About this project

The Woolgoolga to Ballina Pacific Highway upgrade involves the duplication of 155 kilometres to a four-lane divided road. The upgrade starts about six kilometres north of Woolgoolga (north of Coffs Harbour) and ends about six kilometres south of Ballina. The upgrade is jointly funded by the Australian and NSW governments.

GeoLINK is working collaboratively with Transport for NSW, Pacific Complete and numerous construction contractors to help deliver this project. GeoLINK’s project team comprises a broad range of skilled professionals including ecologists, environmental auditors, scientists, engineers and water quality specialists. Together we form a first-class team able to meet the demands of this complex and large infrastructure construction project.

Health and safety of our staff and contractors is paramount to us and our project team ensures health and safety standards are adhered to at all times. Members of our team have acted in senior roles as the Principal’s Site Environmental Coordinator, providing professional environmental advice ensuring the project’s environmental requirements are satisfied and outcomes are met.

Groundwater and surface water monitoring services

GeoLINK prepared the water monitoring program for the Woolgoolga to Ballina Pacific Highway upgrade and is currently undertaking the monitoring for the construction phase. There are over 70 surface water sites and over 100 groundwater bores. The surface water sites are monitored one to three times per month (depending on rainfall) and the groundwater bores are monitored on a quarterly basis. Our team then collates the data, interprets the results and provides a report to Transport for NSW within a week of collection. We also prepare quarterly and annual reports which are submitted to various government agencies.

As expected, for a large infrastructure construction project, the safety requirements and expectations are very high, and we are pleased to say we have had zero safety incidents. When collecting water samples, there are significant safety risks ranging from remote, densely forested locations to busy construction sites with lots of heavy plant machinery moving around. We, as well as Transport for NSW, are extremely pleased with our zero safety incidents.

Due to the geographical location of our offices, we are able to quickly mobilise our staff and be on site in a short period of time. This is extremely important for the wet weather surface water monitoring as it needs to be completed with 24-48 hours of the relevant rainfall trigger being exceeded. Our team has successfully met these requirements over the past 3½ years.

Environmental services

• Erosion and sediment control (soil conservation): planning, design, advice and CPESC inspections for approximately 40 kilometres of the project alignment route
• Provision of on site environmental personnel: ecology (terrestrial and aquatic), vegetation and weed management inspections and advice, water sampling, dust monitoring and land condition assessments for the majority of the project
• Acid sulfate soils (ASS): sampling, testing and ASS Management Plan development for multiple sections
• Revegetation: soil sampling, testing and Revegetation and Soil Management Plan development and Landscape Function Analysis Monitoring
• Material reuse: soil sampling, testing and waste classification and Reuse Management Plan development
• Temporary pipe culvert design.

Ecological services

• Project ecologist – pre-clearing surveys, ecological advice and assessments
• Fauna spotter/catcher services
• Implementing requirements of threatened species management plans
• Ecological monitoring.

Environmental auditing and planning services

• Principal’s Site Environmental Coordinator
• Environmental auditing of Harwood Bridge
• Consistency assessments/reviews
• Site environmental audits
• Planning and environmental approvals advice
• Ancillary facility assessments
• Land condition assessments
• Community consultation.

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