Long Term Containment Facility, Nowingi – Our Ballarat office managed a team of ten botanists and zoologists from Biosis Research Pty. Ltd. undertaking detailed flora and fauna assessments for the proposed Long Term Containment Facility site at Nowingi, northwest Victoria, for Major Projects Victoria. Archaelogists from our Melbourne office have been leading the cultural heritage team for Nowingi. The cultural heritage assessment includes what we believe to be the most detailed sub-surface testing program undertaken in Victoria, during which we worked closely with the Mildura Aboriginal Corporation and the Latji Latji and Nyeri Nyeri/Wergaia traditional owners and with a geomorphologist. Targeted sub-regional surveys for the Mallee Emu-wren and the Greater Long-eared Bat have presented technical challenges for the natural heritage team.

The results of the surveys and an analysis of the likely impacts of the Facility have been included in the Environmental Impact Assessment released by Major Project Victoria in August 2005.

Port Phillip Bay Channel Deepening – The Port of Melbourne Corporation proposes to undertake the deepening of the shipping channel in Port Phillip Bay in order to allow larger ships to access the Port. This complex project would be one of the largest ever undertaken in Victoria and a full Environment Effects Statement has been prepared. Following the review of the EES by an Independent Panel and the Minister, the State Government has requested a Supplementary EES be prepared. Biosis Research has been engaged, through Maunsell, to provide advice on a range of ecological and cultural heritage issues for the SEES.

New Water Sources for the ACT – Biosis Research has been commissioned by ACTEW Corporation to conduct a flora, fauna and vegetation assessment for three new water source options for the Australian Capital Territory. Staff from our Canberra office assessed the major ecological constraint or impediments, and compared the ecological impacts of each option. The assessment included an analysis of threatened and migratory species and ecological communities listed under ACT, NSW and Commonwealth legislation. This work was presented at a series of public exhibitions for the proposed new water source options.

Major Road and Rail Projects in NSW and Victoria – Biosis Research has long had a focus on impact assessment and minimisation for linear projects – roads, railways, pipelines, telecommunications cables and powerlines. Currently our major work on linear infrastructure is associated with a number of significant road and rail projects in NSW and Victoria.

In NSW, the Sydney office lead major natural heritage studies of the Pacific Highway upgrade for the RTA, as well as a Species Impact Statement for the Oxley Highway Deviation. Technical challenges on these projects centre on design to minimise habitat loss and the need to ensure that fauna populations are able to stay connected across the roadways through the provision of wildlife underpasses and other mitigation measures. In addition our team in the Sydney office, is conducting both ecological and cultural heritage studies for the Pacific Highway F3 to Raymond Terrace Environmental Impact Statement.

Senior Archaeologists oversaw the cultural heritage assessments for the North-East Rail Corridor (Melbourne to Junee). This extensive project involved input from both our Melbourne and Sydney offices.

Current Victorian road projects include ongoing advice to SEITA (South East Integrated Transport Authority) in relation to the ConnectEast project, flora and fauna studies for the proposed Deer Park Bypass for VicRoads, along with a range of small to medium sized road projects in Melbourne and regional Victoria for VicRoads. Current rail projects comprise natural and cultural heritage studies for the Craigieburn Rail Upgrade, cultural heritage assessments for the ARTC’s project to implement additional passing lanes on the rail line between Melbourne and Albury, and several projects on potential "third line" upgrades to suburban lines in Melbourne.

Leongatha-Wonthaggi Gas Pipeline – The Leongatha-Wonthaggi Gas Pipeline project is a 150 kilometre pipeline connecting major townships throughout the central Gippsland Region. A Biosis Research team from our Melbourne office is conducting a natural and cultural heritage assessment of a 100 metre wide corridor between Leongatha and Lang Lang, with an additional section between Bena and Inverloch. The results of the flora, fauna and cultural heritage assessments will be used to prepare an environmental and cultural heritage management plan for the construction team.