Sponsored by Denso and GPA Engineering, the Adelaide APIA Dinner was held on 17 March 2011.
Maloney Field Services Project Director Adrian Tero addressed the crowd, reinforcing the important role that land access consultants have in ensuring a successful and on-schedule project.
Mr Tero explained that gaining land access was ‘art’, as it is all about:
- Access
- Rapport/relationships
- Tenure.
Mr Tero explained that a good land access consultant needs to be a keen listener and communicator, as well as have a good understanding of the project and its impact on the landholder.
“It is important to know the details of a project – for example, the exact pipeline route, the width of easement needed, the burial depth of the pipeline, and the project timeline,” he said.
Mr Tero went on to give examples of instances where Maloney Field Services’ consultants have come up against hostile land owners, stating that it is always important to maintain a professional attitude when faced with these situations.
“We employ land access consultants that have the three ‘Ps’,” Mr Tero said.
“That means that they are patient, polite and persistent. It is really important to send in the right people with the right equipment.”
Mr Tero also said that a good system of documentation is key to the land access process. This is not only necessary when negotiations end in dispute, but can be a useful source of information for the project proponent.
“Sometimes land owners are the best source of information, and can help with the final design or alignment of a project. They can often provide information on services that could be damaged due to the original pipeline alignment, or point to a patch of noxious weed worth avoiding,” said Mr Tero.
Basket is empty.
