Environment

Environment

RMCG provides consulting services in environmental management with a team of highly respected professionals.

Our strength is combining our sound technical knowledge and ability to work through complex problems with a passion for working with people to develop practical, effective and fair outcomes for the environment and the communities that depend upon it.

We aim to deliver strategic environmental management services to a wide range of clients including all levels of government, government agencies, regional NRM bodies such as catchment management authorities, water corporations, industry organisations and community groups.

Focus on resource recovery

Our work in resource recovery and organics leverages RMCG’s skill set to deliver strategies and recycling programs that contribute to circular economies.

RMCG are industry experts in organics and resource recovery, from waste generation assessments, diversion opportunities and processing, through to reuse opportunities, market analysis and regulatory approvals. We consider organic and recoverable materials as resources and develop processes and reuse schemes that integrate circular management principles and design out waste. We consider this in the broader context of land management, the environment, local opportunities and the viability to businesses.

Our resource recovery approach is built on our ties to regional communities and agriculture, considering both industrial processing and use of compost. We combine soil health and compost expertise, with experience in organic processing and collection systems, economic analysis and regulatory knowledge.

Environment Services

  • Waterway (estuary, wetland and river) management   View 

  • Catchment management   View 

  • Biodiversity and conservation management

  • Climate change (mitigation and adaptation)   View 

  • Coastal and marine management   View 

  • Water for the environment (planning and management)   View 

  • Traditional Owner land and water partnerships

  • Stakeholder and community engagement   View 

  • Strategic planning   View 

  • Rural land use planning   View 

  • Evaluation   View 

  • Communications

  • Environmental risk assessment   View 

  • Project planning and analysis   View 

  • Data visualisation

  • Practice change and community capacity   View 

  • Carbon farming and carbon accounting   View 

  • Cultural heritage assessments

  • Geographic Information Systems (GIS)   View 

  • Circular organics, compost and food waste   View 

  • Biosolids and organics land application   View 

  • Waste management   View 

  • EPA regulations and approvals

  • EPA waste classification

  • Product stewardship

  • Waste management planning

Environment Team

Shayne Annett

Shayne Annett

Principal

B.Ag.Sci., M.Res.Admin. (NRM)

Shayne has over 25 years working in land, water and biodiversity management, and during that time has developed the ability to see things from many perspectives, to anticipate issues that might arise and to draw on his experience to develop pragmatic and progressive solutions. He understands on-ground work, private and public land management, planning and managing programs and projects, and policy at local, state and national levels.

Jencie McRobert

Jencie McRobert

Associate

B.Sci., Grad.Dip.Eco., Assoc.App.Sci.

Jencie understands the science and economics of natural resource management and has grounded and practical experience in soils, mixed farming and viticulture. She has highly developed skills in evaluation of agricultural and natural resource management programs, business case writing, greenhouse emissions analysis and sustainable resource use, and catchment management.  Jencie knows and appreciates the issues affecting communities in rural and regional Australia.

Simon McGuinness

Simon McGuinness

Associate

B.Ag.Sci.

Simon specialises in strategic planning, critical thinking, evaluation and facilitation.  He works primarily in the natural resource management sector, and also has deep experience in rural and regional development. With expertise in mediation and conflict resolution, he has led numerous projects requiring skilful delivery of community and stakeholder engagement processes.

Trent Wallis

Trent Wallis

Associate

BSc, MEnvSt, GDipPD(EnvSt)

Trent has an extensive background in environmental planning and natural resource management, with particular expertise in waterway management and planning. This includes 21 years of public sector experience working for catchment management authorities and the state government.

Trent’s work focuses on strategic environmental policy, planning and evaluation, and supporting project teams with the delivery of long-term catchment health outcomes. He is also experienced in community and stakeholder management, and has a strong understanding of the importance of genuine engagement to ensure project buy-in and support. He has worked with, and led, integrated project teams, stakeholder and community project committees, forums and working groups, and technical expert groups.

Carl Larsen

Carl Larsen

Associate

B.Env.Sci., B.Soc.Sci. (Env.), PG.Cert.CCPI.

Carl is a socio-environmental scientist with 15 years’ experience in planning, delivery and evaluation of agriculture and natural resource management programs, integrated water management, climate change and stakeholder engagement. He understands the practical implications of policy and science on communities and agriculture. Carl has worked with a range of government departments, resource management agencies, research and development corporations, private organisations and communities around Australia on catchment management, sustainable water use, resource management in agriculture/horticulture, land use, climate change, strategic planning, industry development, extension and practice change.

Steph Drum

Steph Drum

Senior Consultant

B.Nat.Res. (Hons)

Steph has specific skills and experience in natural resource management and sustainable agriculture, stakeholder and community engagement, policy and strategy development and evaluation. She has broad ranging experience in the design, implementation and evaluation of natural resource management programs. Steph combines her technical NRM knowledge with her expertise in building community capacity to develop tailored approaches to delivering and evaluating both environmental and social outcomes.

Shelley McGuinness

Shelley McGuinness

Associate

B.Ag.Sci. (Hons)

Shelley has strongly developed strategic planning skills and an ability to develop and apply logical methodologies to complex problems resulting in workable, robust strategies and policy solutions. With over 25 years’ experience she has an in-depth understanding of rural communities, industries, environments and natural resources, their inter-relationships and inter-dependencies. Her skills and experience have been applied to rural and regional strategic land use planning, agricultural industry analysis, assessment of land capability and suitability, land use conflict and environmental planning.

Dr Anne-Maree Boland

Dr Anne-Maree Boland

Principal

PhD., B.Ag.Sci.

Anne-Maree has 25 years’ experience in dealing with natural resource and water management in agricultural industries. This has included research and development and consulting in the areas of sustainable management practices, water use efficiency, recycled water and environmental management systems. Anne-Maree has been a Non-Executive Director for GWRDC and IAL, is a Churchill Fellow and recipient of the University of Melbourne Chancellors Prize. She has extensive experience as a knowledge broker and establishing partnerships with diverse stakeholder groups including government, water and agricultural industries.

Claire Flanagan-Smith

Claire Flanagan-Smith

Principal

B.Env.Eng. (Hons)

Claire has more than a decade’s experience in strategic planning, facilitation and community engagement in a range of industries. Claire’s people and strategy skills are underpinned by a strong understanding of engineering and policy. She helps communities and organisations deal with complex issues, supporting insight and constructive strategy. Claire has delivered quality projects including investigations of community concerns related to mining, regional strategic planning, socio-economic impact studies and strategic planning for a wide range of organisations.

Jaclyne Scally

Jaclyne Scally

Senior Consultant

B.App.Sci. (Env.Mgt.) (Hons)

Jaclyne has experience in strategy development, community and stakeholder engagement, community based natural resource management and social research. Her projects have involved environment and sustainability planning for local government, estuary management planning, program evaluations and communication and engagement strategies for government departments. Jaclyne has a passion for working with communities to achieve practical outcomes for the environment.

Steph McNulty

Steph McNulty

Senior Consultant

M.Env., B.Sci. (Marine Biology)

Steph has ten years’ experience working in environmental management. Key areas of knowledge include general ecology and environmental policy. She has specific skills in GIS analysis, project management and stakeholder consultation. Steph’s work has focused on the delivery of balanced, practical and effective environmental interventions.

Rebecca Schwarzman

Rebecca Schwarzman

Senior Consultant

B.Sci. (Hons)

Bec is a skilled geographer and environmental scientist with a background in water, natural resource management and regional development.

She has made important contributions to catchment and water management, salinity, compost use in agriculture and bushfire planning and management at RMCG. She works on projects with a focus on strategic planning, program evaluation and social and environmental research, primarily for government agencies.

Bec has well developed project management skills and has a practical and resourceful style. She is a highly capable writer and problem solver.

 

Dr Claire Feniuk

Dr Claire Feniuk

Senior Consultant

PhD, MSc., BSc. (Hons)

Claire is passionate about working on the interface between research, policy and practice to support sustainable land management. Through her research and policy experience, Claire has gained insight into a wide range of approaches to agriculture and natural resource management worldwide and brings an international perspective to our team.

Emily Davies

Emily Davies

Consultant

B.Env.Sci., Dip.L&M

Emily holds a Bachelor of Environmental Science (Freshwater Biology and Management) and has a broad range of professional working experience in fisheries and biosecurity compliance, wildlife management, climate change adaptation and mitigation programs, environmental planning and community engagement. Emily has completed a Diploma of Leadership and Management and is interested in building innovation and continuous improvement into business and bringing creative thinking into problem solving.

 

Emily is a strategic and conceptual thinker. She is a confident problem solver and prides herself on testing the water with sound judgement and striving to find a better way to operate and deliver. Emily also displays service excellence in managing relationships.

Melissa Ludeman

Melissa Ludeman

Senior Consultant

B.Env.Sci. (Hons)

Mel is working primarily in the facilitation and strategy area of the business. She has completed a Bachelor of Environmental Science (Environmental Management and Sustainability) at Deakin University. Prior to joining RMCG, Mel was employed in conservation projects around Victoria. For her honours project, Mel worked with an Aboriginal Cooperative to evaluate their grassland management strategies in the You Yangs.

Samantha Gadsby

Samantha Gadsby

Senior Consultant

BSc, M Env Man.

Samantha specialises in water resources and delivers services in natural values and development approvals. Samantha’s main work at the moment is delivering a dam safety audit project for Taswater.

Sally Scrivens

Sally Scrivens

Consultant

BSc (Hons)

Sally has a background in ecology with extensive field experience. She specialises in natural values assessments and has experience in water resources and land use planning.

Jamie Rooney

Jamie Rooney

Senior Consultant

M.A. (Archaeology & History)(Hons)

Jamie is a consultant in our community and strategy work area. He has been actively involved in the research and management of archaeological and Aboriginal cultural heritage projects throughout Australia and Europe since 2015. He specialises in the management of complex cultural heritage projects and has extensive experience of cultural heritage management in the resources, urban development, and infrastructure sectors across Victoria; and the development of mining infrastructure and Indigenous community consultation in remote areas of Cape York, Queensland. 

During his time working in Australian archaeology, he has developed strong working relationships with a number of Registered Aboriginal Parties, Traditional Owner groups, government agencies, and both private and public corporations throughout Victoria and Queensland. During this time he has gained a unique insight into the ways in which major corporations, small businesses and indigenous communities can work together to ensure mutually beneficial outcomes.

Jamie is experienced in project management, community outreach and Traditional Owner engagement, and has successfully project managed a number of Cultural Heritage Management Plans, and specialist heritage assessments throughout Australia. 

Gemma Wakefield

Gemma Wakefield

Consultant

B.Eng. (Env)(Hons)

Gemma is an environmental engineer who is passionate about sustainable water management and environmental protection.

She has six years’ experience in the water sector with technical skills in water quality, water resources and groundwater. She has applied her broad range of skills to deliver several large and complex projects relating to the assessment and management of land, groundwater and surface water.

She has planned and delivered environmental assessment projects for a range of public and private clients. She has prepared reports including conceptual site models, drought response plans, technical discussion papers, as well as contributed to other corporate documents e.g. urban water strategy and annual reports.

Gemma has experience working with emerging contaminants, including the assessment and management of PFAS. Gemma has experience scoping, planning and reporting on environmental assessment works according to industry standards. She has working knowledge of environmental regulatory framework.

Gemma has undertaken modelling of water resources, including demand forecasting, drought testing and yield assessments. She has developed and implemented data management processes to improve efficiencies.

 

 

 

Kelly Ross

Kelly Ross

Consultant

B.Env.Sc., B.Soc.Sc. (Env.), M.App.Sc. (GIS)

Kelly specialises in GIS and spatial data analysis and has a background in environmental science and social science. She has worked in a wide range of fields including land use planning, environment, natural resource and water management, agriculture and regional development.

Kelly has worked on projects ranging from analysing workforce gaps of culturally and linguistically diverse communities in agriculture to conducting a risk assessment to analyse the potential impacts of wastewater spills to the environment. She has strong research and analysis skills and is experienced in map preparation and visualising data in an appealing way that is clear and easy to understand.

Case Studies

Modelling the social and economic value of river flows in Geelong

08 SEP 2022

The Barwon River in Victoria is one of Geelong’s most significant natural assets. However, it has been experiencing declining flows due to the impacts of climate change and growing regional demand. ...

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Sharing stories of progressive domestic wastewater management

27 JAN 2022

On-site wastewater systems, such as septic tanks, are common across Australia in areas where it's not practical or possible for households to connect to an existing sewerage system. If these system...

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Victorian Waterway Management Strategy: Independent review

16 DEC 2021

The Victorian Waterway Management Strategy provided a detailed statewide policy framework for managing Victoria’s waterways from 2013 to 2021. The strategy aimed to maintain or improve the conditio...

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Organic waste opportunities in Tasmania

16 DEC 2021

Tasmania is a state of great natural beauty with many unique and protected environmental values as well as productive agricultural lands, vibrant manufacturing industries, and an innovative hospit...

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Zero Waste Event Guide focuses on sustainability

30 APR 2021

Whether it's a farmer's market or a multi-day music festival, events of all sizes and types often produce a large amount of litter and waste through disposable cups and plates, bottles, napkins, food,...

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GIS in practice: Using spatial data to add value

29 MAR 2021

Culturally and Linguistically Diverse workforce gaps in agriculture We conducted research for Agriculture Victoria to identify where Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities are co-l...

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Support to develop Regional Catchment Strategies

16 SEP 2020

Regional Catchment Strategies in Victoria are renewed every six years and aim to deliver a whole-of-system approach for land, water and biodiversity planning and delivery for the state's regional catc...

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Roadmap to a resilient Goulburn Murray region

20 AUG 2020

In the coming decades, agriculture and land management within Victoria’s Goulburn Murray region will face many major changes associated with climate change, water recovery for the environment, techn...

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Waste and resource management support for local governments

17 AUG 2020

The development of effective waste and resource management strategies is a key priority for many organisations, particularly local governments. RMCG's team of environmental consultants have strong ...

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Planning for a variable climate

08 OCT 2018

RMCG and Cradle Coast NRM delivered Property Management Planning (PMP) with beef producers on King Island, Tasmania. Ten beef production businesses participated to assist with the sustainable manageme...

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Natural Resources Commission (NRC) Biodiversity Audit

18 JUL 2018

RMCG was engaged by the Natural Resources Commission (NRC) to conduct a stage one audit of Local Land Services’ (LLS) implementation of major reforms. The reforms, implemented in response to the 201...

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