Michael Parsonson
SouthernSkies Environmental Limited
Michael has worked for over 28 years in environmental management, gained from geotechnical consultancy; consents and compliance, project management and team management roles at the Auckland Regional Council; and as a director of SouthernSkies Environmental Limited since 2005.
Michael’s experience covers the assessment and preparation of resource consent applications, Notices of Requirement and Outline Plans of Work for various activities under regional and district plans; policy and plan development; expert witness services; erosion and sediment control design, auditing and training; development of best practice guidelines for RMA practitioners; peer reviewing; and environmental and relationship management for various projects.
This breadth of experience in regulatory, technical, planning, political interface, team management and programme management roles assists in the delivery of all his projects.
Michael is a certified independent hearings commissioner with 16 years experience as a decision maker on district and regional planning, infrastructure, construction and discharges.
Back to Basics - are Adaptive Management Plans really the answer?
Adaptive site management (in the earthworks context usually called ‘adaptive management’ or ‘adaptive monitoring’) has become increasingly common as a requirement for larger-scale earthwork projects.
It is imposed through consent conditions and commonly requires performance monitoring of sediment retention ponds (sometimes with automated data recording), and site inspections and sampling by suitably qualified and experienced (SQEP) erosion and sediment control (ESC) practitioners during or immediately after specified rainfall trigger events.
Adaptive management plans (AMPs) can be extensive, and require reporting to council, sampling and other SQEP investigations.
Is the current AMP approach an efficient means to achieve its desired outcome. Experience tells us that nearly all the causes of elevated sediment discharges during trigger events can be identified by visual inspection by the SQEP and that the sampling of discharge does not enhance that ability to see and rectify issues.
Issues include the design, construction and management of control measures, and the management of the earthworks site; in particular, the focus (or lack thereof) on erosion control to minimise sediment loads reaching those devises, none of which are 100% efficient.
While heavy rainfall is not always predicable, would it be better to require a SQEP to inspect and advise on site management on a more regular basis and before predicted heavy rain, rather than after the event? That approach might more effectively achieve the prevention of sediment discharges that are sought by the AMP.
Would this approach also better reflect best-practice erosion and sediment control that is simply required for all earthwork sites, without the fancy AMP tag?
Adaptive site management is what all sites should do all the time. Design, construct, visually monitor and maintain controls in accordance with best practice.
That is where the wins are in terms of minimising effects on the receiving environment.