Internal page template - Holmes Dyer

ENVIRONMENT

Environment and Resources

Environment and resource issues often overlap and generate interdependencies that require careful management. Holmes Dyer’s experience is with the assessment of the planning and development consequences of these issues as part of a process that is typically seeking to deliver an urban development or resource delivery outcome. These projects can range from major urban development projects located in sensitive environments to resource development projects to environmental guidelines for improve sustainability performance to the reuse of former quarry sites.

Typically, Holmes Dyer will provide its planning expertise in these projects but will rely upon our coordination of a range of sub-consultants as appropriate to provide the required technical expertise in areas of specialization relevant to a particular project.

Quarries and Mines

Holmes Dyer has been responsible for numerous investigations and proposals involving quarries and mines and their relationship to surrounding and nearby land uses and development activity. Projects have typically involved the coordination of consultant teams to evaluate impacts on surrounding development and/or the consequences of quarries and mines on new urban development proposals, communication and consultation with State Government, various agencies, local government, local landowners and the wider community, and preparation of rezoning proposals, development applications and major development proposals.

Environment and Resources

Investigations have typically include the following:

Planning context (strategic and statutory)
Land use assessment
Visual impact assessment
Vegetation and wildlife impacts
Ground water impacts
Dust, odour and air quality assessment
Road access and traffic movements
Noise and vibration impacts
Management of waste and overburden
Local amenity issues such as community dislocation, access to community services and facilities etc.
Remediation and reuse of disused quarries
License issues, renewals and public notification procedures
Mine subsidence and building carrying capacities
Flood risk and stormwater management
Aboriginal and European heritage implications
Community impacts and opportunities
Economic and employment impacts and multipliers

Project Examples

Examples of our project involvement include the following:

Wilton Junction Master Plan – Addressing issues including wildlife corridors,
Cumberland Plain woodland, major incised river valleys, bushfire risk and asset
protection zones, visual analysis and view sheds, noise abatement requirements
and mine subsidence risk amelioration.
Marymount Centre (Castle Hill) Residential Subdivision – Involving protection
of a Sydney Ironbank and Turpentine Forest, coordination of comprehensive
environmental assessments involving wildlife and flora protection strategies,
BDAR assessment, ownership and stewardship discussions and VPA
negotiations.
Menangle Due Diligence – Determination of site suitability for a major urban
development involving evaluation of topography, flora and fauna, hydrology
and flood risk, visual impacts, agricultural production suitability and mine
subsidence risks.
Buckland Park Environmental Impact Statement – Contributed to the
preparation of the EIS which established the potential to develop a 1,200
hectare new community, with key environmental issues pertaining to flood
risk, existing areas of open woodland forest, acid sulphate soil risk, mosquito
breeding grounds, sea level rise and proximity to coastal mangroves.
Roxby Downs Mine Expansion – Provided advice on road and port infrastructure
impacts created by a proposed new transport alignment to facilitate
construction machinery access to the mine expansion.
Golden Grove Residential Rezoning – Addressed the issues of proximity of
the proposed new housing estate to Golden Grove Quarry having regard to
vegetation and screening, dust management, traffic movement, noise and
vibration and the opportunities for community influence over licence renewal
processes.
Hackham Residential Rezoning – Reviewed the risks associated with airborne
dust and noise arising from the operation of the McLaren Vale Quarry to
determine satisfactory setback distances to ensure the ability to operate the
quarry is maintained.

Reynella Quarry and Marino Quarry Interface – Coordination of long term
quarrying expectations with the residential land development expectations for
adjacent landholdings for a single landowner who owned both the quarry sites
and the urban land development sites.
Salisbury East Quarry – Preliminary review of the long term options for post
quarry operational utilisation of the quarry and surrounding land for urban
development.
Highbury Landfill – Review of landfill operations at the former Highbury Quarry
site, evaluation of alternative land use potential and preparation of a draft
remediation strategy.
Sedan and Anna / Bowman / Kingston / Lochiel Coal Mines – Investigation of
the urban infrastructure, community needs and housing / accommodation
requirements associated with the establishment of these four coal mines,
including consideration of the environmental, social and economic
consequences of the mines.
Circa Mulpha Norwest Master Plan – Master planning for a major retail,
commercial, office and aged care precinct located within the former North
West Sydney Brick and Title Company clay pit.
Mt Barker Land Divisions – Numerous large scale land divisions at Mt Barker
involving native vegetation review, significant and regulated tree review,
tree protection strategies, water course, hydrology and flood management
strategies, bushfire risk management and creation of asset protection
zones, roads, services and stormwater, earthworks, benching and retaining
wall management, visual assessments, wildlife corridor identification and
implementation, and coordination with landscape architects to deliver open
space networks, woodland forests and wildlife habitats.
Design Guidelines for Residential, Commercial and Hi-Tech Estates – Preparation
of design guidelines that provide for passive and active implementation of
sustainable design techniques, tree planting, orientation, solar / battery use,
all electric appliances, building orientation, green walls and roofs, sustainable
materials choice and colour selections, shading and breeze capture.

Services

Shaping Better Places

Urban Design and Master Planning

Strategic and Structure Planning and Infrastructure Studies

Development Applications, Statutory and Policy Planning

Code Amendments, Planning Scheme Amendments & Planning Proposals

Social Planning, Recreation, Health and Governance

Research, Feasibility and Due Diligence

Community and Stakeholder Engagement

Environmental Planning

Study Tours

PROJECTS

Land | Cities | Communities

Bella Vista Station Precinct

Norwest Master Scheme and Design Guidelines

Atherton Tablelands Retail Study

Atherton Tablelands Retail Study

Seaton Urban Renewal Framework

Bridgewater-Gagebrook Approach to Urban Design

PEOPLE

Experts in Planning and Design

CONTACT

Get In Touch

Now that you’ve seen what we do, let’s talk about how we can help. Whether you’re planning a major development or need strategic guidance, we’re ready to work with you to shape better outcomes.

PHONE

ADDRESS

Level 3, 15 Featherstone Place ADELAIDE

EMAIL

admin@holmesdyer.com.au

Holmes Dyer is a national consultancy that helps governments, developers and communities plan, design and deliver better cities, towns and neighbourhoods through strategic advice, urban planning, design and governance.

GET IN TOUCH

HOLMES DYER © 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED