Below the Surface Gunnar Haid & James Hammond

Gunnar and James are talking to Paul Martin, a Canadian Chemical Process Development Expert and tireless advocate for a fossil free future. This first part of a two-part episode looks into whether the claims that Australia has a future as a new energy provider to the world via Hydrogen exports are based on reality or wishful thinking. Paul Martin calls a lot of it #hopium - that should give you an indication of what Paul will be presenting.

Reach Paul at 
https://spitfireresearch.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/today/author/paul-martin-195763b

The articles Paul Mentions during the episode: 

The Myth Of Hydrogen Export: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/myth-hydrogen-export-spitfire-research-inc

What are the Energy Solutions? https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/what-energy-solutions-paul-martin

Hydrogen Science Coalition www.h2sciencecoalition.com

The episode was recorded on 17 April 2024
Contact: bts@4pillars.com.au
https://www.linkedin.com/company/below-the-surface-podcast

The necessary disclaimer: The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this Podcast are the speakers’ own. They do not necessarily represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of 4Pillars Environmental Consulting Pty Ltd or any Client, Supplier or other party related to 4Pillars or the speakers.

(c) Gunnar Haid and James Hammond

Our guest on this episode is Adrian Heggie. Over the past decade Adrian has developed an amazingly simple method for the delineation of sub-surface hydrocarbon plumes (chlorinated or not) by measuring the aboveground concentration these plumes cause. His method is fast, accurate, inexpensive and most of all, does not require any invasive ground work. If you think this sounds too good to be true, this chat will convince you otherwise.

Adrian showcased his research at the recent Chlorinated Hydrocarbon Symposium held in Adelaide. Among the audience was Gunnar, who, like many others, was intrigued by the presentation. In this chat the two of them delve into Adrian's research and shed some light on how hydrocarbon contamination reaching the surface can be captured and measured (not a good pun, but still intended).
https://au.linkedin.com/in/adrian-heggie-b7767336


The episode was recorded on 28 March 2024.
Contact: bts@4pillars.com.au
https://www.linkedin.com/company/below-the-surface-podcast

The necessary disclaimer: The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this Podcast are the speakers’ own. They do not necessarily represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of 4Pillars Environmental Consulting Pty Ltd or any Client, Supplier or other party related to 4Pillars or the speakers.

(c) Gunnar Haid and James Hammond

In this episode, we delve into the question of dangers lurking in unsuspecting areas like our backyards and public parks. Join Gunnar and James as they discuss with researcher Ana Serra the findings of her study into asbestos exposure from seemingly mundane activities like lawn mowing or soil disturbance during landscaping or Council maintenance work.  
How many respirable fibres get released  when a lawn mower drives over bonded asbestos fragments on the surface of a site? What happens when the spinning blades hit a fragment and the fragment gets propelled out?What happens when you do all this during a record breaking dry spell in hot and dusty Australian summer conditions ?Is there a difference in exposure levels when you compare members of the public who are nearby the work areas to the exposure of the trades people doing the actual work?What measures can be taken to avoid the release of respirable fibres during those activities?How do you best approach the subject with worried staff members and the public? The 2019 study was funded by Liverpool City Council. Investing in research is often a challenging decision for local councils, but guess which Council's rate payers are sitting rather sweet now during the Mulchgate panic and enjoy the fruit of the research?  Huge credit to Liverpool City Council for taking the lead and funding the research.  What a great investment it turned out to be.

This episode was recorded on 15 March 2024.
Contact: bts@4pillars.com.au
https://www.linkedin.com/company/below-the-surface-podcast

The necessary disclaimer: The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this Podcast are the speakers’ own. They do not necessarily represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of 4Pillars Environmental Consulting Pty Ltd or any Client, Supplier or other party related to 4Pillars or the speakers.

(c) Gunnar Haid and James Hammond

James twisted Gunnar's arm and convinced him to record a podcast about issues around policies in the environmental industry. Why does the EPA quietly make updates to definitions but does not tell anyone about it? Why are there 'internal policies' that are not written down that the EPA and some local governments enforce willy nilly. Why is there no central spot for policy updates in our industry?

They also talk about proposed changes to the POEO Act (and before you get all excited, it is not what you think or hope for) and Gunnar proudly relives a meeting with the Lord Mayor of one of Sydney's biggest Councils and - clickbait alert - you will not believe what he actually said to him.

Gunnar and James of course put their usual unusual spin on things so it is definitely worth listening to.
Contact: bts@4pillars.com.au
https://www.linkedin.com/company/below-the-surface-podcast

The necessary disclaimer: The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this Podcast are the speakers’ own. They do not necessarily represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of 4Pillars Environmental Consulting Pty Ltd or any Client, Supplier or other party related to 4Pillars or the speakers.

(c) Gunnar Haid and James Hammond

Sydney is still in the grip of an asbestos panic. In this episode we sit down with Philip Hibbs, one of the ultimate OH/S and asbestos experts in Australia. We chat about what he calls "Mulchgate", the actual risk to humans posed as a result, other risks humans are exposed to, we bag all sorts of regulators and organisations for their lack of leadership and we are having a fair bit of fun doing so. 

Find out lore about Phil Hibbs at https://hibbs.com.au/ and https://au.linkedin.com/in/philip-hibbs-096a8a

This episode was recorded on 24 February 2024


Contact: bts@4pillars.com.au
https://www.linkedin.com/company/below-the-surface-podcast

The necessary disclaimer: The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this Podcast are the speakers’ own. They do not necessarily represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of 4Pillars Environmental Consulting Pty Ltd or any Client, Supplier or other party related to 4Pillars or the speakers.

(c) Gunnar Haid and James Hammond

Bonded asbestos fragments have been found in mulch in a brand-new park in Sydney's suburb Rozelle. The ensuing panic in the public, associated finger pointing and running for cover by contractors, suppliers, regulators and of course politicians was as expected as it was to a degree amusing.  
Gunnar and James simply had to talk about this.  The episode was recorded on Thursday 8 February 2024.

The Guardian Article we mention: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/jan/29/asbestos-nsw-findings-watchdog-epa-contaminated-soil-childcare-centres-schools-parks

The Mulch Order: https://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/-/media/epa/corporate-site/resources/wastegrants/rro16-mulch.pdf 

The ENM Order: https://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/-/media/epa/corporate-site/resources/waste/rro14-excavated-natural-material.pdf


Contact: bts@4pillars.com.au
https://www.linkedin.com/company/below-the-surface-podcast

The necessary disclaimer: The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this Podcast are the speakers’ own. They do not necessarily represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of 4Pillars Environmental Consulting Pty Ltd or any Client, Supplier or other party related to 4Pillars or the speakers.

(c) Gunnar Haid and James Hammond