Chief of Staff

Madoc Sheehan

Madoc Sheehan

JCU Ship-loader dust minimisation work. (Old ID 27565)
Madoc Sheehan
01 Dec 2021 - 01 Jun 2022
This work involves full-scale on-site sampling and analysis at the Townsville Port to determine lead powder product moisture content along a ship-loader conveyor system. Determining changes in moisture resulting from conveying will enable more precise moisture control schemes to be developed. Controlling moisture can lead to massive reductions in environmental dust emissions during ship-loading of fine powders.
Assessment of the ecological risk of emerging contaminants released from the Cleveland Bay Purification Plant (Old ID 25082)
Madoc Sheehan
16 Jul 2018 - 31 Dec 2025
Discharge from the Cleveland Bay Purification plant (CBPP) is via ocean pipeline into Cleveland Bay and falls within the jurisdiction of the Qld State Marine Park Authority (QSMPA). A planned CBPP membrane upgrade has initiated a QSMPA operational permit, issued in December 2017., requiring Townsville city council to develop an Effluent Quality Assessment Program. The assessment program is to be developed under the guidance of a Special Technical Advisory Group (STAG) and should include effluent sampling of new and emerging contaminants, as identified in the Tropical water quality hub's NESP report (2015). This includes but is not limited to heavy metals, various organics (hydrocarbons, pharmaceuticals, poly-aromatics and personal care products) and micro-plastics. The assessment program's objective is to identify and prioritise emerging contaminants based on estimation of the current and longer-term ecological risk to the receiving environment.
Bioremediation Potential of Queensland Nickel Tailings Waste Water using Macroalgae for Renewable Bioproduct Development. (Old ID 22310)
Madoc Sheehan
01 Jan 2016 - 31 Dec 2016
This project will provide preliminary evaluation of the growth - and remediation potential of microalgal biofilms grown in Queensland Nickel's tailings waste water. Biofilms of endemic macroalgae will be grown in tailings waste water supplemented to varying levels of phosphate. Microalgae growth rates, metal removal capacity and algae bioproduct potential will be experimentally assessed. Results will enable process modelling for evaluating large-scale microalgal treatment of mine tailings waters and cogeneration of renewable bioproducts. Results will form the basis for partnership discussions aimed at securing external funding to determine optimal integration of microalgal biofilm technology into minerals processing industries.
Ecological Impact of Antibiotic Resistance Released from the Cleveland Bay Purification Plant using Marine Turtle Species (Old ID 26730)
Madoc Sheehan
31 Jan 2020 - 31 Dec 2025
Cleveland Bay is a grazing ground for turtle species. Cleveland Bay Purification plant (CBPP) treats waste that may contain a variety of antibiotics. This study aims to determine the prevalence and distribution patterns of antibiotic resistant genes in the CBPP effluent and in the immediate receiving environment. Marine turtles in Cleveland Bay will be used to determine the localized impacts of both antibiotics and antibiotic resistant genes as compared to resident turtles from a pristine environment. This study will provide valuable insight into the direct effect that antibiotics and ARG’s in WWTP effluent have on ecological health and ecological risk.