Land Contamination Investigation for Development Approval

Upon lodging a Development Application (DA) submission, if your site has a history that would suggest possible land contamination, it is very likely your council's first step will be to require a land contamination investigation. This is in accordance with the regulations outlined for councils in the State Environmental Planning Policy No. 55 (SEPP 55). Previous land uses that could trigger this investigation into whether your site is contaminated includes industrial or agricultural activities on site or imported fill in the pre-development stages.

A land contamination investigation must be carried out by a qualified environmental consultant and in accordance with the National Environmental Protection (Assessment of Site Contamination) Measure 2013. The purpose of the assessment is to confirm the presence or absence of any soil contaminants and to determine whether the site is fit for its intended purpose.

There are four stages in the investigation process. Depending on the results from the initial testing, you may or may not be required by council to go through all processes.

• Stage 1 – Preliminary Site Investigation
• Stage 2 – Detailed Site Investigation
• Stage 3 – Site Remedial Action Plan
• Stage 4 – Validation and Site Monitoring Reports

The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) provides a short explanation about each stage.

The two flow charts below from one local council's contaminated land policy show the general procedures involved for considering land contamination issues. These are for zoning, rezoning, subdivision and development applications.

Source: Canada Bay Council Contaminated Land Policy

Getex offers high quality assessments with a thorough background check of the site's history and fast turn-around services. We have a strong history of helping our clients receive successful outcomes for DAs. Contact us today on (02) 9889 2488 or help@getex.com.au to speak to one of our consultants.