Environmental Managers and Environmental Management Representatives
More and more, planning approvals are requiring contractors and regulatory authorities to engage an environmental manager and/or an environmental management representative.
The role of the Environment Manager is to plan, develop and implement the contractor’s environmental management plans and strategies to ensure environmental compliances with licences, permit or planning approvals. Historically an internally staffed role, a trend is emerging where this role is outsourced. We can offer over 16 years of environmental compliance and consulting experience to supplement your team.
Quite separate is the role of the Environmental Management Representative (EMR). The role of the EMR is to act as the go between for the Contractors and Proponent to ensure that each design/construct team are delivering on its environmental commitments and therefore not exposing the Proponent to undue environmental liabilities - either perceived or real.
We think that the following key attributes are important for someone in an Environmental Manager or EMR role.
|
Must be able to communicate effectively in “plain English” with public or regulatory stakeholders |
Independent assessment and communication of project compliance is essential for these roles – particularly the EMR roles. Public stakeholders typically respect an honest, accurate, and substantiated environmental or risk management action provided it is conducted within a pro-active framework that promotes public participation. The nominated EM or EMR must be credible as an individual when presenting to public forums, and be able to communicate – in plain English – both the compliances, and the corrective actions that are being implemented in the event of non-compliances. |
|
Have a sound knowledge of technical aspects |
To ensure credibility, the EM/EMR must have sufficient breadth and depth of experience to be across all of the technical aspects likely to be seen on a project of this nature. Our EMR has been involved in all stages of project development and delivery including conceptual development, planning, design, construction, commissioning and operational phases of several major construction projects and has first hand knowledge over a range of aspects including hazards and risks, heritage, noise, air, water, sediment, occupational health and safety dangerous goods, emergency response, traffic and transport, hydrogeology geology, contaminated land, asbestos management, utilities management, and waste management. |
|
Can be responsive |
A key feature of the EMR role is its need to be flexible enough to accommodate unforeseen circumstances that may arise due to the construction works. Examples could include assessment of compliance of the project in the event of rain, provision of advice if works uncover aspects of heritage significance, or even system changes required due to a last minute change in design. Our EMR is readily available for urgent matters (such as emergency 24 hours call-outs) and can be flexible about working from our clients’ offices or worksites. |
HBI is currently providing Environmental Management Representative (EMR) services to the Transport Development Infrastructure Corporation (TIDC) for the Revesby Turnback Project. This role was to meet the specific requirements for an EMR as established by the development consent for the project. The primary function of this role is to endorse and then assess compliance of the designated contractors, with contractor developed environmental plans of management, to meet environmental protection licence conditions, conditions of consent and other licences and permits as required for the project.
