SESL Australia explained

SESL Australia
Type:Private company
Industry:Soil science (horticulture, agriculture, environment)
Founded:1983 (as Sydney Environmental and Soil Laboratory)
Founder:Simon Leake
Location:Thornleigh, NSW, Australia; Canberra, ACT; Fortitude Valley, QLD; Flemington, VIC;
Area Served:Australia
Services:Specialist consultancy laboratory providing fieldwork, monitoring, laboratory analysis, interpretation and recommendations, and training
Homepage:SESL Australia website

SESL Australia was established in 1983 as Sydney Environmental & Soil Laboratory by Simon Leake. SESL provides independent laboratory testing and advisory services to landscape, horticulture, sport and leisure turf,[1] civil construction, environment,[2] government,[3] [4] mining and the waste industry. It offers sample collection, monitoring, analysis and interpretation of soil, water, plant tissue and wastes. SESL also offers training courses on a range of earth science topics mainly focused on urban horticulture, sport and leisure turf, and environmental water.

History

SESL was founded in 1983 by Simon Leake, a soil science graduate of the University of Sydney.

Services

NATA-accredited[5] laboratory analyses (soil, water, plant tissue, wastes), site analyses (soil, water), soil specifications, plant pest and disease identification, training.

Projects

SESL has been involved from the planning stage in various major infrastructure projects in NSW, notably the Darling Harbour redevelopment, the Sydney Olympic Park redevelopment at Homebush Bay, Central Park on the site of the old Carlton & United Breweries plant in Chippendale and the Barangaroo redevelopment[6] on Sydney Harbour.

Philanthropy

SESL sponsored a prize in oral presentation and prizes for best fourth year thesis, best laboratory practical and best student at the Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources at the University of Sydney from the late 1990s until 2009.

Advocacy

Simon Leake has appeared on ABC's Gardening Australia[7] [8] and Burke's Backyard.[9] SESL Australia contributes to the environmental and soil industries through its monthly Fertile Mind's blog which updates the community on current projects and industry events.In 2014 Simon published Soils for Landscape Development: Selection, Specification and Validation under CSIRO publishing, co-authored by landscape architect and consulting arborist Elke Haege.

Professional memberships

From 1997 until 2011, Simon Leake served as a Member of the Standards Australia CS/37 committee, which developed and maintains the Australian standards AS 3743 Potting Mixes, AS 4454 Composts, Soil Conditioners and Mulches, and AS 4419 Soils for Landscaping and Garden Use.

Simon Leake is a member of the Royal Botanic Gardens Trust Gardens Committee,[10] a voluntary expert reference panel assisting the Trust in the design, technical specification and implementation of planning at the Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney, Mount Annan Botanic Garden and Mount Tomah Botanic Garden.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Recycled organics in sports turf construction & renovation . Jackson M. . Department of Environment and Climate Change NSW] . 2008 . 23 April 2012.
  2. Web site: Effects of oil and dispersed oil on temperate seagrass: scaling of pollution impacts. Final report. . Wilson K, Ralph P. . . 2010 . 23 April 2012.
  3. Web site: Annual Report 2010–11. Part 3 – Statutory Information, p 17 . Woollahra Municipal Council . 2011 . 23 April 2012.
  4. Web site: Faecal bacteria polluting Parramatta River . Kembrey M. . Parramatta Sun . 30 June 2011 . 23 April 2012.
  5. Web site: Accreditation . National Association of Testing Authorities . 23 April 2012.
  6. Web site: Barangaroo Headland Park. Plant Procurement, Soils Specification and the Barangaroo Delivery Authority . . 23 April 2012.
  7. Web site: Transcript – Episode 20, 1 July 2006 . . 23 April 2012.
  8. Web site: Fact Sheet: Clay Soil Test. Presenter: Angus Stewart, 01/07/2006. Angus learns how to test clay soil . . 23 April 2012.
  9. Web site: Crushed sandstone. Fact sheet. . . 2000 . 23 April 2012.
  10. Web site: Botanic Gardens Committee . Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust . 23 April 2012.