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Bob Symons serves as the Regional Technical Manager for Eurofins Environment Testing Australia & Aotearoa New Zealand, where he oversees contaminants of emerging concern and contributes to the PFAS global peer group.
Holding a Ph.D. in Environmental Analytical Chemistry from La Trobe University and an undergraduate degree from Victoria University in Melbourne, Bob brings a wealth of academic expertise to his role. He has previously served as a member of the NATA (National Association of Testing Authorities, Australia) Life Sciences Accreditation Advisory Committee and currently acts as a Technical Assessor for ISO/IEC 17025 as well as a committee member of ALGA's special interest group on Emerging Contaminants.
Bob's research pursuits have primarily focused on the analysis of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), encompassing dioxins, dioxin-like PCBs, PBDEs, PPCPs, and PFAS, employing advanced mass spectrometric techniques. Notably, he has played a pivotal role in pioneering commercial microplastics analytical methodologies within Australia, underscoring his commitment to advancing environmental testing capabilities.
In this episode you’ll learn about emerging contaminants such as microplastics and PFAS. Shonelle and Bob also discuss rising concerns surrounding environmental waste from pharmaceuticals and personal care products, as well as the safe disposal of electronics, including smartphones, lithium-ion batteries, and electric vehicle batteries.
Bob shares his advice to those working in local council to ask lots of questions when working to manage contaminated land, and where needed to employ the help of laboratories like Eurofins Emerging Contaminants Laboratory or the Australian Laboratory for Emerging Contaminants at the University of Melbourne.
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Are you a local NSW council member looking for more resources like this?
You are invited to join the Local Government NSW Contaminated Land Network!
Local Government NSW (LGNSW) hosts a free, online network for council staff on the topic of contaminated land. The network includes an online forum for collaboration, information sharing and announcements about contaminated land regulation, guidance and training opportunities. Monthly meetings are held on themes that were set by the network participants, with presentations from regulators, technical experts, and case studies by councils.
Since the contaminated land network commenced in December 2023, more than 50% of NSW councils have joined, with over 200 participants. Feedback shows that councils are benefitting greatly from the network meetings and discussion on the platform, and we are pleased to invite you to join us.
To join the network, please use this link: https://lgsa.wufoo.com/forms/w1rf0os910rxyl6/
The contaminated land network forms part of a project called “Councils Managing Contaminated Land Together” funded by the NSW Environment Protection Authority (NSW EPA) to support capacity building and informed decision-making by those involved in contaminated land management in councils.
We hope to see you on the network soon!
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In this episode, Shonelle chats with two special guests, Dr Danielle Toase and Dr Lange Jorstad.
Danielle Toase is an Environmental Manager, with a BSc in environmental science and PhD in environmental geochemistry. She has over 10 years experience across the fields of environmental research, regulation, remediation contracting, consulting and corporate environmental management.
Danielle has worked at multiple complex PFAS contamination since 2016, particularly at aviation sites or sites where multiple sources of PFAS exist. Her interests surround PFAS fingerprinting, source delineation, remediation technologies and the circular economy. Danielle is also an active member of ALGA, having recently been appointed to the Board of Directors and is an honorary research associate at Macquarie University.
Lange Jorstad is a Principal Hydrogeologist at Geosyntec Consultants, with a BSc in geological sciences from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and a PhD in contaminant hydrogeology from UNSW. He has over 20 years’ experience as a consulting hydrogeologist, specialising in contaminant fate and transport and environmental geochemistry.
Lange is a NSW EPA accredited Site Auditor and Certified Environmental Practitioner – Site Contamination Specialist, is an active member of the ALGA groundwater fate and transport special interest group, and provides university lectures on groundwater, contamination and sustainable remediation. He has provided consulting and auditing services for PFAS-contaminated properties for government and industry clients since 2015, including local development sites, fuel terminals, landfills, and airports.
You’ll hear how they got started in their respective fields, including Danielle’s PhD studies in Antarctica focused on chemical fixation of heavy metals in legacy landfills using orthophosphate and silica reagents.
Lange shares advice for local councils investigating landfills as a contamination source, and the evolution of groundwater remediation from pump and treat to in situ technologies, and Danielle discusses the purpose of PFAS fingerprinting and why it’s important especially in complex hydrogeology and sites with multiple potential sources of PFAS.
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Sarah Mansfield is an environment and planning lawyer based in Sydney with more than 14 years experience.
Sarah has extensive transactional, litigation and advisory experience. She advises and acts for government authorities, land owners, developers and financial institutions on matters related to contaminated land, pollution, waste, vegetation and planning and environmental approvals.
In this episode, Sarah and Shonelle discuss the numerous types of legal issues commonly addressed in regards to contaminated land management (from large scale commercial and industrial sites to smaller scale residential types) as well as the differences between site remediation via the CLM Act, POEO Act, and the EP&A Act.
You'll also hear their perspective on the new consolidated SEPP and the current deficiencies which haven't yet been amended, as well as some legal difficulties councils should be aware of in terms of doing their due diligence and disclosing all available records of potential relevance to land purchasers.
Thanks so much for listening!
Be sure to rate, review and subscribe to the podcast, and stay tuned for the next episode of Contamination Station: Safer Environment Together. -
Joel Little started his professional environmental career working in wildlife conservation across south eastern Australia. A move back closer to home saw him take up an offer for an Environmental Officer role in a regional NSW Council.
Fast forward over fifteen years and Joel has utilised the exposure to the wide range of situations that local government offered to start his own consultancy business, helping residents, businesses and Councils in dealing with the complex issues surrounding environmental assessment, contaminated land, soil and water management and biodiversity.
In this episode, Joel shares a message to those just starting out in the environmental industry, and reflects on his own career starting out in wildlife conservation, then working with local government, to now operating his own consultancy.
You’ll hear what led Joel to go from “just giving it a year or two” in local government to working with council for nearly fifteen years.
Together, Shonelle and Joel discuss the importance of effective communication skills in the environmental industry, and consider some issues and opportunities in regards to renewable energy, specifically solar and wind farms in Australia.
Thanks for listening! Be sure to rate, review and subscribe to the podcast, and stay tuned for the next episode of Contamination Station: Safer Environment Together. -
In this episode Peter Brennan joins Shonelle to share his extensive experience in the environmental industry.
Peter currently works as Coordinator Environmental Services at a local Council in NSW and has previously worked as Senior Program Officer at the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA), Regional Environmental Program Manager at Hunter Joint Organisation, and Environmental Security Project Officer at Lake Macquarie City Council.
You'll hear Peter and Shonelle share their unique perspectives on what is required to build capacity for better management of contaminated land at the local level.
Thanks so much for listening!
Be sure to rate, review and subscribe to the podcast, and stay tuned for the next episode of Contamination Station: Safer Environment Together. -
Anna Lundmark is the Director and Principal Consultant at StellaNord Consulting. She is a Certified Site Contamination Specialist under the CEnvP scheme, with 20 years’ experience in contaminated land.
Prior to starting her own business, she was the Manager for Science and Innovation at Hunter Water, Regional Program Manager for Contaminated Land at Hunter JO, and Principal Environmental Consultant at AECOM.
In this episode, Anna discusses the benefit she's seen first hand in adopting a structured approach to change management, through her training in the PROSCI Change Management course.
Anna also shares the Contaminated Land resources on the Hunter Joint Organisation website which are available for free to any council at www.hunterjo.com.au/projects/regional-contaminated-land-program
Thanks so much for listening!
Be sure to rate, review and subscribe to the podcast, and stay tuned for the next episode of Contamination Station: Safer Environment Together. -
For the past three years, James Maxwell has served as Environment & Compliance Manager for Moree Plains Shire Council, a rural LGA in northwest NSW.
While James still considers himself to be relatively new to local government, he brings 10 years of environmental consultancy experience into the role, with a focus on development impact assessment, contaminated land management and asbestos assessment.
Since joining Moree Council, James has spearheaded the integrated management of a large and growing number of burnt, derelict and asbestos-containing properties within the Shire, working cross agency and with the community.
James joins us in this episode to share his direct experience, and a powerful perspective shift of viewing contaminated land as an issue at the community level, and not just as a 'problem to be solved'.
You'll hear insight into the impact a lack of technical expertise can have in rural areas, what it takes to deal with asbestos issues in dilapidated properties that have been left unmanaged, and why we must consider contaminated land, especially asbestos issues, as a human and community issue.
Thanks for listening! Be sure to rate, review and subscribe to the podcast, and stay tuned for the next episode of Contamination Station: Safer Environment Together. -
In this episode, we talk with Noel Schiller, Contaminated Lands Project Manager at Canberra Region Joint Organisation.
Noel has been involved in over 30 years of work within the environmental sector which has involved 20 years in NSW Local Government working in Environmental Compliance, Governance and Regulatory Management, 9 years within the energy sector working in Environmental compliance with Oil and Gas, and 4 years working with NSW Government as an Environmental Regulatory Project Manager with Contaminated Lands.
His family owns and manages a fifth generational broad acre farm in Young NSW for which he has been involved his entire life, and he is also an active member of the Australasian Land & Groundwater Association as well as Landcare.
Noel joins us today to share his experience in implementing contaminated land policies at the local level through the Council Regional Capacity Building (CRCB) Program, managed by the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA).
You’ll hear Noel share insights from his involvement in transferring the regulatory responsibilities of Underground Petroleum Storage Systems (UPSS) from the state to local level.
He recounts the lessons learned in moving from a face-to-face to online delivery model and shares real-world examples of why having policies in place to manage contaminated land is so important.
Thanks for listening! Be sure to rate, review and subscribe to the podcast, and stay tuned for the next episode of Contamination Station: Safer Environment Together. -
We are pleased to announce the release of ‘Contamination Station: Safer Environment Together,’ our brand-new podcast, which has been funded by the New South Wales Government through the EPA’s Contaminated Land Management Capacity Building Program.
Whether you're deeply involved in the field of contaminated land or simply passionate about safeguarding our environment, this podcast is an invaluable resource that offers a wealth of information and practical resources.
Join host Shonelle Gleeson-Willey, an esteemed environmental and sustainability expert and CEO of Moss Environmental, as she brings together a diverse group of experts to share their knowledge and experiences in tackling contamination and building a safer environment for all.
In this podcast we embark on a journey of discovery, delving into innovative approaches to combat contamination and preserve our natural surroundings.
By tuning in, you'll gain access to a wide range of insights from experts across various backgrounds and disciplines in the field of contaminated land.
Together, let's build a safer environment for ourselves and future generations. 🌱🤝
