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The Building Talks Podcast
A fortnightly podcast where we meet and talk to professionals in the Construction, Property Development, Engineering, Architecture and Consulting sectors across Australia's Built Environment. During our building talks, we discuss topics and issues faced across the industry and specialist sectors within it, discuss the careers and experiences of guests, whilst getting to know the people behind the projects, and the construction and development projects they have been a part of.
Our guests span the built environment - so includes leaders from architects, engineers, builders, consulting Project Managers or Quantity surveyors, industry researchers, HR and business experts - all people 'in the know' who work within the build environment and have some insights and deep understanding of the industry.
The Building Talks Podcast
Uncovering Hidden Challenges: Land and Water Contamination in Aussie Construction with Stantec's Bobby Wang & Geordie McMillan!
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Hey, Legends! Welcome to this week's episode of The Building Talks Podcast! Have you ever noticed how on shows like Grand Designs, whenever they start digging for basements or substructures, they always hit some unexpected snag with costs or conditions? Well, we're diving into that today!
I had an amazing chat with Bobby Wang and Geordie McMillan, senior environmental specialists at Stantec, a top-notch engineering firm. We dug into the nitty-gritty of land and water contamination and its impact on the built environment. With the housing crisis, building on brownfield sites in Australian cities is a hot topic.
We covered historic projects like the Cranburn landfill in Victoria and the Westgate Tunnel, both facing significant challenges due to contaminated land. We also discussed a project on Barkley Street in Melbourne and how contamination was handled there.
Bobby and Geordie shared their expertise on the role of environmental scientists and engineers in mitigating risks on contaminated sites. This episode is different from our usual chats, focusing on contamination more than buildings but packed with insights for developers and anyone in construction.
If you want to learn how environmental assessments can make or break a project and navigate these challenges, this episode is for you. I had a blast with this conversation, and I’m sure you will too!
Key Takeaways:
- Brownfield sites pose challenges and opportunities for housing development.
- Land and water contamination require thorough site investigations to identify risks.
- Historical land use, industrial activities, and environmental factors are crucial in assessing contamination.
- Land contamination affects human health, property value, and environmental sustainability.
- A sustainable and risk-based approach is essential for remediation and disposal.
- Responsible disposal and management of contaminants are crucial for sustainable development.
- Brownfield development helps address housing shortages and urban challenges.
- Science is key to demystifying contamination and mitigating risks.
Chapters:
Challenges and Opportunities of Brownfield Sites
The Impact of Land and Water Contamination on Development
Challenges and Opportunities in Remediation
Evolving Nature of Contaminants
Brownfield Development and Urban Planning
Demystifying Contamination and Risk Mitigation
Hope you enjoy the podcast!
The Building Talks Podcast is brought to you by Building Environs Recruitment - providing recruitment solutions to the property, construction, and related industries, here in Melbourne and Southeast Queensland. For an overview of our service, visit:
www.buildingenvirons.com.au
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The views and information shared in this podcast are for general purposes only and do not constitute legal or professional advice. Neither the host nor guests are providing specific guidance. Please seek professional advice before taking any action based on the content of this podcast.
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