Great Southern Bio Logic Senior Environmental Scientist Jeremy Spencer is one of few DBCA registered Phytophthora Dieback Interpreters in South West Australia. He has extensive experience working in the unique and diverse floral communities of the South Coast, and is a registered assessor for areas of low interpretability.
With detailed operational understanding of disease management, Great Southern Bio Logic can produce hygiene and management plans to satisfy all project requirements. We also develop mapping products including ArcGIS ™ shapefiles of disease extent for operational planning.
Phytophthora Dieback is an introduced soil borne plant pathogen that can devastate plant communities. It affects up to 40% of native plant species within Western Australia and is listed as a key threatening process within the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (1999).
Any activities involving movement of soil and vegetation can potentially spread the disease with devastating consequences. Once introduced to an environment, Phytophthora Dieback can irreversibly change plant communities, killing susceptible species, many of which are both iconic and fundamental to the ecosystems they support. These changes can also facilitate further land degradation including erosion, as vegetation structure is lost.
Mapping occurrences and the application of appropriate hygiene and access controls can greatly mitigate the impacts of Phytophthora Dieback.
Dieback causes significant impact in natural environments, both to habitat and foraging resources for native flora and fauna and to aesthetic values in parks, gardens and nature reserves. While the disease cannot be eradicated from an area once introduced, it can be treated and its impact mitigated.
Great Southern Bio Logic have been treating affected vegetation across a range of parks and reserves since 2018 with fantastic results. Phosphite applied via stem injection or by foliar spray to susceptible plant species stimulates the plant’s auto immune response and assists it to resist the disease
Great Southern Bio Logic undertake a range of flora and fauna assessments to satisfy project objectives and approval conditions.
We have extensive experience in field survey techniques, flora sampling and inventory, vegetation mapping, monitoring and data analysis together with rehabilitation and mitigation of threatening processes, and can provide advice and professional reporting to state and local government, land managers and individuals.
Jeremy Spencer from Great Southern Bio Logic has been a nationally accredited Asbestos Assessor since 2011. He has extensive experience in undertaking asbestos register audits and developing monitoring programs for best practise asbestos removal. Upon completion of asbestos removal works, Jeremy is able to undertake clearance inspections and issue asbestos clearance certificates as required under WAS regulations.
In 2003 the Australian Government finalised the prohibition of asbestos with the ultimate goal of removing asbestos from all workplaces. As a part of this process, Safe Work Australia released new National Codes of Practice for the safe management and removal of Asbestos from within the workplace in 2011. These guidelines form part of a new National framework for regulating the removal and management of Asbestos, and provide a training pathway to become a Nationally Accredited Asbestos Manager under new National Regulations.
Great Southern Bio Logic are able to undertake all aspects of soil and water investigations including monitoring and reporting for industrial sites, waste disposal facilities, storm water management sites, development projects and residential subdivisions.
Working closely with accredited Laboratories in Perth and the Great Southern, Great Southern Bio Logic develop site specific analysis and monitoring programs to identify contaminants and produce tailored management plans.
As a former Senior Water Allocation Officer with the Department of Water, Jeremy Spencer from Great Southern Bio Logic has a detailed knowledge and understanding of the regulatory processes and requirements for investigation and monitoring programs.
Soil and water monitoring programs are often required to meet license conditions, planning approvals and operational best practice for industrial and development projects.
Jeremy Spencer has been undertaking Acid Sulphate Soil (ASS) investigations and management programs since 2007. He has been integral in the effective identification, treatment and management of ASS at many sites including residential developments in Northwood (Albany), Provence (Busselton), Dalyellup (Bunbury), and Rapids Landing (Margaret River). He has also assisted the Water Corporation and Main Roads WA to manage ASS during bridge replacement works across the South Coast.
The release of ASS reaction products can be detrimental to biota, human health and infrastructure and its presence has been a recognized issue of concern in Western Australia since 2003. ASS investigations are commonly required as part of conditions of subdivision, or as a requirement for dewatering licence applications.
More information regarding Acid Sulfate Soils can be found via the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation.
Great Southern Bio Logic has undertaken extensive ambient air quality monitoring and personal exposure monitoring projects across the South Coast region.
Air quality can be a particular concern in many work places and can cause serious health and safety issues for staff. It can be impacted by a range of activities and events associated with industrial processes, and may involve gasses or particulate matter including dust.
Air quality issues in most industries are well documented and understood, with exposure standards developed for most potential contaminants. Working closely with NATA accredited laboratories in Perth, Great Southern Bio Logic develops analysis programs to identify contaminants and establish appropriate monitoring programs.
Monitoring staff exposure to contaminants allows for the development of appropriate mitigation strategies.
Great Southern Bio Logic has considerable expertise in the development and delivery of environmental seminars and training packages to raise awareness and understanding of environmental issues and responsibilities.
Jeremy Spencer of Great Southern Bio Logic holds a Certificate IV in workplace education and is registered to deliver the Dieback Working Group Green Card for industry. Our staff have also designed environmental education programs for state government and community, and delivered targeted training for local government, industry, community groups and schools.
It has been demonstrated that by raising awareness of environmental issues and fostering understanding and appreciation of their impacts and mitigation, individuals can better appreciate the requirements of management actions.
With this basic awareness and understanding, the implementation and subsequent success of environmental management actions may be enhanced. Training packages can be developed around key learning outcomes and involve both theoretical and field-based components.
