More than 70% of the earth’s surface is covered by water, most of which has been impacted by human practices to some extent. Water bodies such as lakes, rivers, and oceans support a diverse array of aquatic life. With the increasing concerns over water contamination by land activities, the importance of water quality is paramount in supporting aesthetic, recreational, commercial and ecological values. Ecosure’s assessments of water quality and ecology can provide useful information for managers to improve water quality and aquatic habitats.
Ecosure takes a multidisciplinary approach to water quality management. We assess physico-chemical characteristics and also biological components to provide a holistic picture of the ecological status or ecosystem health.
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Our Services
Ecosure delivers a range of water quality services, including:
- Biological, physical and chemical investigations
- Fish assessments, monitoring and management using electrofishing, various netting and trapping techniques and habitat base assessments.
- Marine, estuarine, freshwater & groundwater assessments
- Biomonitoring of phytoplankton, zooplankton, macroinvertebrates and fish.
- Design and implementation of water quality monitoring programs
- Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) and MUSIC modelling
- Management Plans for aquatic ecosystems
- Compliance monitoring
- Conservation ecology of aquatic systems
- Aquatic vegetation and algal management
- Water and sediment control
- Aquatic environment risk assessments
- Storage and regulated rivers management
- Hydrodynamics, stratification and estuarine processes assessment
- Emphemeral stream assessment and management
Ecosure covers various aquatic ecology disciplines:
- Water Quality
- Algae
- Vegetation
- Zooplankton
- Aquatic Macroinvertebrates
- Freshwater Fish
- Freshwater and marine mammals
- Habitat Assessment
- Statistical Analysis
Our Projects
Water Quality Monitoring Program, Resolute Mine, Carpentaria Gold and Coffey Environments
Our aquatic team performed an assessment of baseline aquatic ecology, water quality and sediment quality at a proposed central Queensland gold mine expansion. Additional water quality and aquatic ecology assessments were undertaken with the intention of revising and renegotiating water quality compliance triggers with DERM. We developed a water quality and groundwater quality monitoring and assessment program and biological program to assess improvements in ecosystem health associated with improved site management.
Water Quality Monitoring Program, Gold Coast Airport Pty Ltd
Ecosure have carried out the water quality monitoring program for Gold Coast Airport waterways since 2001. This involves frequent monitoring of groundwater quality, surface water quality, fish and invertebrates. Field and laboratory parameters are monitored for compliance against the Airports Environmental Protection Regulations (1997) as a requirement of the Airports Act 1996. Information on water quality coupled with biological indicators provides information on ecosystem health. Ecosure conduct the sampling, arrange for laboratory analysis (Simmonds and Bristow), and prepare quarterly and annual reports.
Johns Pit Discharge Project, Northgate Minerals
Our team completed water quality and aquatic ecology assessments to determine the capacity of a receiving environment to accept licensed discharge from a gold mining operation. We developed a downstream dilution model that can be used by mine operators to quickly determine the rate of discharge that can be released to the river whilst complying with EPP’s and ANZECC trigger guidelines for key parameters.
Water Quality Monitoring Program, Townsville Airport Pty Ltd
Ecosure conducts water quality monitoring for Townsville Airport. This involves seasonal monitoring of groundwater quality and stormwater (event) sampling. Results are compared against the Airports Environmental Protection Regulations (1997) as a requirement of the Airports Act 1996. Ecosure collect the samples, arrange for the laboratory analysis (Australian Centre for Tropical Freshwater Research), interpret the results and prepare the reports.
Lake Lomandra Management Plan, Gold Coast City Council (GCCC)
GCCC commissioned Ecosure to undertake an ecosystem health analysis of Lake Lomandra, an urban lake on the southern Gold Coast. The project involved a number of tasks including water quality assessment, stormwater assessment and modelling, aquatic vegetation, algal investigations, public consultation and awareness. Recommended actions were developed which included prioritized, issues, implementation costs, and agency responsible for implementation.
Hinze Dam Stage Three (HDS3) Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)- Aquatic Ecology component, Hinze Dam Alliance (SKM)
Ecosure in collaboration with Aquateco completed the aquatic ecology aspects of the EIS prepared by the Hinze Dam Alliance. This involved intensive surveys using a variety of techniques to establish the macroinvertebrate, fish and aquatic flora species present in both its upper and downstream reaches and within the Dam. We assessed instream and in-lake habitat and investigated sediment characteristics.
Compliance Monitoring for Gold Coast Airport Runway Extension Project, Gold Coast Airport Pty Ltd
Ecosure were contracted to monitor environmental compliance against the Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP) for the Gold Coast Airport Runway Extension Project. Ecosure provided the Environmental Compliance Officer who conducted water quality monitoring on a bi-weekly basis of both surface and groundwater, reported on air and noise monitoring as well as other environmental aspects such as sediment and erosion control. Fortnightly reports were prepared that compared results to the performance criteria as specified in the CEMP.
Saltwater Park Environmental Assessment, Gold Coast City Council (GCCC)
Ecosure carried out an environmental assessment of Saltwater Park to provide aquatic and terrestrial flora and fauna mapping and recommendations regarding legislation, rehabilitation and management of the park. This assessment was undertaken in the context of the Saltwater Park upgrade project. Ecosure conducted field based flora, fauna and aquatic surveys to identify areas within the park that yielded highest environmental values. The results were used in the design of the Park upgrade to enhance areas with highest ecological values.
Currumbin Creek In-stream Baseline Assessment, Gold Coast City Council (GCCC)
Ecosure, in collaboration with Aquateco, carried out a baseline in-stream survey of a section of Currumbin Creek where stream rehabilitation works were planned. Surveys involved water quality, using a variety of techniques to establish water quality, macroinvertebrate, fish and aquatic flora species present in both test and reference sites within the section of the Creek. The results provided baseline indicators of stream health for which future monitoring can be compared and the success of the rehabilitation works can be measured.
Green Heart Reserves Instream Assessment, Gold Coast City Council
The scope of this project was to carry out a basic ecological site assessment to provide a baseline inventory of aquatic ecological features and functions within the Green Heart Reserves. It included an assessment of potential impacts on the study area from construction and operation identified in the Green Heart Reserves concept plan. It also included a GIS mapping component.
Cobaki Broadwater Bio-accumulation Study, Gold Coast Airport Pty Ltd
Ecosure in collaboration with Aquateco carry out this study which has three main facets: characterisation of sediments within the Broadwater, mapping aquatic habitats and assessment of oysters for bioaccumulation of potential contaminants. The primary objective is to identify any change in the above facets that may arise from catchment activities.
Rapid Assessment of Riparian and In-Stream Condition, Gold Coast City Council
Ecosure were involved in development and implementation of a rapid assessment method to assess in-stream habitat, bank condition including erosion extent, riparian vegetation and water quality of freshwater tributaries of the Coomera River catchment.
Our Staff
Greg Vinal. B.Sc. (Hons) in Aquatic Science, PhD (research), Principal Aquatic Ecologist
A limnologist with 17 years experience, 12 as a consultant, Greg services a range of clients the full length of the eastern seaboard of Australia. He holds a degree with honours in Aquatic Science, majoring in both Aquatic Chemistry and Aquatic Biology, and he holds a PhD (research) in the same disciplines.
Greg’s expertise and experience lies largely in the field of aquatic ecosystem management, where he specialises in all aspects of water quality, aquatic ecology and limnology. Particular areas of expertise include corporate environmental risk assessment, storages and regulated river systems and nutrient/algal blooms management.
A pragmatic approach to environmental problem solving has brought Greg success in corporate environmental strategy, project management and obtaining planning approvals for significant and environmentally sensitive development projects.
Dr Terry Walker. B.Sc. (Hons), PhD (research), Grad Dip Ed., Principal Aquatic Ecologist
Terry has had over twenty year’s experience in the areas of aquatic ecology, taxonomy, environmental monitoring, catchment management and water and sediment quality. He has worked with a wide range of water managers and community members over that time, on a diversity of projects. He has also worked as a senior science teacher as a biologist in Antarctica. Terry was a member of the Tasmanian Water and Environment Awards Assessment Panelin 2006 and is entering his third year as an AWA Tasmania Committee member Tasmania. Terry considers that working co-operatively with clients to help them to achieve their goals is a key to the timely delivery of project outcomes of a high standard and on budget. Community involvement and education continues to be an important part of his work, including organisations such as schools, Waterwatch and Landcare.
Dr Tim Howell. B.Sc. (Hons), PhD (research), Senior Aquatic Ecologist
A fisheries and aquatic ecologist, Tim has over 9 years experience covering a broad range of consulting clients as well as academic and government research. He holds a degree with honours in Aquatic Science and a PhD (research) in fish ecology and river rehabilitation.
Tim’s expertise and experience lies largely in the field of fisheries and riverine management, where he specialises in all aspects of fisheries ecology, aquatic ecology and limnology.
He also specialises in the complex experimental design for aquatic ecological surveys.
Tim’s ability to apply scientifically defensible, yet practical, approaches to ecological assessment has provided solutions that have been well received by both clients and regulators.
Cameron Foord. B.Sc. (Hons. I), Senior Aquatic Ecologist
Cameron is an aquatic ecologist with specialist skills in the monitoring and management of Australian freshwater ecosystems. With over six years consulting experience, Cameron has been responsible for the coordination and completion of a wide variety of projects covering all facets of aquatic ecology. Contributing to Cameron’s success as a consultant are: a strong working knowledge of all relevant National and State, Policy and Legislation; familiarity with, and first-hand working knowledge of, relevant standard procedures and methodologies governing the sampling of aquatic ecosystems; strong academic results; a general passion for aquatic ecosystems; and, commitment to achieving outstanding client success. A high level of involvement with the mining industry and other large infrastructure development projects has also enabled Cameron to develop a very strong understanding and appreciation of the strict risk management and safety requirements relating to all duties. Cameron has a particular interest in arid and semi-arid stream and river ecology.
Sara Smith. MEnvSc, BSc, Aquatic Ecologist
Sara is an experienced aquatic ecologist who has spent 10 years in the marine industry as an aquarist and interpretive scientist researching elasmobranch behaviour. Sara is also an ADAS accredited commercial diver (AS2815.1) with over 2000 logged dives. In the last three years, whilst completing her Master of environmental science, Sara has since expanded her field of studies to include freshwater and estuarine ecology incorporating total catchment management approach. With a passion for the less cuddly creatures, Sara has a keen interest in the conservation and sustainable management of aquatic environments.
Trudy Thompson. BSc, Cert IV Project Management. Catchment Consultant
Trudy has worked extensively in catchment management with over 7 years experience in local government. Her main focus has been in community consultation, having established and facilitated community catchment groups throughout the Gold Coast. She also has considerable experience in catchment issues, including water quality, erosion, sedimentation, rehabilitation, and stormwater management. She has in-depth knowledge of catchment and waterway issues, and a detailed understanding of planning schemes and legislation relevant to wetlands and waterways.
Links
Australian Coastal Society http://www.australiancoastalsociety.org/
Australian Marine Sciences Association www.amsa.asn.au/
The State of Queensland (Primary Industries and Fisheries within the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation)
http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/cps/rde/dpi/hs.xsl/home_ENA_HTML.htm
CoastInfo http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/environmental_management/coast_and_oceans/coastinfo/index.html
OzCoasts http://www.ozcoasts.org.au/
WetlandInfo www.epa.qld.gov.au/wetlandinfo/site/index.html
WetlandLink http://www.wetlandlink.com.au