Synergy Resource Management Pty Ltd (Synergy) provides environmental and civil contracting services. Synergy specialises in contaminated land remediation, water treatment, civil construction, earthworks, heritage building, forestry and contract project management services. Synergy is a prequalified contractor for the Commonwealth of Australia, Department of Defence, and has recently undertaken remediation, environmental, heritage and civil works on three Defence sites including a former Rifle Range at Fern Bay NSW, a former Fort at Stockton NSW and a former training facility at Ingleburn NSW. The combined value of these projects was $12.1 million.

After careful consideration of the market, Synergy selected Ecoclearing to be engaged as our subcontractor for all of these Defence projects to perform the early environmentally sensitive vegetation clearing works. Ecoclearing managed and conducted all aspects of the vegetation clearing which was required to facilitate Synergy’s subsequent remediation and civil works. All three Defence sites had been attracting significant media and community attention prior to the project commencement so it was imperative that the early vegetation clearing works were conducted in a professional manner. The sites are listed on the Commonwealth Heritage List for their environmental and heritage values which also included flora and fauna protected under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act. Ecoclearing’s works were conducted under the conditions of a specific EPBC Act referral and at all times abided by this referral, the conditions of the Environmental Clearance Certificate provided by Defence and Synergy’s site specific management plans.

Due to a number of extenuating circumstances, the vegetation clearing works were conducted in an environment where additional expectations and requirements were placed on Ecoclearing throughout the projects, often at short notice. Ecoclearing responded well and met both Defence’s and Synergy’s particular requirements in the most time and cost effective manner possible. There were no environmental or safety incidents throughout the vegetation clearing component on all three projects and Ecoclearing, where appropriate, proactively managed external relations with an interested, but sometimes misinformed, community. Ecoclearing conducted clearing works to a very high standard, always displaying an ongoing appreciation of the media and public interest in the sites. Where possible, Ecoclearing was constructive in putting forward alternative vegetation clearing strategies for certain areas in close proximity to protected regions which enabled completion of the work in a less intrusive manner and providing cost effective solutions.

Key to the overall success on all these Defence projects was the professionalism that Ecoclearing delivered through their concepts, systems, project management, equipment and vegetation clearing methodologies. Ecoclearing integrated effectively with Synergy’s own personnel and our other subcontractors by clearly communicating their works progress in a timely and concise manner. Ecoclearing’s plant operators provided a detailed, thorough understanding and appreciation of Synergy’s requirements for a high standard of environmental, quality and occupational health and safety management and their works were also highly praised by Defence. Another significant advantage Synergy found by adopting Ecoclearing’s approach was that the mulch created during the vegetation clearing was able to be beneficially reused for the final rehabilitation works at the conclusion of the remediation works providing a sustainable outcome.

Ecoclearing’s performance exceeded Synergy’s expectations in regards to their management, equipment, personnel and professionalism. At all times I found all the members of the Ecoclearing team to be excellent communicators, reliable, conscientious and hardworking. They displayed calmness under pressure and were always positive in providing suggestions regarding methodology changes as each project progressed. I personally would not hesitate to recommend Ecoclearing for any specialist vegetation clearing works and would welcome providing a verbal reference at any time for further qualification.