Shows
Below the Surface#31 The Half Price EVElectric Vehicles are basically half price in Australia right now, thanks to some little-known government incentives. Gunnar and James decided it was the perfect time to talk… tax. Yes, tax. And you thought resource recovery was a boring subject, right?But before you judge, listen to this episodes. Gunnar and James have brought in the big guns: chartered accountant Paul Mills (paulybmills at gmail.com). It really sounds like the beginning of a bad joke: Two engineers and an accountant meet for a podcast ... Somehow yet again they pull it off, though. This epis...2025-06-131h 00
Below the Surface#30 The DuplicateGunnar claims almost all duplicates we take serve close to no purpose. If you want to know why, have a listen and be entertained and informed at the same time. The OGs are back together in this episode, and quite an unusual one it is. This times it is James who goes on a few rants, quite to Gunnar's amusement. Of course, Gunnar has a few things to say as well and he will definitively ruffle some feathers with this episode.We start off with playing Wikileaks by talking about a letter the EPA sent t...2025-05-231h 19
Below the Surface#29 The New AS5370 StandardAttention Asbestos in Soils Specialists, there is a new kid in town. The Australian Standard 4964-2004 Method for the qualitative identification of asbestos in bulk samples has been superseded with a new AS 5370. What's different? What's better, what's worse? Why are we reporting below the detection and below the reporting limit? Is NATA on board with it? What do all those different sub-categories the laboratories report actually mean?Gunnar is talking to Linda Apthorpe, a Certified Occupational Hygienist and Fellow of the Australian Institute of Occupational Hygienists (AIOH). Linda is Associate Principal Occupational Hygienist at H...2025-05-0235 min
Below the Surface#28 The OCSE OdysseyThe Office of Chief Scientist and Engineer (OCSE) has issued recommendations concerning asbestos in waste and soil. Sarah Mansfield, Special Counsel (and environmental law superstar) at Norton Rose Fulbright, breaks down the key points and their legal implications.Given the focus on the PoEO Act and its handling of asbestos, you'd expect at least one of our hosts to go off the rails with a classic, epic rant. But, against all odds, age, wisdom, and a dash of professionalism took the reins—so much so that this episode doesn’t even come close to earning the 'explicit' rati...2025-04-1146 min
Below the Surface#27 The Chronicles of an AuditorRod Harwood - do we need to say anything else? There are few who have had more influence on our industry and who have contributed more than Rod. Gunnar had a chat with Rod and while they reminisce about 'the good old days', Rod sprinkles in some anecdotes of his impressive career and shares gems of his incredible knowledge as an engineer and a business man.James was unfortunately unavailable (you know, work and stuff ...), but we promise, this is one everybody in our industry will enjoy.BTS Episode mentioned: The Duty to R...2025-03-2142 min
Below the Surface#26 The QuickieGunnar and James take a dive into all sorts of events that have happened in the past few weeks.1 - The EIANZ announces the punishment of a member. 2 - A $30,000 fine issued by a Council3 - MASSIVE NEWS: The Office of the Chief Scientist and Engineer has released a recommendation to the NSW Government regarding the "Management of asbestos in recovered fines and recovered materials ...". Gunnar and James present the key points and almost find reasons to celebrate. We start off with an answer to the question, why there are so man...2025-02-2832 min
Below the Surface#25 The Duty to ReportThe Duty To Report may seem like a peculiar law in our industry, yet it's just another one of the many quirky regulations that shape our environmental consulting world. As such, it was begging to be turned into a podcast episode. In fact, Gunnar and James are even joking about selling movie rights to this one—so send your offers quickly!In this episode, Gunnar and James sit down with Elizabeth Wild, a distinguished Partner at Jones Day, to unpack the nuances of this obligation. They delve into the specifics of who is required to report, what mu...2025-02-1445 min
Below the Surface#24 The RecruiterDaniel James is someone worth knowing when you are working in our industry. Is he a contaminated sites or resource recovery leader like many of our other guests? No, but he will put you in touch with such experts if you are looking to employ one. His decade long experience as a specialised environmental recruiter gives him a unique insight into the workings behind the scenes of our industry. He shares his experience, talks about how he sees our industry performing in 2025, and also gives tips on how to make your next step in your career. Whether y...2025-01-3150 min
Below the Surface#23 The Basics: Acid Sulfate SoilsAcid Sulfate Soils are a tricky subject. The second episode of our "The Basics" series is all about the ASS (oh this acronym is just endlessly amusing, isn't it?). Gunnar and James' guest is Laurie Fox, one of the most recognised and distinguished ASS experts not only in Australia, but globally. Aside from doing fantastic assessment and ASS management work on mind bogglingly big projects himself, Laurie is also committed to improving our industry's understanding of these soils. This improvement pathway he is on involves not only industry talks like this one, but also a tireless commitment t...2024-12-2055 min
Below the Surface#22 The Basics: PlanningEverything you always wanted to know about planning, but were afraid to ask. If you don't get that movie reference, don't worry, it just means you are much younger than Gunnar, that's all.We are starting a new series called The Basics and we are kicking it off with town planning as the subject. Henry Burnett of DFP Planning is our expert guest. Henry and James go back many years and aside from discussing what town planning is all about, they relive their common past as sales clerks at an outdoor and camping chain. Gunnar sits mostly...2024-12-0650 min
Below the Surface#21 The Forever PlatesCan eco-friendly plates and food containers made from sugarcane mulch sneak in some hidden PFAS? And can that PFAS end up in your compost, and eventually your garden soil? Cara Roberts and David Springer did the dirty work (literally) to find out. Gunnar and James couldn't wait for them to come onto the podcast and present the scoop. Tune in to hear what they uncovered! Oh, and this time there's no "Gunnar's gone rogue" segment. In fact, he's eating a slice of humble pie after a listener fact-checked him on one of his recent rants. Oops! After t...2024-11-2243 min
Below the Surface#20 The LoopholeGrey Areas and Loopholes – Where to Draw the Line? This episode dives into the murky waters of our industry's "grey areas", or, if we are re being honest, loopholes. From VENM (Virgin Excavated Natural Material) issues to Council demands for auditors in a gotcha move, to James's creative methods for getting trial waste recycling facilities approved, and even the use of silica gel to clean up tank pit samples - these are some of the fine lines or thin ice areas we navigate in the environmental consulting world.Before Gunnar and James unpack their take on...2024-11-0848 min
Below the Surface#19 The InventorIn a fictitious world where electricity reigns supreme, Gunnar has "invented" a revolutionary engine that uses ... wait for it ... petrol! That’s right, in this universe, electric engines are the norm, and Gunnar is pitching this wild idea of a new type of engine to a venture capitalist, skilfully played by James. We’re taking a detour from our usual lineup of site contamination, waste streams, asbestos scares, and blood lead levels. Instead, Gunnar and James are stepping into the world of dramatic fiction — or at least, are attempting to. They’re acting out a "screenplay," minus the scree...2024-10-2531 min
Below the Surface#18 The Remedial Action AssessmentA re-think of the classic Preliminary Site Assessment => Detailed Site Assessment => Remedial Action Plan scenario. Guest Andrew Kohlrusch, EPA Auditor and contaminated sites expert extraordinaire, joins Gunnar on an excursion to explore a more bespoke way to assess contaminated sites from the initial stages to the final remediation report. Of course the two veer off into their private lives first and discuss a Billy Joel Maddison Square Garden concert, whether dinner with David Bowie or Clint Eastwood would be more interesting than chatting with Louis Theroux and how working 'just two days a week' on a certain p...2024-10-1138 min
Below the Surface#17 The BlueprintAustralia's landscapes are in serious need of an injection of TLC (Tender Loving Care, not some dyslexic chlorinated hydrocarbon). TLC and a bit of money. $7.3 Billion per year over 10 years to be more precise, according to a recent report published by The Wentworth Group.Our Guest is The Wentworth Group's Prof Mike Grundy, a former Research Director, Soil and Landscapes with CSIRO, and an Adjunct Professor with the University of Sydney. We discuss what is currently going wrong with Australia's landscapes, what is needed and how can this all be financed. This podcast is all...2024-09-2741 min
Below the Surface#16 The Sparrow in the Lead MineMeasure lead levels in blood of house sparrows and accurately predict lead blood levels in children in that town. No way? Absolutely YES WAY! That is exactly what Prof Simon Griffith with his PhD candidate Max Gillings have achieved in one of their recent papers. From the outside it is all so easy. Go to an area with known high lead impact (towns like Broken Hill or Mt Isa come to mind), catch a few hundred sparrows, take a blood sample from each sparrow (non-destructively by the way), analyse the blood for lead (and all...2024-09-1346 min
Below the Surface#15 The STEMinistHow can young (female) professionals tackle the flood of knowledge they must acquire in a fast-paced consulting environment while at the same time having to deal with sometimes perceived but too often real disapproval by established good old boys in meetings or on construction sites? How can you tackle the ever niggling self-doubt? How can you become more like the you you want yourself to be?Hailey Spry from Easterly Point Environmental, a DESI (that’s Queensland’s EPA) Accredited Contaminated Site Auditor and well established and respected expert in the environmental consulting scene, was generous enough to g...2024-08-3046 min
Below the Surface#14 The Honest TruthThe EPA names and shames a consultancy for allegedly falsifying reports. Meanwhile clients are beginning to use legal privilege as a strategy to avoid potential subpoenas — just as we anticipated in The Power Grab.On a positive note, thanks to The Policy Predicament (yay!), the EPA has made a change to their website, now featuring all policy and regulatory updates in one easily accessible location. Kudos to the EPA!Gunnar and James take the opportunity to talk about ethics, morals and integrity in our industry. They discuss the EIANZ's Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, sh...2024-08-1648 min
Below the Surface#13 The Train WreckWe are thrilled to host Andrew Doig from the Australian Sustainable Business Group, who brings a wealth of knowledge on waste services and legislative review. Andrew guides us through the labyrinth of waste management and landfill approval, focusing on the pressing issues in New South Wales. From the Lucas Heights extension to the Woodlawn mine approval, we dissect the challenges of expanding waste facilities amid the pervasive NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) mentality. Learn the crucial differences between putrescible and non-putrescible waste and grasp why Sydney's landfill capacity is on a ticking clock set to expire by 2028.2024-08-0233 min
Below the Surface#12 The RRO Rewrite?There are few people who know more about the Resource Recovery Framework than this episode’s guest, Jason Scarborough. Jason had worked with the NSW EPA for almost 20 years where amongst other things, he was involved in the development and implementation of the initial Resource Recovery Framework. Four years ago he founded JS Regulatory Services. That framework has undergone a number of independent reviews and many recommendations have been made. Implementation of those recommendations is still lagging way behind schedule. Gunnar and James chat with Jason about how the framework has come into existence, what chang...2024-07-1946 min
Below the Surface#11 The Sampling EvolutionThis week’s guest is environmental consulting superstar, Ross McFarland. He shares his thoughts on whether samples we take are actually representative of the site conditions. Is a 250 ml soil sample that is obtained with all our best intentions, a minute 5 g of which is then analysed, actually representative of a large area or of a large volume of soil? Have you ever stood in front of a massive stockpile of soil and wondered how in the world and from which part of the stockpile you will take samples That are representative.In numbers that don’t send...2024-07-051h 06
Below the Surface#10 The Waste WindfallGet prosecuted by the EPA and found guilty, get fined several hundred thousand Dollars and make $1.5 Million profit out of that whole scenario. If that sounds too much like fiction and Ocean's 11-ish, then listen into this episode. Many years ago James was involved in a big EPA investigation surrounding the Bowral Landfill. Gunnar and James talk about how James got involved in that investigation what happens when you are a key witness in such a high flying casehow that affects you personallyhow that affects you professionallyhow that affects the brand of your company what...2024-06-2138 min
Below the Surface#9 The Amazing PierinaBond Villains, Broke Parents and Asbestos in Soils Assessments: A Wild Ride with Pierina OtnessGunnar and James are back with another high-flying guest on their podcast! Somehow this episode feels very James Bond-ish.Scene 1: The Asbestos Assessment AuthorityGunnar and James, sit down with none other than Pierina Otness - the undisputed authority on asbestos in soils (ASBINS) assessments. Scene 2: James vs. James BondGunnar feels that James needs an introduction worthy of 007. Scene 3: Broke Parents Club...2024-06-0749 min
Below the Surface#8 The Power GrabThe changed PoEO Act - way more than just increased penalties.Gunnar and James found themselves in the company of not one, but two lawyers. While that usually is not a good thing no matter how you look at it, this time it’s not about courtrooms and objections, but it’s about environmental law. Darren Bick and Daniel Webster, Environmental and Planning Lawyers extraordinaire, joined the two for a chat about recent changes to the Protection of the Environment Operations Act.Now, chatting about legal jargon might not scream "riveting podcast material," but...2024-05-2442 min
Below the Surface#7 The Hydrogen Mythbuster Part IIPart II of the interview with Canadian Chemical Processes Expert Paul Martin. In case you have missed it, in Part I Paul talked us through the, rather inconvenient facts about hydrogen as a means to export energy for Australia and why that is a rather far fetched idea. Here is a link to Part 1 of the interview. In this episode Gunnar and James talk about:The best uses for hydrogenHow we will best decarbonise our livesWe learn about carbon taxes and how Canada has implemented them quite successfullyObjections to carbon taxesElectricity prices in A...2024-05-1031 min
Below the Surface#6 The Hydrogen Mythbuster Part IGunnar and James are talking to Paul Martin, a Canadian Chemical Process Development Expert and tireless advocate for a fossil fuel free future. This first part of a two-part episode looks into whether the claims that Australia has a future as a new energy provider to the world via Hydrogen exports are based on reality or wishful thinking. Paul Martin calls a lot of it #hopium - that should give you an indication of what Paul will be presenting.Link to Part 2 of this chat.Reach Paul at https://spitfireresearch.com/https://w...2024-04-2525 min
Below the Surface#5 The Vapour FluxOur guest on this episode is Dr Adrian Heggie. Over the past decade Adrian has developed an amazingly simple method for the delineation of sub-surface hydrocarbon plumes (chlorinated or not) by measuring the aboveground concentration these plumes cause. His method is fast, accurate, inexpensive and most of all, does not require any invasive ground work. If you think this sounds too good to be true, this chat will convince you otherwise.Adrian showcased his research at the recent Chlorinated Hydrocarbon Symposium held in Adelaide. Among the audience was Gunnar, who, like many others, was intrigued by the...2024-04-1227 min
Below the Surface#4 The TrailblazerIn this episode, we delve into the question of dangers lurking in unsuspecting areas like our backyards and public parks. Join Gunnar and James as they discuss with researcher Ana Serra the findings of her study into asbestos exposure from seemingly mundane activities like lawn mowing or soil disturbance during landscaping or Council maintenance work. How many respirable fibres get released when a lawn mower drives over bonded asbestos fragments on the surface of a site? What happens when the spinning blades hit a fragment and the fragment gets propelled out?What happens when you do all this dur...2024-03-2729 min
Below the Surface#3 The Policy PredicamentJames twisted Gunnar's arm and convinced him to record a podcast about issues around policies in the environmental industry. Why does the EPA quietly make updates to definitions but does not tell anyone about it? Why are there 'internal policies' that are not written down that the EPA and some local governments enforce willy nilly. Why is there no central spot for policy updates in our industry?They also talk about proposed changes to the POEO Act (and before you get all excited, it is not what you think or hope for) and Gunnar proudly relives a...2024-03-1629 min
Below the Surface#2 The MulchgateSydney is still in the grip of an asbestos panic. In this episode we sit down with Philip Hibbs, one of the ultimate OH/S and asbestos experts in Australia. We chat about what he calls "Mulchgate", the actual risk to humans posed as a result, other risks humans are exposed to, we bag all sorts of regulators and organisations for their lack of leadership and we are having a fair bit of fun doing so. Find out lore about Phil Hibbs at https://hibbs.com.au/ and https://au.linkedin.com/in/philip-hibbs-096a8aT...2024-02-2741 min
Below the Surface#1 The Mulch MishapBonded asbestos fragments have been found in mulch in a brand-new park in Sydney's suburb Rozelle. The ensuing panic in the public, associated finger pointing and running for cover by contractors, suppliers, regulators and of course politicians was as expected as it was to a degree amusing. Gunnar and James simply had to talk about this. The episode was recorded on Thursday 8 February 2024.The Guardian Article we mention: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/jan/29/asbestos-nsw-findings-watchdog-epa-contaminated-soil-childcare-centres-schools-parksThe Mulch Order: https://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/-/media/epa/corporate-site/resources/wastegrants/rro16-mulch.pdf 2024-02-1337 min