New Caledonia

This project consists of two studies, the overall objective of which is to assess sea cucumber populations, a marine species highly valued by Asian markets, in New Caledonia (2021-2022) and in the Apataki Atoll, French Polynesia (2023). This work is part of the SPC (Pacific Community) PROTEGE programme and aims to support recommendations and perspectives for the management of sea cucumber fisheries in the current context of declining populations in the Pacific.

The objective is to monitor and assess the environmental data of the reefs and associated ecosystems under the influence of the mining activities in order to identify potential industrial impacts. To this end, an annual assessment will be carried out to evaluate the health and evolution of coral reefs, fish and invertebrate populations, mangroves, seagrass beds and the physico-chemical quality of the environment.

As part of the process of obtaining authorisation to carry exceptional loads on its network, New Caledonia wanted to ensure that the condition and dimensions of its engineering structures would allow this. With 16 engineering structures located throughout New Caledonia, Ginger LBTP NC was contracted to carry out the following tasks:

• Periodic detailed inspections and diagnostics of each structure.
• Determine the ageing of the concrete used in the structures, particularly with regard to cyclic mechanical loading, but also pathologies such as carbonation-induced corrosion.
• Testing for the presence of zeolite or ettringite in aggregates on concrete with a spalled surface.
• Characterisation of steels for metallic structures.
   

As part of the renovation of the Pierre Lenquette and Tindu housing estates in Noumea, SIC contracted Ginger LBTP NC to carry out asbestos surveys prior to the renovation work and to manage the asbestos removal operations. Work on the Tindu residence involved 329 residential units spread over 9 buildings. Work on the P. Lenquette residence involved 103 residential units in 3 buildings. This operation took place over several years, as and when the units were vacated. Ginger LBTP NC was responsible for identifying any materials containing asbestos and managing the asbestos removal contractors selected to carry out the work.

This project in the Grand Lagon Nord, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is part of a provincial strategy to rebalance the region in favour of the far north, in particular the Bélep islands, where economic activity remains limited. The aim of the assessment is to carry out an experimental scientific fishing campaign to characterise the shellfish resource and by-catches, while assessing the impact of the trawlers used on the physical structure of the substrate.  This assessment examines the results of 3 scientific campaigns and two commercial fishing campaigns. 

The aim of this project is to carry out an environmental impact assessment for each province and for the Government of New Caledonia. These studies are part of an application for authorisation to occupy the public maritime domain for the installation of a second fibre optic telecommunications cable in New Caledonia. They included a baseline survey of the 600 km of coastline in the EEZ, as well as the landing sites, using various methods adapted to the depths at which the cable would be laid.

The Yaté dam is part of a power generation project in the commune of Yaté in the southern province of New Caledonia. The dam is located approximately 9 km upstream of the town of Yaté, along the river and its estuary. The aim of the project is to rehabilitate and complete the piezometric monitoring system for the Yate dam. This involved inclined core drilling in the galleries of the dam, Lefrancs tests to assess the permeability of the pressure measurement chambers, camera surveys of the boreholes and the installation of piezometric equipment in the boreholes.