SHREWD ENVIRONMENTAL
Bio
My Story
Since 2000, SE has been providing professional research and consulting services to a range of clients (land owners, business, infrastructure services, and government) across New South Wales. From irrigation planning to innovative aerial mapping solutions, SE has been involved in a multitude of projects and our focus is always on building an efficient and results-driven relationship with our clients and communities where we work. We will work with you to create a customised plan of action for your organisation. Get in touch to learn more about our vision and consulting approach.
Our Work
Rainwater Harvesting - Revealing the Detail
Rainwater harvesting is the best way of sourcing a decentralised and "fit-for-purpose" water supply. The relationship between water demand, tank volume, and connected roof area play a vital role.
Norfolk Island Environmental Assessment
An environmental assessment of Norfolk Island was undertaken to provide scientific background on current land use, hydrology, soils, biodiversity/ecosystems, waste management, energy systems, and food security. Outcomes from the study will be used to assist the development of a population strategy for Norfolk Island.
Place-Based Food Systems
Place-based food systems emerge when production, processing, retailing and consumption all occur at a local scale; promoting ecological resilience, reducing economic risk, facilitating sustainable use of local resources, and connecting culture and landscape within regional communities.
Recent projects have involved "Sustainable Coastal Farm" systems that use permaculture and a syntropic inspired system to work around seasonality and opportunistic abundance within a structured business plan. Existing projects (Mid Coast NSW and Norfolk Island) are currently in the water security infrastructure, soil structure, and fertility development stage. Approaches centre around in-situ soil fertility development, increased food production, biodiversity of species, and all based on reduced inputs to enhance sustainable land use. Do more with less......
Water Quality in the Karuah Estuary
Water quality in estuary systems plays a major role in a healthy ecosystem. Landuse and catchment attributes are the main drivers of poor water quality. On-farm projects aim to reduce livestock access to riparian zones and improve their regenerative farming techniques.
Regenerative Farming and Landscape Hydration
A number of landholders installed fencing and water-points to control livestock and to protect riparian zone vegetation. Solar pumps enabled water transfer upslope to hydrate different areas and improve pasture.
Reactive Filter Media
Recycled organic and inorganic materials have been extensively studied at The University of Newcastle as an alternative to natural soils. Materials included green waste compost, recycled crushed glass, biochar, coir peat, river sand, gypsum, zeolites, and many others. Design "mixes" have been used in bioretention basins, raingardens, biofilters, and other stormwater structures, and shown to significantly improve water quality.
Soil sampling, analysis and interpretation of results
Shrewd Environmental has managed many soil sampling/analysis projects including, amongst others:
-Â evaluating the effect of irrigating blended coal seam gas water to soils (Gloucester, beneficial reuse of production water)
-Â soil assessment of potential coal seam gas fields (Narrabri, soil suitability for irrigation)
-Â soil assessment of mined land rehabilitation areas in NSW and QLD and,
-Â evaluating the impact of secondary treated effluent on woodlot soils near Branxton (PhD)