Since 1984, the Environmental Earth Services International Group has been pioneering innovative solutions to global soil and groundwater contamination and remediation challenges.
What began as an idea at Orange Field Day in 1981 in a small rural town in Australia, by a young soil scientist passionate about fixing degraded land, has grown into a highly regarded environmental services group helping clients worldwide.
After leaving Sydney University with a degree in Agriculture, majoring in soil science and a thesis on mine waste, followed by a two–year stint with Australian Groundwater Consultants (AGC) working on the new field of mine closure, Phil Mulvey founded Environmental Earth Sciences; offering advanced geochemistry services to mining projects, waste repositories, landfills and water supply projects.
Founding goals were set up that specifically focused on the brown environment, soil, groundwater and waste. These were:
These goals have guided our focus and growth ever since and underpin our mission statement “We fix land”.
The company quickly gained recognition with the larger engineering firms offering services that they did not have; geochemistry. During this period, Phil subcontracted to Golder Associates, Kinhill, BHP Engineering and AGC, providing the geochemistry for both mine start ups and mine closure, including managing the closure of two Uranium mines; a practice that was unchartered territory at the time.
BHP became a major first and long–term client, the team grew with the engagement of two contractors and moved from an old house in North Sydney into a newly constructed granny flat in Willoughby, at the back of the Mulvey's family home.
Phil never envisaged employing more than a few people. Four years later, with 6 staff, the office moved to the Waverton Coal Loader; our head office for the next 15 years. Allison, Phil’s partner and joint owner of EESI Group, quietly nurtured the culture and the look of the company, and was instrumental to the growth and success of the nascent company.
1984 – Closure studies for Mary Kathleen and Narbalek Uranium Mines, QLD & NT
1985 – Design of Tomago & Dutson Downs hazardous waste cells, NSW & VIC
1985 – Assessment, gas and leachate management for building the Burswood Casino on a former rubbish dump (Landfill was a term just entering the lexicon)
1985 – Acid Sulfate Soil investigation for agriculture at Shoalhaven, NSW
1986 – Design for building the Burswood Casino Perth, WA
1987 – Investigation of Mobile Oil Terminal at Pulpit Point, NSW
1988- Waste rock and Cyanide Pond design for the Tick Hill Gold Mine
1988 – Design for waste repository for proposed EMD plant for BHP
As environmental awareness grew, so did the demand for Environmental Earth Sciences’ geology and hydrogeology expertise, leading to the expansion of our team and capabilities.
We published pioneering papers on acid sulfate soil identification, monitoring of landfill leachate and bioremediation of hydrocarbon contaminated soil, all of which are still used by the industry today.
Our contracting arm which went through several name changes over the past 3 decades (Environmental Earth Services, EESI Contracting – now New Soil), began with many service station remediation projects from 1992 for Mobil, BP, Shell and Caltex.
We commenced our first gas works project, a 20-year journey on the bioremediation of PAHs, a now patented process.
From 1992 to 1995, the Sydney team grew to 7 full-time employees; including Theresa Dixon our company accountant who retired this year after 30 years, Mark Stuckey, now our Technical Director, a couple of young soil scientists, geologists, and 3 part-time staff.
Many of the employees from this time stayed with us well into the 2010s and rose to senior positions within the company. The team relocated to the historic Coal Loader in North Sydney.
By 1996, we’d launched a Melbourne office and established a project-based presence in Auckland (1996–2012).
In 1998, we commenced our first job in the USA for mine feasibility investigations (waste disposal and water supply), supporting an Australian Company in Montana.
A talented recent graduate designed our in–house management platform based on Microsoft ACCESS in 1997, which enhanced our scalability and streamlined client management and data analysis, solidifying the group’s leadership in environmental management. The team also commenced monitoring at Shellharbour Council Dunmore landfill, NSW.
1990-1995 – Assessment and closure planning for BHP Steel Works Newcastle, NSW
1992 – Due diligence of Land for Sydney Airport, NSW
1992 – Commenced monitoring at Shellharbour Council Dunmore landfill, NSW (on-going)
1992-1993 – Lead study Sydney Harbour Bridge and associated Parks, NSW
1994 – Inflow and leaks from sewers for sewer upgrades in Sydney basin, NSW
1995-2000 – Asphalt Plant remediation for Boral St Peters, including bioremediation of impacted soils at Widemere. First successful bioremediation of tar emulsion in the world
1995-2000 – Remediation of many service stations for Shell Caltex and Mobil
1996-1998 – Gasworks bioremediation for AGL, Newcastle, Launceston, Bowral and Goulbourne, NSW
1998-1999 – Acid Sulfate Soils assessments in Port Stephens and Anna Bay & BHBB M5 East acid sulfate soil work, including VENMb classification and disposal to Dunmore, NSW
1998 – TOJV City Link a acid sulfate soil investigations, with assessment at the disposal site of Werribee Rifle Range VIC
In the early 2000s, we further expanded our national presence in with the establishment of permanent offices in Melbourne and Brisbane and the launch of an office in Perth.
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We also ventured internationally into the UK, and in 2005, our UK office initiated the third–largest contamination cleanup in the UK; a pioneering gasworks remediation using our patented Bioremediation process. During this time, we also established a project–based office in Dubai.
From 2000–2004, Phil led a significant war zone clean-up project in East Timor, in a joint venture called SEANAP.
From 2008–2010 our team designed a program on former transmigration land at Sumatra for Cargill that revolutionised acid sulfate soil treatment in the region.
2005 – Third largest contamination cleanup in the UK; gasworks cleanup using Dynamic Biopiles™
2004-2007 – Regional Vic Gasworks remediation – 5 projects.
2007 – Middle East project–based office with 5–6 staff in Dubai
2008-2011 – Innovations for acid sulfate soil treatment in Sumatra
2000-2005 – East Timor - SEANAP consortium project
In 2012, our dedication to excellence saw us grow to over 150 staff on 4 continents.
Embracing technological advancements, our team continued to innovate. Breaking new ground in the process of Bioremediation, the New Soil team was established, patenting several new processes and remediation technologies in the bioremediation field.
In Australia’s contamination sector, New Soil was the first to introduce off–site commercially viable bioremediation solutions and the only company worldwide to bioremediate gas works, tar and tar products such as creosote and emulsion.
The New Soil team continues to offer biological technologies as well as those based on chemical oxidation, chemical immobilisation, and chemical reduction.
2011-2013 – Defence Site Maribyrnong – Review of remediation options
Commonwealth Govt – PFAS audit review of several large PFAS contaminated facilities
2010-2015 – Bunnings Store Norlane – Existu remediation of 100,000 m3 of hydrocarbon contaminated soil.
2009-Present – Bunnings Store Maidestone – Innovative treatment of chlorinated solvents and ongoing monitoring
Today, EESI stands as a testament to four decades of dedication to sustainability and environmental excellence.
2021 saw the birth of our latest venture Ryzo, a software platform and advisory business dedicated to empowering the restoration of agricultural environments, climate and community by simplifying the shift to regenerative farming practices.
Our commitment to innovation and client–centric solutions remains unwavering as we navigate new challenges and opportunities in a rapidly evolving world.
2022-2024 – Award winning Remediation of a pesticide plant using our patented Dynamic Biopile™ process
2022 – Authored and published book for Agrifutures for Carbon Farming
2023-2024 – New Soil – Bioremediated coal tar tarmac millings
Throughout our journey, EESI has pioneered projects in diverse sectors, including mining, infrastructure, and energy.
From the Mary Kathleen Uranium Mines remediation to pioneering bioremediation techniques for gaswork wastes and complex hydrocarbons, each milestone reflects our ethos of integrity, innovation, and environmental responsibility.
As we celebrate our 40th anniversary, we reaffirm our commitment to driving positive change through sustainable practices and collaborative partnerships focusing on the brown environment.
Put simply, We Fix Land.
Together, we continue to shape a future where environmental integrity and business success go hand in hand with our ultimate purpose of fixing land.
Join us as we embark on the next chapter of our journey, building on the foundations of the past to create a sustainable future for generations to come.
Many faces have passed through our doors over the last 40 years, each person with their own unique experiences and stories to tell.
If you're a past employee or previous client we'd love to hear from you!
The Environmental Earth Sciences International Group acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past, present and emerging and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.
