Project examples
Projects for consent applicants/holders and planning consultants
The projects listed below were carried out in collaboration with a range of experts in specific scientific disciplines, field work, and modelling, and planning consultants, including Aquatic Environmental Sciences , JBF Enviro , Mitchell Daysh, John Wilson Consulting, DHI , Coast & Catchment, and IWS Group.
Resource consent application for kingfish farming (2019-2023)
Te Ariki Tahi Sugarloaf Wharf upgrade (2020-2022)
Whangamata Marina Society monitoring (ongoing since 2019)
Offshore mussel farm environmental monitoring plan (EMP) preparation and water quality monitoring
Inshore mussel farm EMP preparation and baseline water quality survey
Environmental monitoring plan for salmon farms
Advice relating to charges for RMA breach
Resource consent application for kingfish farming (2019-2023)
- Assessment of ecological effects of kingfish and marine farming in the Coromandel Marine Farming Zone
- Design, project management, and reporting of water quality surveys
- Preparation and presentation of evidence on benthic effects and monitoring at consent hearing
Te Ariki Tahi Sugarloaf Wharf upgrade (2020-2022)
- Ecology and water quality effects assessment of the proposed Te Ariki Tahi Sugarloaf Wharf upgrade (2020-2022)
Whangamata Marina Society monitoring (ongoing since 2019)
- Review of five years of ecological and water quality monitoring data for Whangamata Marina Society and development of an Environmental Monitoring Plan
- Management of annual ecological and water quality monitoring and preparation of monitoring reports
- Review of Environmental Monitoring Plan to ensure monitoring remains efficient and meaningful
Offshore mussel farm environmental monitoring plan (EMP) preparation and water quality monitoring
- Preparation of an EMP for an offshore mussel farm development, management of water quality monitoring, and preparation of monitoring report (2020-current)
Inshore mussel farm EMP preparation and baseline water quality survey
- Preparation of an EMP for an inshore mussel farm development, management of baseline water quality survey, and preparation of survey report (2019-2021)
Environmental monitoring plan for salmon farms
- Preparation of an EMP for an inshore salmon farm (2018-2019)
Advice relating to charges for RMA breach
- Scientific advice relating to charges for breach of the RMA in relation to discharge of sediment laden water from industrial site (2020-2021)
Projects for Councils - resource consenting and planning
Support council during the processing of resource consent application for an offshore salmon farm (Marlborough District Council)
Provide support to Marlborough District Council (MDC) during the processing of a resource consent application for an offshore salmon farm, including evaluating technical information provided by the Applicant, attending meetings/workshops on behalf of MDC, liaising with and reviewing information provided by experts engaged by MDC and submitters and participating in any related processes, preparing and presenting evidence (2019-2022)
Facilitation of expert caucusing during hearing (Marlborough District Council)
Facilitation of benthic and modelling expert caucusing as directed by Hearing Commissioners, including logistics, facilitation of conference, preparation of Joint Witness Statements, liaising with experts, Commissioners, and Administrator and Hearings Facilitator (2022)
Advice on draft consent conditions (Environment Southland)
Advice to Environment Southland on draft consent conditions for a proposed land-based aquaculture facility, including advice on appropriate discharge limits, the reasonable mixing zone, and discharge and receiving water parameters to be measured (2021)
Review of AEE for stormwater discharge resource consent application (Hawke’s Bay Regional Council)
Review of the adequacy of AEEs for multiple stormwater discharges, including the proposed adaptive management approach and consent conditions and recommendations to Hawke’s Bay Regional Council on water quality effects mitigation options and suitable consent conditions (2018-2019)
Expert witness services - discharge of wastewater to land with potential effects on the coastal environment (Horizons Regional Council)
Support Horizons Regional Council in the processing of a resource consent application for discharge of wastewater to land with potential effects on the coastal environment by preparing and presenting evidence at hearing, attending expert conferencing, and providing general advice (2019-2020)
Review of AEE for mussel farm extension applications (Marlborough District Council)
Technical review of carrying capacity assessments made in relation to a resource consent application to extend an existing longline marine farm
Evaluation of potential adverse ecological effects from proposed offshore drilling rigs (Marlborough District Council)
Description and assessment of potential environmental effects of the operation of proposed offshore drilling rigs, including associated disturbances of the seabed and takings of coastal water for ballasting (2018)
Expert witness services – resource consent application to extend existing salmon farm (Marlborough District Council)
Review ecological effects assessment provided by the consent applicant with their s127 application to install additional net pens and associated moorings at an existing salmon farm site and presentation of evidence at hearing (2019)
Review of annual benthic and water quality monitoring reports for salmon farms (Marlborough District Council)
Technical review of annual benthic and water quality monitoring reports prepared for salmon farms (2019-2021)
Assessment on the appropriateness of an Aquaculture Management Area (Marlborough District Council)
Technical support to assist in the Council to make an assessment on the appropriateness of an Aquaculture Management Area, including reviewing a private plan change and resource consent application and related expert reports, undertake a literature review of information on the ecological condition of the bay, independently assess the ecological condition of the bay, provide advice on whether further work is required, and prepare expert evidence for plan hearing (2021)
Provide support to Marlborough District Council (MDC) during the processing of a resource consent application for an offshore salmon farm, including evaluating technical information provided by the Applicant, attending meetings/workshops on behalf of MDC, liaising with and reviewing information provided by experts engaged by MDC and submitters and participating in any related processes, preparing and presenting evidence (2019-2022)
Facilitation of expert caucusing during hearing (Marlborough District Council)
Facilitation of benthic and modelling expert caucusing as directed by Hearing Commissioners, including logistics, facilitation of conference, preparation of Joint Witness Statements, liaising with experts, Commissioners, and Administrator and Hearings Facilitator (2022)
Advice on draft consent conditions (Environment Southland)
Advice to Environment Southland on draft consent conditions for a proposed land-based aquaculture facility, including advice on appropriate discharge limits, the reasonable mixing zone, and discharge and receiving water parameters to be measured (2021)
Review of AEE for stormwater discharge resource consent application (Hawke’s Bay Regional Council)
Review of the adequacy of AEEs for multiple stormwater discharges, including the proposed adaptive management approach and consent conditions and recommendations to Hawke’s Bay Regional Council on water quality effects mitigation options and suitable consent conditions (2018-2019)
Expert witness services - discharge of wastewater to land with potential effects on the coastal environment (Horizons Regional Council)
Support Horizons Regional Council in the processing of a resource consent application for discharge of wastewater to land with potential effects on the coastal environment by preparing and presenting evidence at hearing, attending expert conferencing, and providing general advice (2019-2020)
Review of AEE for mussel farm extension applications (Marlborough District Council)
Technical review of carrying capacity assessments made in relation to a resource consent application to extend an existing longline marine farm
Evaluation of potential adverse ecological effects from proposed offshore drilling rigs (Marlborough District Council)
Description and assessment of potential environmental effects of the operation of proposed offshore drilling rigs, including associated disturbances of the seabed and takings of coastal water for ballasting (2018)
Expert witness services – resource consent application to extend existing salmon farm (Marlborough District Council)
Review ecological effects assessment provided by the consent applicant with their s127 application to install additional net pens and associated moorings at an existing salmon farm site and presentation of evidence at hearing (2019)
Review of annual benthic and water quality monitoring reports for salmon farms (Marlborough District Council)
Technical review of annual benthic and water quality monitoring reports prepared for salmon farms (2019-2021)
Assessment on the appropriateness of an Aquaculture Management Area (Marlborough District Council)
Technical support to assist in the Council to make an assessment on the appropriateness of an Aquaculture Management Area, including reviewing a private plan change and resource consent application and related expert reports, undertake a literature review of information on the ecological condition of the bay, independently assess the ecological condition of the bay, provide advice on whether further work is required, and prepare expert evidence for plan hearing (2021)
Projects for Councils – science programmes
Operational review of and 5-year plan for the Ecologically Significant Marine Sites (ESMS) programme (Marlborough District Council)
Operational review of the Marlborough District Council (MDC) Ecologically Significant Marine Sites (ESMS) programme, including review of work done under the ESMS programme, interviews and workshops held with MDC staff, ESMS programme expert panel members, and consultants associated with the ESMS programme. A range of implementation actions and key performance indicators were identified and an operational pathway for the ESMS programme over the next five years was developed (2021-2022, report available here)
Marine and coast science programme review (Hawke’s Bay Regional Council)
Review of the Hawke's Bay Regional Council Marine & Coast Science Programme to help the science team in delivering a relevant, robust and effective marine and coastal work programme that achieves desired environmental outcomes meets the needs and expectations of its internal and external stakeholders (2019-2020, report available here)
State of knowledge review to support more integrated environmental management of the coastal marine area (Marlborough District Council)
Review of current knowledge of the environmental state of the Marlborough coastal marine area (CMA), and identification of environmental issues and scientific information needs to support Marlborough District Council’s (MDC) desire to move toward more integrated management of the CMA in collaboration with other agencies, iwi, community, and research organisations, including a more strategic approach for the collection of scientific information (2020-2021, report available here)
Review of State of the Environment (SOE) monitoring plan (Marlborough District Council)
Review of draft SOE monitoring plan, including objectives, methods, and reporting (2020)
Operational review of the Marlborough District Council (MDC) Ecologically Significant Marine Sites (ESMS) programme, including review of work done under the ESMS programme, interviews and workshops held with MDC staff, ESMS programme expert panel members, and consultants associated with the ESMS programme. A range of implementation actions and key performance indicators were identified and an operational pathway for the ESMS programme over the next five years was developed (2021-2022, report available here)
Marine and coast science programme review (Hawke’s Bay Regional Council)
Review of the Hawke's Bay Regional Council Marine & Coast Science Programme to help the science team in delivering a relevant, robust and effective marine and coastal work programme that achieves desired environmental outcomes meets the needs and expectations of its internal and external stakeholders (2019-2020, report available here)
State of knowledge review to support more integrated environmental management of the coastal marine area (Marlborough District Council)
Review of current knowledge of the environmental state of the Marlborough coastal marine area (CMA), and identification of environmental issues and scientific information needs to support Marlborough District Council’s (MDC) desire to move toward more integrated management of the CMA in collaboration with other agencies, iwi, community, and research organisations, including a more strategic approach for the collection of scientific information (2020-2021, report available here)
Review of State of the Environment (SOE) monitoring plan (Marlborough District Council)
Review of draft SOE monitoring plan, including objectives, methods, and reporting (2020)
Projects for central government
Best practice guidelines for benthic and water quality monitoring of open ocean finfish culture in New Zealand (Ministry for Primary Industries)
Lead of the development of best practice guidelines for open ocean finfish aquaculture monitoring, including project management, working group facilitation, literature review, preparation of the draft guidelines, incorporating reviewer feedback, and general administrative tasks (2020-2021)
Peer review of the Our Marine Environment 2022 report (Ministry for the Environment)
Peer review of the Our Marine Environment 2022 report covering accuracy of content presented, appropriateness of the analysis and conclusions, and clarity of the presentation of information (2022)
Environmental Limits Working Group (Ministry for the Environment)
Member of the MfE Environmental Limits Working Group established to support the external Resource Management Review Panel in their review of the resource management system (2019-2020)
Natural Environment Reference Group (Ministry for the Environment)
Member of the MfE Natural Environment Reference Group established to support the external Resource Management Review Panel in their review of the resource management system (2019-2020)
Science advice for preparation of Our Marine Environment 2019 report (Ministry for the Environment)
Appointed as Senior Science Advisor by the Ministry for the Environment to provide scientific and science communication advice associated with the delivery of the Our Marine Environment 2019 report (2019)
Lead of the development of best practice guidelines for open ocean finfish aquaculture monitoring, including project management, working group facilitation, literature review, preparation of the draft guidelines, incorporating reviewer feedback, and general administrative tasks (2020-2021)
Peer review of the Our Marine Environment 2022 report (Ministry for the Environment)
Peer review of the Our Marine Environment 2022 report covering accuracy of content presented, appropriateness of the analysis and conclusions, and clarity of the presentation of information (2022)
Environmental Limits Working Group (Ministry for the Environment)
Member of the MfE Environmental Limits Working Group established to support the external Resource Management Review Panel in their review of the resource management system (2019-2020)
Natural Environment Reference Group (Ministry for the Environment)
Member of the MfE Natural Environment Reference Group established to support the external Resource Management Review Panel in their review of the resource management system (2019-2020)
Science advice for preparation of Our Marine Environment 2019 report (Ministry for the Environment)
Appointed as Senior Science Advisor by the Ministry for the Environment to provide scientific and science communication advice associated with the delivery of the Our Marine Environment 2019 report (2019)
Projects for science and research providers
Coming soon
Please contact me if you would like to find out more about these projects or talk to my clients about their experience working with Pisces Consulting