A life in the year of Talis Environmental Services

What a difference a year makes.

Around this time last year, I wrote about the growth and success of the Environment section at Talis Consultants.

I was anticipating a year of consolidation to some extent, at least that’s what I’d mentioned to the Talis management team. Something about the ‘best laid plans’?

2017 has been our biggest year yet within the Environment Section and I have Talis and the consultants within the section to thank for all of that, not to mention our clients and collaborators.

We’ve managed to grow a business during some difficult times, although there does appear to be a turning in the market right now and some excitement and enthusiasm building.

In 2017, our team has expanded with further staff being brought on board to bolster our resources in our existing teams of Mining and Industrial and Environmental Investigations. We have also taken a big step and set up an Air Quality team which incorporates expertise in a range of matters covering odour, air toxics and dust.

This step has also allowed us to secure a NATA-accredited odour laboratory and provide a new suite of complementary services for existing clients and the new.

We have worked on projects across WA and have been involved with some exciting and significant developments within a range of industries. Our work this year has included, but not been limited to mining operations (gold, nickel, iron ore, lithium), waste facilities, poultry farms, C&D recycling facilities, brickworks, abattoirs, scrap metal facilities, pipeline infrastructure and Local Governments.

We have been involved with a number of significant approval processes around the State under both Part IV and Part V of the Environmental Protection Act 1986, the Mining Act 1978, the Planning and Development Act 2005 and the Contaminated Sites Act 2003.

We have delivered outcomes for our clients across:

• Approvals (environmental and planning);
• Environmental Impact Assessment;
• Environmental Management Plans;
• Reporting;
• Due Diligence (constraints/opportunities);
• Contaminated Sites and Acid Sulfate Soils Investigations;
• Geotechnical Investigations;
• Hydrogeology;
• Asbestos assessments;
• Peer Review;
• Mine Closure Planning;
• Water Monitoring;
• Ecological Services;
• Expert Witness;
• Auditing and Compliance Assessment;
• Air Quality Monitoring and Modelling; and
• Odour Assessments & Olfactometry.

What has been really pleasing about all of this is the fact that we’ve had both repeat and new business throughout the year. Existing clients have remained with us and new clients have sought us out.

I firmly believe that our ethos of delivering against the three key pillars of ‘ time, cost and quality’ has established Talis as a recognised and reputable environmental consultancy and a leader in the provision of the services we deliver.

From a staff perspective, we’ve seen our numbers increase with new faces and capabilities joining our existing staff base. We’ve secured new and experienced staff across all our teams and seen existing consultants continue to grow and develop throughout the year. 

We’ve worked hard to compete as a new player in the marketplace (maybe not so new now) and have managed to develop a loyal client-base in doing so. Talis has always looked to be able to work on projects we want to work on, with people we want to work with.

In 2017, the Environment Section has been able to work towards this goal and we have had success in doing so.

It’s been a long and eventful year and everyone will be taking a well-deserved break over Christmas. On a personal note, I’ve managed to juggle family and work commitments along with finishing a Master of Laws and continuing my training/teaching. This could not have occurred without the support of my family, friends and the staff at Talis.

To sign off 2017, I’d like to thank my team for all their hard work, our clients for their trust in us to deliver the solutions they need, our partners who have assisted us and the wider Talis business for helping us throughout the year.

2018 looks to be building as another exciting year and I look forward to working on a range of existing and new projects throughout the year.

On behalf of the Environment Section at Talis, I wish everyone all the very best for the festive season, however you choose to celebrate!