Environment

Templemore Flood Relief Scheme

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Project River Mall Flood Relief Scheme
Date

 

 2017-2024
Location

 

 Templemore, Co Tipperary, Ireland
Client

 

 Office of Public Works (OPW)
Business Sectors

 

 Civil and Environmental Engineering
Services (Technical Disciplines)

 

 Feasibility and Environmental Studies, Project Design and Implementation
Project Objectives/ Outcomes

 

 

 Diversion of the existing River Mall in Templemore town along a newly created river channel (through greenfield and brownfield sites) approximately 850m in length. The Scheme design also included for the construction of several field and road culverts, embankments and widening of the existing river channel. This project saw the inclusion of approximately 160 individual biodiversity enhancement components in the Scheme.

The Project won the Environmental Engineering Project on the Year at the Engineering Excellence Awards in October 2024
Our Role

 

 TOBIN worked closely alongside the OPW throughout this project’s lifecycle from assisting with the initial feasibility studies, completing various environmental assessments, completing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Natura Impact Statement (NIS), undertaking public and statutory consultation, preparing detailed engineering designs and more recently as Ecological Clerk of Works throughout the multi-year construction phase (2017-2024).

 
Geoscience Ireland Contact

 

 Allison Murphy Allison.Murphy@tobin.ie

 

TELLUS Geochemical Sampling Completed by Aurum Exploration for Geological Survey Ireland

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Project Tellus Geochemistry Programme
Date

 

 2020 – 2026
Location

 

 Across Ireland
Client

 

 Geological Survey Ireland (GSI) a division of the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC)
Business Sectors

 

 Geochemical Surveying
Services (Technical Disciplines)

 

 GSI is conducting a flagship project to sample and measure the geochemical characteristics of the surficial environment of Ireland. The Tellus geochemistry workstream commenced in 2011.

Aurum Exploration has been successful in a number of contracts since 2020, providing soil sampling acquisition services and more recently data QA/QC and project management services to the programme.

 
Project Objectives/ Outcomes

 

 

 The Tellus geochemistry programme  aims to produce spatial data to determine the geochemical baseline of shallow and deeper topsoil, stream sediment and stream water, mainly in rural Ireland. Once complete, this freely available national data et  and archived sample material,  Ireland will be one of the best geochemically mapped countries in the world. TELLUS data will provide useful baseline information for several  sectors, including agriculture, health  and  environmental agencies.

Aurum Exploration’s ultimate objective was to provide seamless continuation of high-quality geochemical samples and data to the longstanding Tellus programme. Other objectives included advanced development and roll out of a multifaceted digital data capture system solution, streamlining workflow efficiencies in the field, at field manager QA/QC checking stage, for project manager quality and performance monitoring and clear real-time client facing metrics.

 

Aurum Exploration Outcomes:

§  Successful sample acquisition covering southern 50% of ROI, collecting samples from nearly 9000 individual survey grid cells

(including the highest ground in the country and development of protocols to see continued safe working throughout challenges of COVID-19)

§  Accelerated acquisition with nearly 6000 of Aurum Exploration surveyed sites collected in one calendar year, covering over 30% of the ROI land mass

§  Sample acquisition of all Tellus geochemical urban sampling
(Block G8 Dublin in 2020 and Block G12 comprising of four urban centres: Limerick, Galway, Waterford and Cork in 2024)

§  Lowest Client sample quality rejection rates in programme history; with multiple survey blocks having zero such failures – a testament to Aurum Exploration’s internal QA/QC sample and data procedures and development of a robust bespoke digital data capture system solution

 
Our Role

 

 Aurum Exploration provided a specialist team to deliver:

§  Project management services

§  Specialist survey design planning and sampling strategy

§  Technical training on sampling methodologies

§  Data management services

§  QA/QC of geochemical data services

§  Community outreach

The final soil sample was collected in August 2024.
Geoscience Ireland Contact

 

 Johnny Meehan, jmeehan@aurumexploration.com

 

Liverpool Soil Remediation and Stabilization

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Project:

Liverpool Festival Gardens

Date:

2021-2023

Location:

Liverpool, UK

Client:

Vinci Construction/Liverpool City Council

Business Sectors:

Site Remediation

Services (Technical Disciplines):

A former  oil terminal was situated within part of the site which required careful removal of  underground pipe infrastructure and oil recovery from ground using skimmer systems and use of a water treatment plant prior to discharge to foul sewer under a Trade Effluent Discharge Consent.

Settlement risks were mitigated via a combination of rolling dynamic compaction to improve the wastes and engineering of general fill materials (including the use of lime to improve moisture content of the fill) to construct a development platform.

VertaseFLI operated under a number of Environmental Permitting regimes.s. Suitable materials were reused under CL:AIRE DoWCoP Materials Management Plan as agreed with the regulators.

By virtue of its thickness and poorly characterised composition, it was recognised early in the project that earlier fill posed a potential risk of long-term creep settlement, even after improvement by rolling dynamic compaction. To better characterise this risk, VertaseFLI developed a long-term settlement model for the material and an innovative method of verifying the input parameters using rod-type borehole extensometers. The innovative verification method provided evidence to stakeholders that unacceptable magnitudes of settlement over the design lifetime were unlikely.

Following removal of waste materials from the site area Rolling Dynamic Compaction was undertaken to an effective depth of approximately 3m prior to filling works commencing. Filling operations were undertaken in accordance with a stringent specification and overseen by the client’s consultant throughout the works.

Approximately 700m of 2.4m diameter deep attention drainage was  installed throughout the course of the project alongside shallow drainage.

Project Objectives/Outcomes:

To implement an outline remediation strategy developed by Arup to prepare the 10-hectare development zone of the former Liverpool Festival Gardens site for mixed residential and commercial development.

The Site had been historically reclaimed from the estuary of the river Mersey by progressive land raising above the tidal flat deposits via the deposition of various waste materials. Wastes tipped pre-1962 comprised sandstone rubble and dock waste. Wastes placed between 1978 and 1981 comprised commercial, industrial and domestic waste before landscaping the site using surplus soils from nearby developments termed the International Garden Festival Fill.

Our Role:

Excavation of landfilled commercial and industrial waste, Processing of the waste to separate undesirable materials for disposal, Oil recovery, Installation of deep drainage, Earthworks to construct landscape features and construct a development platform, Lime improvement, Dynamic compaction, Settlement modelling and model verification using extensometers, Regulatory consultation, Ground gas monitoring, Geochemical and Geotechnical verification.

Geoscience Ireland Contact: Alex Flynn aflynn@fli-group.com

Soil Remediation and Stabilization UK Power Plant

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Project:

Former Tata Power Plant – Site Remediation

Date:

2020-2022

Location:

Lostock, Cheshire, UK

Client:

Brown & Mason

Business Sectors:

Environmental Remediation

Services (Technical Disciplines):

The site housed the former boiler and turbine halls from a coal fire powered station and is undergoing redevelopment as a new energy from waste plant.

Historically lime waste had been buried on site surrounding the power station to depths of 3m below ground level. Due to the significant loading on the ground from the new plant, and the poor geotechnical properties of the lime waste it was not suitable to support the new buildings.

Due to its extremely high pH the waste would have been classified as hazardous for disposal, adding a significant cost to the project. VertaseFLI, working with the clients’ consultants developed a scheme to improve the geotechnical properties of the lime waste to allow its re-use on site.

Project Objectives/Outcomes:

Following completion of “proof of concept” bench scale trials to determine the appropriate design mix to stablilise the lime VertaseFLI deployed its Environmental Permit to site.

A dedicated treatment area was set up on site to segregate waste streams, and to complete ex-situ stabilisation. Treated lime waste was ransportated back to the excavation for placement, compaction and curing.

VertaseFLI completed all environmental monitoring testing to confirm the performance of the stabilised materials. Following curing, the final development platform achieved a CBR in excess of 30%.

Our Role:

Environment permit, Materials management, bench scale Stabilisation trials, ex-situ Stabilisation, Environmental Monitoring

Geoscience Ireland Contact: Alex Flynn aflynn@fli-group.com

ByrneLooby – Al Sahel

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Project

Al Sahel, Bahrain

Location

Al Sahel Resort, south west area of Bahrain

Client

Mohamed Salahuddin Consulting Engineering Bureau (MSCEB) on behalf of Al Sahel Resort Company B.S.C Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain

Business Sectors

Marine and Environment

Services (Technical Disciplines)

  • Data Collection
  • Detailed Analysis
  • Hydrodynamic modelling

Our Role: 

Design of six artificial beaches and the associated beach control structures at the Al Sahel Beach Resort, on a partially constructed project which was stalled in 2009

Results:

Byrne Looby prepared a beach stability and coastal evolution assessment to determine the construction profile and eventual stable profile and orientation of the artificial beaches. They also undertook the environmental permitting requirements which included the development of an environmental management plan.

Geoscience Ireland Contact: Michael Looby mlooby@byrnelooby.com

Excavation of Remains, Barry, Wales | Rubicon Heritage

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Project:

Excavation of Remains, Barry, Wales

Location:

Barry, Wales

Client:

The Vale of Glamorgan

Business Sectors:

Environment

Services (Technical Disciplines):

  • Excavation
  • Detailed Analysis

Our Role:

The Vale of Glamorgan council in Wales hired Rubicon Heritage Services to assess a road they wanted to be straightened.

The project led to the discovery of an extensive trove of archaeological artifacts and hundreds of graves dating back thousands of years. Rubicon discovered a Roman-era mercenary buried with his sword and a mysterious beheaded skeleton.

Rubicon is undertaking a detailed analysis of the remain, checking for family links to the bodies, signs of diseases or injuries, or clues about diets.

Results:

In one section of the five-mile road was a collection of Roman artifacts and several skeletons; One is believed to be a mercenary, buried with a large sword and a military broach, dated to the period that the Roman Empire fell apart in Britain. Nearby was another skeleton of a decapitated man, buried with his head by his feet.

In another excavated section of the road revealed a burial site from a later period that also raised many questions.

In the middle of a field lies a once-hidden medieval burial ground, uncovered by Rubicon, that holds 450 bodies.

Project Objectives/ Outcomes:

Rubicon has released an e-book detailing the project called the “Five Mile Lane,” which describes what has been found so far, including Bronze Age cremations, an arrowhead, and a 3000-year-old roundhouse.

Geoscience Ireland Contact: Colm Moloney colm.moloney@rubiconheritage.com

Cherry Orchard Residential Development | Fehily Timoney

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Project Title: 

Cherry Orchard Residential Development | Fehily Timoney

Location:

Dublin, Ireland

Client: 

MDY Construction Ltd.

Business Sectors: 

Environment, Civil Infrastructure

Services (Technical Disciplines):

Environmental Assessment

Project Objectives/ Outcomes:

Previous site investigations including limited environmental sampling for soils had been undertaken prior to the commencement of construction activities. which suggests the material would be classified as Non-Hazardous. This testing frequency was not be considered to be adequate in accordance with the relevant codes of practice to allow classification of the materials at the site.

Due to the limited environmental sampling undertaken to date, FT deemed that further environmental assessment of soils at the site during construction was required to determine the suitability for reuse and categorisation of the waste status of material to be removed from site for disposal.

Our Role: 

FT supervised and managed intrusive investigations and soil/made ground sampling program to complete a comprehensive assessment of the contaminative status of soils/made ground at the development. This included analysis of laboratory testing, completion of generic risk assessment and recommendations for material reuse or disposal options for materials at the site.

Geoscience Ireland Contact:

Tom Clayton (tom.clayton@ftco.ie)

 

Rainwater Drainage Project of Bamako | SLR

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Project Title: 

Rainwater Drainage Project of Bamako | SLR

Location:

Bamako city, Mali

Date: 

2020

Client: 

Agence Française de Développement (AFD)

Business Sectors: 

Environment

Services (Technical Disciplines):

Key issues that SLR addressed:

  • Physical and economic displacement
  • Analysis of the social impacts
  • Identification of vulnerability criteria
  • Participatory definition of the livelihood restoration activities
  • Monitoring of the Resettlement Action Plan implementation

Project Objectives/ Outcomes:Monitoring of the Resettlement Action Plan implementation.

Key deliverables

  • Resettlement Assistance Program
  • Livelihood Restoration Plan
  • Grievance Redress Mechanism

Our Role: 

SLR prepared the RAP and the Livelihood Restoration Plan in accordance with World Bank standards and Mali regulations, where c. 3,000 persons are to be physically displaced by the rainwater drainage program.

Geoscience Ireland Contact:

Dr Deirdre Lewis (dlewis@slrconsulting.com)

Bon Ami Bauxite Mining Project | SLR Consulting

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Project Title: 

Bon Ami Bauxite Mining Project | SLR Consulting

Date:

2020

Location:

Republic of Guinea, West Africa

Client: 

Private client

Business Sectors: 

Mining, Environment, Groundwater, Climate

Services (Technical Disciplines):

Key issues that SLR addressed:

  • Biodiversity (including natural and critical habitat loss and fragmentation – land, river and marine);
  • Air and noise emissions;
  • Climate change/greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions;
  • Groundwater contamination;
  • Surface water contamination

Project Objectives/ Outcomes:

Key deliverables:

  • Supplementary ESIA.
  • Framework environmental management and monitoring plans;
  • Conceptual Mine Closure Plan

Our Role: 

SLR prepared a supplementary ESIA and related specialist studies to address gaps in the national EIA, in the context of the IFC Performance Standards and GIIP, based on steady state production: 10 Mt/annum

Geoscience Ireland Contact:

Dr Deirdre Lewis- dlewis@slrconsulting.com

5G Streetworks Project | Entrust Services

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Project Title: 

5G Streetworks Project | Entrust Services

Date:

January 2019 – Present

Location:

England (North West and Midlands Regions)

Client: 

KTL, On behalf of MBNL (EE & 3UK)

Business Sectors: 

Telecommunications, Communications, Broadband, Wireless Infrastructure

Services (Technical Disciplines):

Town Planning, Site Acquisition, Public Consultation

Project Objectives/ Outcomes:

Delivered 120 telecommunications masts in various urban and suburban areas in North West England and the English Midlands. The masts would be capable of providing both 3G/4G services, as well as new 5G technology.

Our Role: 

Entrust were involved from the initial site selection process, right through to completing acquisition and gaining planning permission for over 120 sites. We have a success rate of 71% planning success rate on all of the sites and a 100% success rate on acquisition, which considering the 20m height of the proposed masts in urban areas is a considerable achievement.

Entrust worked closely with Planning Authorities and Highway Authorities to gain planning permission and acquisition rights for the proposed masts, overcoming issues such as visual impact, protecting tree roots and avoiding underground services.

Geoscience Ireland Contact:

Kieran Tarpey (kieran@entrust-services.com)

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