New Member Profile: Sarah McLean (Transpower)

Why did you join as an ALGA member?

A large part of my role involves managing contaminated land issues for Transpower. I have attended several ALGA seminars and found them very informative, relevant, and useful so joining up as a member seemed like a great idea.

How did you hear about ALGA?

My first involvement with ALGA was when I co-presented with Tonkin + Taylor at an ALGA conference in Auckland a few years ago, on a best practice guide we developed on managing contaminated land at substations.

What does your job involve?

I am a technical lead in Transpower’s Environment Group. The two key technical areas that I work in are biodiversity and contaminated land. I lead Transpower’s biodiversity work programme, which sits within our Sustainability Strategy. We have a Biodiversity Strategy where we aim to protect biodiversity from our activities and look for opportunities to restore and enhance biodiversity. I also lead Transpower’s contaminated land work programme. Through this aspect of my role I look at how we can improve the way we manage contaminated land issues by developing tools and guidance, talking to stakeholders including landowners and developing controls to reduce the risk of contamination. I also provide advice and support to staff across the business on biodiversity enhancement and contaminated land management.

What project/s are you currently working on?

I am currently leading a restoration project near our Takapū Road substation in greater Wellington where, with our partners, we have put over 13,000 native plants in the ground since 2022. We started off this season with a staff planting day, where Transpower staff used their volunteer day to come out and get stuck in digging holes, getting plants in the ground, and clearing weeds—a great way to spend a sunny day out of the office. On the contaminated land front, I am writing a Contaminated Land Strategy for Transpower to provide a framework for our approach to managing contaminated land issues. I am also looking to develop guidance on topics such as how we respond to emerging contaminated land issues and options for reusing soil so we can take a more sustainable approach and avoid ‘digging and dumping’ where appropriate.

What part of your job do you enjoy most?

I really enjoy the variety that my role provides. It is also great to be able to get out into the field once in a while, whether that be to do some planting, watch construction or maintenance work, meet with a landowner, or visit a substation. I also love seeing the land start to transform as a restoration project develops and the enjoyment those involved get from helping to restore the whenua.

What is one item you could not live without and why?

My bike! Well if I am honest, it is plural, haha. I commute to work on my bike (bike 1) but I also love doing some gentle mountain biking with my three kids (bike 2) and I do a fair bit of road riding (bike 3) as I like to compete in half ironman (leading to bike 4, which is on an indoor trainer so I can use it when it is too cold and dark to venture outside!).

Article Published on 31/05/2024

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