Redleaf lends support to major road upgrade in Surat Basin

Redleaf Environmental has buoyed the sustainable development of a quarry on Fairview Road, north of Injune in partnership with Ostwald Bros on a major GLNG project in the Surat Basin.

Working with Ostwald Bros for Santos on maintaining its 9,000 km road network throughout the Surat Basin gas fields, Redleaf Environmental continues to expand its support for sustainable regional infrastructure through scientific investigations in the region.

Ostwald Bros Construction Materials’ recently licensed road-based quarry on Fairview Road north of Injune will be used in upgrading roads in the Maranoa Regional Council area. This much needed quarry will help Santos to utilise local gravel materials for use on Fairview Road.

Principal Scientist Bruce Thomson said the results of recent surveys on the 16 hectare site were extremely successful as the process highlighted significant cultural values, including two identified aboriginal scar trees that were subsequently protected from heavy machinery within the quarry site boundaries. The flora and fauna surveys  identified over 120 species of plants and 65 species of fauna occurring within the 16 ha quarry site.

“Our cultural heritage officers and scientists were able to facilitate traditional owner clearances for the quarry site and also nominate a five hectare footprint to minimise potential impacts to fauna and flora for the quarry site development,” Bruce said. “Importantly, a local colony of the Herbert’s rock wallaby and its habitat was able to be avoided through this process. This is a great outcome as we were able to provide Ostwald Brothers with site specific mitigation measures.”

Bruce on the job holding a yellow-faced whip snake

“We are pleased to assist Ostwald Bros and Santos in the sustainable development and protection of significant values in the Surat and Bowen Basin gas fields.”

Local roads are currently receiving much needed investment by the Maranoa Regional Council in partnership with Santos. For more information, visit the following links to Santos and Ostwald Bros activities. The road is currently experiencing significant increases in traffic including heavy vehicles to support the CSG activities of Santos in the Surat and Bowen Basins.

http://www.ostwaldbros.com.au/news/ostwald-bros-begins-work-on-santos-cooper-basin-gas-fields/

http://www.santosglng.com/the-project/project-update-april-2013/gas-fields.aspx