Our Sydney based consultancy service provides
national 'entire project' solutions to the challenges facing Arboriculture & Plant Health in Australia
The urban forest provides many social, economic and environmental benefits but is often in direct competition with the built urban environment. We appreciate the challenge of practising arboriculture in a rapidly expanding, complex urban environment and we offer a diverse range of arboricultural services to meet this challenge. Our services are all evidence based and aim to exceed industry best practices within project deadlines.
OUR SERVICES
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Arboricultural Impact Assessment Report
Determines the impact of a proposed development on trees that are subject to tree preservation policies in accordance with the Australian Standard 4970.
Arboricultural Reports
Aimed at resolving specific tree issues (e.g. declining health).
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Planning Consent Compliance Report
Provides compliance certification to tree related planning conditions. Consent Compliance Reports are often required for the Occupation Certificate.
Pruning Specifications
Provides a detailed pruning specification in accordance with Australian Standard 4373 for pruning works to be carried out by a Practising Arborist. Pruning specifications are often a requirement of tree preservation policies.
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Preliminary Arboricultural Report
Provide an overview of the quality and value of the trees on site and offer advice to aid the development & design process within the framework of the Australian Standard 4970.
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Tree Transplant Method Statements
Details arboricultural methods for use by the Transplanting Contractor to plan the transplanting process, specifically addressing factors that could influence the success and failure of the transplantation.
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Tree Supply and Installation Specifications
This specification sources tree stock in accordance with the Australian Standard AS2303 and details the works required by the Planting Contractor to ensure successful tree establishment.
Visual Tree Assessment Surveys
A Visual Tree Assessment (VTA) method (Mattheck & Breloer 2003) is used to determine the health and structural condition of a tree population. These surveys can identify potentially hazardous defects and identify trees with short Useful Life Expectancies (ULE) and aid planning decisions.
Internal Diagnostic Testing
IML Resistograph® drilling is used to measure the extent of decay within a tree or visible defect and calculate the t/R ratio (the ratio of sound wood to the radius). This information can be useful for determining hazards and the likelihood of future failure. A report summarising and interpreting the results with arboricultural recommendations is provided.
Plant health is essential for the productivity and sustainability of the horticultural, forestry and agricultural industries. Plant health is determined by a complex interaction between the host plant, environment and pathogen/pest(s). Our comprehensive plant health services are able to investigate each component and provide evidence-based recommendations to improve plant health with minimal adverse environmental impacts.
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We have also recognised the need for a complete plant health service that includes the interpretation and translation of complex scientific data into real world plant health solutions. This service includes sampling design, appropriate sample collection by experienced consultants, appropriate test selection, result interpretation and management recommendations across plant pathology, soil and plant sciences. This approach reduces false negative results, sampling errors and leads to a better diagnostic outcome, appropriate control treatments, more effective management and ultimately improved plant health with reduced costs.
OUR SERVICES
Determining the cause of tree/plant decline
This comprehensive service determines the cause of tree/plant decline and is able to rule out environmental (toxicity, water logging etc) from biotic causes (plant pathogens, insect borers, viruses etc). The service includes sample design, sample collection, diagnostic testing & results interpretation.
Sampling design, collection, diagnostic testing & results interpretation
Planning at the initial/engagement phase of work will allow for a cost effective and robust dataset designed to meet the objectives of the project. Thorough sample design allows for more reliable result interpretation and minimises the risk of timely resampling events through inconclusive results.
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Plant Pathogen control strategies
Where applicable, provides detailed advice on chemical and biological control strategies for controlling plant pathogens.
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Soil chemistry testing and interpretation with respect to plant health
Provides a full service for determining soil chemistry with respect to plant health & can also be useful for ruling out herbicide vandalism.
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Development of Plant Hygiene Protocols
Develops organisational or site specific protocols to prevent the spread of pathogens into or within the site under the International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (IPSM).
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Delimiting surveys
Design and conduct plant pathogen surveys to define the spread of a pathogen within a specified area in order to establish the quarantine zone or Restricted Area (RA). These surveys are invaluable for planning and establishing plant hygiene protocols that prevent the further spread of a pathogen(s).
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Wood decay fungal detection, Internal Diagnostic Testing & Prognosis
This service uses the IML Resistograph® drill to determine the extent of decay in standing trees and determines the wood decay fungal species involved. This information can be useful for estimating the likelihood of failure and future prognosis. A report with arboricultural recommendations is provided. IML Resistograph® drilling is used to measure the extent of decay within a tree or visible defect and calculate the t/R ratio (the ratio of sound wood to the radius). This information can be useful for determining hazards and the likelihood of future failure. A report summarising and interpreting the results with arboricultural recommendations is provided.
Plant Pathology Management Plans
Develops a comprehensive Plant Pathology Management Plan under the guiding principles of Integrated Pest and Disease Management (IPDM). The plan develops a strategy based on the organism’s biology, site environmental factors (soil chemistry, drainage etc.), site eradication/quarantine potential,
chemical/ biological controls and host resistance. This coordinated strategy maximises the effectiveness of each component and ultimately reduces the economic, aesthetic and environmental burden of plant disease.
All known living organisms (and many viruses) store their biological information in the DNA molecule. Over evolutionary time changes or mutations can occur in a species DNA and these changes can be used for identification using DNA sequencing technology and associated analytical techniques.
OUR SERVICES
Root Identification Service
This service is able to match roots involved with infrastructure damage to the tree in the surrounding area. This new technique is based on DNA sequencing and phylogenetic analyses that are robust, highly accurate and reproducible. This method can be useful for tree root management and for helping to determine liability.
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Fungal Identification Service
This service uses DNA sequencing and phylogenetic analyses to identify fungi from mushroom tissue, plate culture, wood tissue or environmental DNA. Fungal Identification has many applications which includes determining if a species is likely to be toxic or pathogenic to plants and people.
Laurence & Co Consultancy was established to provide a comprehensive, ‘entire project’ consultancy service in both Arboriculture & Plant Health Services (Plant Pathology & Soil Science), based on scientific evidence and industry best practice at the highest professional standard.
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We recognised a need in the industry for project continuity, from the sampling design to field work, sample collection, result interpretation and management recommendations. This staged approach significantly reduces unnecessary testing and planning revisions. This results in better Arboricultural & Plant Health outcomes, reduced costs and provision of best practice reports within the project deadlines.
Dr Matthew Laurence
Matthew has an extensive academic background having studied Agricultural Science, Plant Sciences, Plant Pathology and Ecology/Mycology at the University of Western Australia, Imperial College London & the University of London, where he graduated with First Class Honours and was awarded the Driver
Prize for academic excellence. He continued his education with a PhD in Plant Pathology from the University of Sydney and his publications in high-impact peer reviewed journals resulted in being awarded the Allen Kerr Postgraduate Prize by the Australasian Plant Pathology Society for the most outstanding PhD research in plant pathology 2018. For a full list of publications please refer to the ResearchGate profile at
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Matthew_Laurence
Over the last 8 years, he has held a position at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney, as the Plant Disease Diagnostician and Laboratory Manager. During this time, he has developed novel plant disease diagnostic assays based on the latest DNA technology and was also Associate Editor of Australasian
Plant Disease Notes journal. Having completed a Graduate Certificate in Arboriculture (AQF Level 8) from the University of Melbourne, Matthew is a practising consultant in Arboriculture & Plant Pathology. He is an accredited member of the Institute of Australian Consulting Arboriculturists & Australasian Plant Pathology Society and is an active reviewer for industry journals as well as a consultant reviewer for the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority.
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