management for rail infrastructure and a tailings dam, with planning and execution required to account for legal, safety, climatic, weather and environmental considerations.
This included an environmentally sensitive burn and vegetation removal adjacent to, and alongside, the rail track.
What we did
ERS delivered a range of environmental solutions, including:
Pest management: With pests presenting a risk to worksite safety and environmental management, ERS ran specialised onsite training for staff in effective pest management and humane eradication. This included firearms management, firearm safety, effective use, relevant legislation and regulation, ensuring employees had the appropriate firearms registration, competency and knowledge to meet mining regulations and site requirements.
Fire hazard management: ERS managed and executed complex and environmentally sensitive burns near key assets, including the rail line. This included developing the environmental management plan and managing approvals to use a sensitive mosaic burn methodology alongside the railway, with consideration for declared rare flora and fauna, heritage sites and key infrastructure.
Environmental planning: ERS developed emergency management plans for the site’s tailings dam and tailings storage facility to reduce environmental risk, strengthen preparedness and support operational assurance.
The outcome
ERS delivered environmental management activities that strengthened risk controls across key operational areas.
All environmental plans were developed and managed in line with regulatory and government department requirements. The end-to-end process included planning approvals, Traditional Owner engagement, and flora and fauna surveys.
Following the firearms training, pest management was able to be undertaken onsite by appropriately trained and licensed personnel.
ERS successfully completed the sensitive burn program within a 12-day shutdown period for the mine. The program was delivered along 55 kilometres of rail infrastructure and contributed to learnings for future large-scale burns in the region while protecting key assets and environmentally sensitive areas.
The emergency management program developed for the tailings storage facility met regulatory requirements, ensuring safe and efficient operations onsite.
Contact Chris Phillips
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