Environmental Manager | MACH Energy - Rail 2 Project

The Mount Pleasant Operation (MPO) is located in the Upper Hunter Valley of New South Wales (NSW), approximately 3 kilometres (km) north-west of Muswellbrook and approximately 50 km north-west of Singleton.

Modification 4 (MOD 4) was approved by the Department of Planning and Environment in late 2018 permitting relocation of the site’s existing rail, water supply and associated electricity supply infrastructure. Construction of the Rail 2 infrastructure began in late 2020.

In early 2021, Apical Environmental Services (Apical) provided a senior resource to the selected project management contractor (Axiom Project Services) to perform the role of Project Environmental Manager for Mach Energy’s Rail 2 Project (R2P). 

Key MOD 4 construction activities associated with the R2P included:

• Duplication of the existing rail spur, rail loop, overland conveyor (OLC) and train load out (TLO) facility and associated services:
• Approximately 5 km of private rail spur
• Construction of a rail loop to the east of the Coal Handling Preparation Plant (CHPP)
• A new TLO facility and associated services and water management infrastructure located on the rail loop 
• A new product conveyor and associated services and water management infrastructure, linking the product stockpiles located at the CHPP to the TLO facility
• A rail overpass of Wybong Road and road overpass at Overton Road.
• A viaduct bridge spanning the Hunter River floodplain.
• Duplication of the Hunter River water supply pipeline and pump station: 
• A new water pipeline (buried where located in the floodplain of the Hunter River)
• Associated electricity supply and pump station facilities located on the Hunter River and MPO site.

Apical was selected by Axiom Project Services and endorsed by Mach Energy to provide environmental services for the Rail 2 Project. Apical’s resource played a key role as a member of the Project Leadership Team (PLT) aiding in successful project delivery. 

Services included:

• Presenting regular updates on Environmental aspects to the R2P Steering Committee 
• Chairing weekly interface meetings key stakeholders
• Implementing the site’s Construction Environment Management Plan (CEMP) and associated management plans
• Coordinating specialists consulting services
• Maintaining the project’s environmental compliance database
• Monitoring and reviewing compliance in line with approvals and licences
• Managing contamination risks and implementing site contamination protocols
• Coordinating the Project’s pipeline and dewatering contractor
• Reporting to external regulators
• Liaising with Principal Contractors regarding all Environmental requirements 
• Overseeing water monitoring tasks and coordinating monthly monitoring programs
• Managing all Erosion and Sediment Control Plans and audits for the Project
• Key role in the site Emergency Management Team (EMT)
• Developing and delivering Environmental induction presentations
• Project managing the ground disturbance permitting process