Top five essentials for floating LiDAR and offshore geotechnical management plans

Streamlining success: Five steps for floating LiDAR and geotechnical plans

With Australia’s offshore energy sector facing regulatory transformation, every project will require an approved management plan before specific works associated with feasibility and commercial licence activities can commence, including Floating LiDAR and geotechnical campaigns. These plans not only serve to ensure regulatory compliance but also play a pivotal role in mitigating environmental risks, ensuring safety, and keeping projects on track. 

Management plans tailored to these activities are especially important as they provide a structured approach for navigating the regulatory requirements under the OEI Act. With floating LiDAR and geotechnical surveys considered critical path activities, now is the time for licence holders to start preparing these plans. But how do you create one that is both practical to implement and secures a timely approval?  

Here’s RPS’ five-point guide to crafting an effective management plan for floating LiDAR and offshore geotechnical campaigns.

1. Your plan should evolve over time

Rather than having multiple plans, each feasibility licence holder will have a ‘live’ management plan that will be required to be updated for each phase of the project. 

Before starting your floating LiDAR campaign, you should submit a management plan focused on this activity. As a developer you have the option to focus solely on floating LiDAR and update the plan later to include the geotechnical campaign, or, depending on your program, submit a combined plan for both activities from the outset. 

2. Proportional planning

The complexity of your management plan should match the project phase. Early-stage activities like floating LiDAR deployment or geotechnical campaigns don’t need overly detailed plans. A streamlined, straightforward plan ensures clarity and prevents delays during the approval process. Focus on what’s essential for compliance and operational success without the unnecessary complexity. 

Each license holder must maintain a management plan that is periodically updated to cover the project’s activities and phases. These plans are adaptable and scalable. For instance, a license holder can submit a management plan for deploying floating LiDAR and later update it to include a geotechnical investigation as the project progresses. 

3. Practical, real-world implementation measures

Ground your management plan in real-world application. While many plans fall into the trap of being too theoretical, your plan should focus on practical compliance, demonstrating to the regulator that the appropriate processes are in place.

Ensure clear processes are described for field activities, detailing how these will meet environmental and safety obligations. Define how key measures will be implemented, tracked, and documented to demonstrate adherence to commitments. 

4. Start drafting early

You can begin drafting your management plan well before final regulations are in place. Focus on the following key areas: 

• Contextual information: Clearly define the location, nature, and timeline of your activities and describe the operating environment.

• Stakeholder consultation: Engage early with the stakeholders relevant to the activity. For floating LiDAR and geotechnical investigations, consider particularly First Nations peoples, and existing marine users (including fisheries). Tailor consultation specifically to the activity, not just the project in general. Meaningful consultation is critical to securing regulatory approval.

• Workplace health and safety (WHS): Detail obligations under the Work Health and Safety Act, ensuring that suitable protocols are in place for developers and contractors, including maintaining safe offshore working conditions. This includes ensuring personnel are aware of their roles and responsibilities and are suitably trained to carry them out.   

• Emergency preparedness: Identify potential emergency scenarios, such as equipment failures or safety incidents, and outline your response strategy. 

• Management systems: Define roles, responsibilities, and processes for safety training, hazard management, risk assessment, maintenance, and operational oversight.

• Decommissioning plans: Tailor the plan to focus only on decommissioning for the activity. For floating LiDAR and geotechnical investigations there will be little decommissioning required, but it still needs to be addressed in the management plan. The regulatory requirements for decommissioning of offshore electricity infrastructure and financial assurance are similar to those for offshore structures under the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 (OPGGS Act). These requirements include the full removal of infrastructure at end of its life and financial assurance to cover costs of decommissioning and handling emergencies. 

• License conditions and EPBC Act obligations: Develop and describe specific measures to ensure all relevant obligations in the feasibility licence are met. If the activity was referred under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), ensure any conditions attached to the approval are addressed.

Engaging with the Offshore Infrastructure Regulator (OIR) early in the process can provide valuable insights, clarity of content, and regulatory requirements. By building a strong relationship with the OIR, this proactive approach will help ensure your management plan is aligned with expectations, avoiding unnecessary revisions and delays in securing approvals. 

5. Tailor your plans for offshore wind – don’t rely on oil and gas frameworks

While lessons from oil and gas can be useful, offshore renewable energy projects must adhere to distinct regulatory requirements under the OEI Act. Avoid using outdated management plans from oil and gas operations, and ensure your plan aligns with the specific needs and regulations of the offshore wind industry. Tailoring your plan will help prevent delays and regulatory rejections. 

Leverage expert support

Navigating the complexities of offshore wind regulations requires deep expertise and a thorough understanding of compliance. RPS bring a wealth of experience working with regulators like the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA) and has extensive knowledge in the offshore energy sector. 
Our proven track record in building and deploying floating LiDAR, supporting geotechnical campaigns, and overseeing offshore wind projects in regions such as Victoria’s Gippsland and Western Australia, positions us to help offshore wind developers meet emerging regulatory standards.

With a strong background in regulatory compliance and risk management, our team bring unparalleled expertise in navigating complex frameworks that govern the offshore energy sector.

Our specialists are here to work alongside you to develop comprehensive, practical, and compliant management plans, ready to help you create your blueprint for success.

To discuss how RPS can support your project, contact Anna Crameri or Melanie Bok.