EMM Consulting Pty Limited

EMM has provided ongoing strategic advice on the approval pathway for the project through all phases of project development including the feasibility study, concept design, final investment decision (FID), competitive tender for construction and project execution. The project included up to 100 km of new or upgraded roads, extensive spoil management, large scale construction camps, precast creation, storage and transport facilities, many within remote areas of the ecologically sensitive Kosciusko National Park. The water team conducted an extensive data-gathering field program, including the drilling of a groundwater monitoring network, which informed comprehensive groundwater, streamflow and water balance models. The EMM water division prepared a significant body of reports to support the approvals project.

EMM subcontracted to Aither to develop the regulatory rules for water authorizations (licences) and water affecting activity permits for NEOM. NEOM will be a new, semi-autonomous region in Saudi Arabia, developing state of the art and environmentally innovative cities and facilities under is own new regulatory framework.

In 2020 EMM was engaged to assist WaterNSW explore emergency water supply options for Western Sydney. The proposed project involved the pumping of groundwater to Warragamba Dam for temporary drought relief, ultimately increasing the water security of the area, where other options such as desalination are not feasible. Although the project did not eventuate, EMM conducted an exploratory drilling and testing program in the Hawkesbury Sandstone aquifer in Western Sydney, with hydrogeological data input into a numerical groundwater flow model to investigate the feasibility of the project.

Ok Tedi Mining Limited (OTML) are required by the State of Papua New Guinea to prepare and submit a revised Mine Closure Plan (MCP) every three years pursuant to the Ok Tedi Mine Closure and Decommissioning Code 2001. EMM has been engaged to update and finalise the suite of MCP documents, including the MCP, Mine Area Rehabilitation Plan, Post Closure Monitoring Plan and Financial estimates for the Closure Bond. The revised MCP will update the 2019 plan and will reflect: the significant engineering changes completed in the previous three years; increased disturbance due to mine operations; the revised life of mine extension; progressive rehabilitation; and will revisit and address the 2019 recommendations of the Conservation and Environmental Protection Authority (CEPA).

EMM has been engaged by the NSW Department of Planning and Environment – Water (DPE Water), to provide policy, governance and project management support to a review of the operation of joint private water entities – irrigation districts, private drainage boards and private water trusts. The objective of the project is to review the governance, administration and oversight arrangements for the joint private works entities and develop options to resolve complex policy issues and mitigate risks to DPE Water and the Water Minister. It is expected that the outcomes of the project will include changes to the legislative framework associated with the governance of joint private entities.

Ongoing contract to advise on and review NSW Water Resource Plans (to be made under the Cth Water Act for the Murray Darling Basin resources of NSW), NSW statutory water sharing plans, basic rights to water, and development of major dam infrastructure in NSW.