Environmental innovation takes on CSG sector

Managed by exclusive licence holder Groundworks Australia, Ecoblanket is the world’s most advanced revegetation and rehabilitation solution.

Alongside instant erosion and sediment control, it is generating native plants at a density of 30-500 per cent higher than hydroseeding methods.

Groundworks Managing Director Tony Rees says the advantages for major resources projects were substantial.

“Companies in this space are under a spotlight – communities and key stakeholders are scrutinising contractors and asset owners for their environmental performance,” Mr Rees says.

“Increasing cost and time pressures mean that environmental solutions must be fast without compromising long-term viability.

“Ecoblanket outperforms when it comes to immediate results and rapid growth rates…and the value from an operations and maintenance perspective is outstanding.”

Leading consultant to major infrastructure projects, Dennis Baker of Environmental Soil Solutions Australia, has been involved in the research and development of Ecoblanket since 2008.

“Ecoblanket is a significant environmental innovation,” Mr Baker says.

“It has widespread application – for soil stabilisation when used on steep batters and fill embankments for road projects, to mine sites and coal seam gas field rehabilitation, to containment dams and water catchments.

“Australia has the worst soils globally and I haven’t seen any other process come close to Ecoblanket for revegetation of these degraded soils.

“It’s in a class of its own and guarantees that resources sector suppliers and owners will leave land in an equal or improved state to the way they found it.”

Ecoblanket’s superior success rate is in part due to its major point of difference – the individual site testing delivered as part of the process.

“The critical feature of Ecoblanket’s success is that we tailor it to each unique environment,” Mr Rees says.

“Too many environmental plans, often developed overseas, are completely unsuitable to our landscapes.

“We understand and test the soil on your site and develop a process plan designed to achieve your precise objectives – whether grasses or native plants.

“Clients get the best of quick wins, excellent environmental audit results and low-to-no maintenance.”

Ecoblanket is applied via a hose-on, low impact pneumatic process with specialised machinery that can treat thousands of square metres per day – meaning it is fast and economical.

Made from 100 per cent organic materials, it achieves 100 per cent soil coverage and more than 99 per cent sediment and erosion control.

Ecoblanket guarantees a more than 90 per cent germination rate within a few days when instructions are followed, and offers carbon offset benefits with its ability to sequester 25 t of carbon dioxide equivalents per hectare on average.

Ecoblanket was first developed in the United States by Rexius and introduced to Australia in 2004 by Mr Rees, who launched a research program to adapt it to Australia’s unique environment.

For more information, including case studies, progressive photos and field test results visit www.ecoblanket.com.au

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