Yaun Creek Riparian Rehabilitation Plan
Gold Coast City Council

Yaun Creek is part of the Coomera River Catchment in southeast Queensland, the ecological deterioration of which led to the need to develop a specific rehabilitation implementation plan. This plan aimed to restore and protect to the fullest extent, the ecological health and riparian vegetation corridors along Yaun Creek.

Water Quality Monitoring
Gold Coast Airport Proprietary Limited

The Gold Coast Airport lies on leased Commonwealth land and has two major waterways flowing through and adjacent to the airport. As part of the legislative requirements associated with environmental management at Gold Coast Airport, a water quality monitoring program began in 1996. Fauna monitoring project of Coolangatta Creek has also been undertaken seasonally since March 2001. It aims to identify changes in abundance and diversity of the local creek fauna, to gain an understanding of how fauna are utilising the creek and identify important species. Biological monitoring is an important compliment to water quality testing for detecting pollution events. In 2005-06 these programs were combined by Ecosure to produce a consolidated report. Quarterly surveys are continued to be carried out by Ecosure to guarantee that the Gold Coast Airport are meeting their environmental management objectives.

Coolangatta Creek Bio-monitoring Project

Ecosure has undertaken fauna monitoring along the Gold Coast Airport’s section of Coolangatta Creek on an ongoing basis since March 2001. In this project all major fauna groups have been assessed over a long term period as part of a multi-faceted bio-monitoring program linked to water quality.

Cobaki Environmental Precinct
Gold Coast Airport Proprietary Limited

The Cobaki Environment Precinct (CEP) is among the most ecologically intact areas within the Gold Coast Airport and includes endangered ecological communities that are rarely found elsewhere due to the widespread development on the coastal fringe of northeast NSW and southeast QLD. It is home to a diverse array of flora and fauna, including rare and threatened species listed under state and federal environmental legislation and bird species that migrate annually from the northern hemisphere. The CEP is also significant from an Aboriginal cultural heritage perspective, containing within its boundaries the remains of an ancient camping place and midden site complex which was included on the Register of National Estate in 1991.
The main objectives for this project are to:

  1. Evaluate the site via surveys and literature reviews to identify areas that require conservation and/or regeneration.
  2. Create a site specific management plan that provides the frame work for a long term strategy to protect and/or enhance biodiversity and the Cultural heritage sites within the Cobaki Environment Precinct. The main goals being:
    • Increase connectivity between existing vegetation.
    • Increase floristic value and species diversity to enhance habitat quality and appeal to native fauna.
    • Implement a weed removal plan with regular monitoring in place to quantitatively assess the number of species, as well as the amount of weeds removed.
    • Design and implement the construction of frog ponds for the Wallum Froglet (Crinia tinula) and the Wallum Sedge Frog (Litoria olongburensis), which are both protected local species.
  3. Design a pathway network to allow access to the site in a sustainable manner, maximising recreational enjoyment while protecting the surrounding environment.
    • Assessing the feasibility and requirement of interpretive signs throughout the site to provide cultural and environmental education during the walk.

Environmental Impact Statement (Aquatic Biology) Hinze Dam Stage 3
Sinclair Knight Merz 

It is proposed to raise the Hinze Dam wall for flood mitigation and to increase storage capacity. Ecosure identified environmental values, potential impacts of construction and operation and developed mitigation measures.

Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP)
Gold Coast Airport Runway Extension Project

Ecosure developed a CEMP for the extension of the airports Apron and Runway. This involved identification of potential impacts on environmentally significant features, development and implementation of mitigation strategies and ongoing compliance monitoring of construction works with the CEMP. Ecosure are also responsible for follow-up monitoring after the project completion. Ecosure has been engaged in this large developmental project from start to finish.

Environmental Legislation Monitoring
Gold Coast Airport Proprietary Limited

Gold Coast Airport Proprietary Limited identified the need to closely monitor changes in state and federal environmental legislation that may impact on their current and future operations. Ecosure monitors all changes to environmental legislation and provides regular reporting to GCAL identifying relevant and applicable legislative changes, with a particular emphasis on flora, fauna and significant ecological communities. Legislation monitored includes, but is not limited to, the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (1999), the Qld Nature Conservation Act (1992), and the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act (1995).

Environmental Management System
Couran Cove Island Resort

In order to enhance and justify their status as one of Australia leading ecotourism destinations, Couran Cove Island Resort commissioned Ecosure to assist in the development of an Environmental Management System compliant to the ISO 14000 international standard.

Waste Management Review and Options
Gold Coast Airport Terminals and Tenants

To fulfil the requirements of the Gold Coast Airport Environmental Management System, Ecosure designed and implemented a waste management audit of the airports terminals and tenants. The audit incorporated an assessment of waste produced by each key area of operation, and enabled a review of detailed options for waste minimisation and improved waste management practices.