Below the Surface
Casual chats between an Austrian and Australian on environmental topics that usually don't get talked about openly.
Hosts Gunnar Haid and James Hammond set out to provide a light-hearted and thought-provoking look into Contaminated Land, Resource Recovery, Ecology and general environmental issues in Australia, in particular NSW. They use their experience and industry connections to talk about subjects that, at least in their opinion, don't get talked about enough or not in the right context. Join them for a chuckle and some unique perspectives.
And don't forget to keep track of your listening experience. It is official, listening to Below the Surface collects CPD points at a rate of 0.5 points per hour of listening (self education category).
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
Episodes
41 episodes
#41 The AI Revolution
Artificial intelligence has gone from curiosity to daily tool almost overnight. In this episode, Gunnar and James sit down with AI consultant Alex Rankin who spent over 25 ...
#40 The Risk Assessment
If you've ever stared at a lab result that exceeds your NEPM HIL and wondered "okay, but what does this actually mean?". This one's for you.Gunnar and James sit down with
#39 The Big ASS Questions
A deeper dive into Acid Sulfate Soils. In a slightly QLD centric episode, Gunnar and James are joined by all three main authors of the
#38 The Bioavailability
How much of any given contaminant is actually taken up into human bodies?If we think about it, that is one of the single most important things to consider as an environmental consultant when reporting on a site's contamination status, ye...
#37 The 2025 Reflection
The 2025 Year in Review (That Wasn’t Supposed to Happen)What started as a neat 15-minute intro quietly turned into a full end-of-year wrap-up. Classic Below the Surface. Gunnar and James get side-tracked almost immediately and eve...
#36 The Client - TMA
What it's really like to be regulated?Regulators, take note - this one’s for you.We are shining the light on the third corner of the Regulator – Consultant – Client relationship: the Client. What’s it
#35 The PFAS Heath Advice
The NSW Health PFAS Advice includes quite some statements:“The health effects of PFAS appear to be small.” “… there was definite evid...
#34 The Stormwater Stirrer
Gunnar (without James this time) gives it a go to get to the bottom of the very basics of what we need to think of around stormwater on a site. There are few better suited to talk about the subject than our guest
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#33 The Waste Class Blues
James K (James Karagiannis) has personally completed a stack of waste classifications. And in addition, he has reviewed somewhere between 1,000 and 1,200 reports written by other consultants ...
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#32 The EPA CEO
Tony Chappel, the CEO of the NSW EPA, is our guest today, so we are definitely back with a bang after the summer holidays. Gunnar and James are (surprisingly!) well-prep...
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#31 The Half Price EV
Electric Vehicles are basically half price in Australia right now, thanks to some little-known government incentives. Gunnar and James decided it was the perfect time to talk… tax. Yes, tax. And you thought resource recovery was a boring subjec...
#30 The Duplicate
Gunnar claims almost all duplicates we take serve close to no purpose. If you want to know why, have a listen and be entertained and informed at the same time. The OGs are back together in this episode, and quite an unusual one it i...
#29 The New AS5370 Standard
Attention Asbestos in Soils Specialists, there is a new kid in town. The Australian Standard 4964-2004 Method for the qualitative identification of asbestos in bulk samples has been superseded with a new AS 5370. What's di...
#28 The OCSE Odyssey
The Office of Chief Scientist and Engineer (OCSE) has issued recommendations concerning asbestos in waste and soil. Sarah Mansfield, Special Counsel (and environmental law supers...
#27 The Chronicles of an Auditor
Rod Harwood - do we need to say anything else? There are few who have had more influence on our industry and who have contributed more than Rod. Gunnar ...
#26 The Quickie
Gunnar and James take a dive into all sorts of events that have happened in the past few weeks.1 - The EIANZ announces the punishment of a member. 2 - A $30,000 fine issued by a Council
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#25 The Duty to Report
The Duty To Report may seem like a peculiar law in our industry, yet it's just another one of the many quirky r...
#24 The Recruiter
Daniel James is someone worth knowing when you are working in our industry. Is he a contaminated sites or resource recovery leader like many of our other guests? No, but he will put you in...
#23 The Basics: Acid Sulfate Soils
Acid Sulfate Soils are a tricky subject. The second episode of our "The Basics" series is all about the ASS (oh this acronym is just endlessly amusing, isn't it?). Gunnar and James' guest is Lauri...
#22 The Basics: Planning
Everything you always wanted to know about planning, but were afraid to ask. If you don't get that movie reference, don't worry, it just means you are much younger than Gunnar, that's all.We are starting a new series called The Basics a...
#21 The Forever Plates
Can eco-friendly plates and food containers made from sugarcane mulch sneak in some hidden PFAS? And can that PFAS end up in your compost, and eventually your garden soil? Cara Roberts and <...
#20 The Loophole
Grey Areas and Loopholes – Where to Draw the Line? This episode dives into the murky waters of our industry's "grey areas", or, if we are re being honest, loopholes. From VENM (Virgin Excavated Natural Material) issues to Counci...
#19 The Inventor
In a fictitious world where electricity reigns supreme, Gunnar has "invented" a revolutionary engine that uses ... wait for it ... petrol! That’s right, in this universe, electric engines are the norm, and Gunnar is pitching this wild idea of a...
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