Contaminated Land Assessment

Contaminated Land Assessment is a component of the Development Application process which Council uses to work out whether a site is suitable for the proposed development from a contamination perspective, or if remediation is required. It involves a desktop assessment of the site as well as analysing data from soil and water sampling. There are four phases of Contaminated Land Assessment:

Stage 1 Preliminary Site Investigation,
Stage 2 Detailed Site Investigation,
Site Remedial Action Plan, and
Validation and Site Monitoring Reports.

Our Service

Compaction & Soil Testing Services Pty Ltd is experienced in all four phases of assessing and reporting on contaminated sites. Our range of services includes consultation, site investigation, recovery of samples by a team of practiced samplers who have extensive knowledge in sampling techniques and sampling patterns, site supervision, and the production of accurate and robust reports compliant with all relevant legislation, regulations, guidelines and industry standards.

Our Experience

Compaction & Soil Testing Services Pty Ltd has been engaged for numerous contamination investigations, ranging across all four stages of contaminated land assessment. CSTS reports have been successfully reviewed and approved by NSW EPA accredited contaminated sites auditors. Please contact our office to arrange for a contaminated site assessment, and we will tailor our services to meet the requirements of your site.

The NSW EPA Guidelines for Consultants Reporting on Contaminated Sites 2011 details four investigative stages of contaminated land assessment:

Preliminary Site Investigation (Phase 1):

A desktop study of the site which relies upon historical and current information available for the site and surrounding areas. Sometimes limited soil and/or groundwater sampling and assessment is undertaken to provide an indication of site condition. The purpose of the Phase 1 assessment is to determine the potential for and likelihood of encountering contamination within the site, and to determine whether the site is suitable for the proposed land use, whether it be residential, parkland, high rise buildings, commercial or industrial.

Detailed Site Investigation (Phase 2):

Relying upon the historical and current information provided within a Phase 1 assessment, a Phase 2 investigation includes intensive sampling of soils and/or waters to provide adequate site characterisation. The purpose of a detailed site investigation is to determine whether a site is contaminated to a point where remediation is required in order to make a site suitable for a particular land use, and to delineate any areas of particular concern.

Site Remedial Action Plan (RAP):

Required when a site is determined to be contaminated and unsuitable for the current and/or proposed land use. A RAP summarises the information and findings of the Phase 1 and Phase 2 assessments, and provides a working plan to remediate the site to an environmental condition suitable for the proposed land use. The RAP sets out acceptance criteria for the site to be deemed suitable for the proposed land use, plausible methods for achieving this highlighting the preferred method, management plans for the site during the remedial works and the process of validation to confirm the effectiveness of the remediation.

Validation and Site Monitoring Reports:

A site validation report follows on from the RAP. It summarises the finds of the Phase 1 and Phase 2, the operation of the RAP and addresses the validation of the remediation, as generally detailed within the RAP. The purpose of the site validation is to confirm the effectiveness of the remedial works and that the site, after remediation, is suitable for the proposed land use. When full clean-up is not feasible, or on-site containment of contamination is implemented, an ongoing management report is required, detailing monitoring and maintenance requirements.