Land Contamination


What do I have to do to meet the requirements of my Ongoing Monitoring and Management Plan?

An Ongoing Monitoring and Management Plan (OMMP) will generally require that soil, groundwater or both be periodically monitored to assure that human health and environmental risks remain at an acceptable level. In addition to preparing the OMMP, we can develop and maintain a sampling and reporting schedule that will allow you to meet all of the conditions of the OMMP and satisfy your consent conditions.

How can I prevent operations on my property from causing contamination?

We can work with you to develop an Environmental Management Plan (EMP) tailored to your specific business that establishes procedures for handling potentially toxic chemicals and other materials that may pose a risk to human health or the environment. The EMP will formalise operational procedures to minimize the chance of spills or other releases and list the steps that need to be taken in the event of an accident or spill.

Is contaminated land remediation required before development?

Contaminated land remediation is generally required when contamination is encountered during commercial development or as a condition on subdivision or land use consents and will need to be completed as part of the development process. In some instances, it may be more cost effective to manage contamination in place, through an Ongoing Monitoring and Management Plan, to minimize risks to human health and the environment rather than spend the money to remove the contamination. We know that every situation is unique and we will work with you to determine the most cost effective and logical solution for your contaminated land problem.

Who has experience in Land Contamination?

Land contamination services are provided by a limited number of consultancies. We have qualified experts in land contamination and, as a multi-discilplinary consutancy, can offer this service alongside all other specialist inputs required for a land development project.

Where can I find an experienced/reputable person for Land Contamination?

These services are provided by a limited number of consultancies. We have qualified experts in land contamination and, as a multi-disciplinary consultancy, can offer this service alongside all other specialist inputs required for a land development project.

Is my land contaminated?

Your land may have been identified as “potentially” contaminated because of past activities such as an orchard or commercial fuel storage but the only way to know if it is actually contaminated is by performing a site investigation that includes soil sampling. In the initial stages of the investigation we use a number of sources of information to determine potentially contaminating activities, including historical aerial photography, questions to landowners, Council property records, etc. If such activities are identified, we will likely carry out soil sampling in line with established practices to determine if contamination is present.

For commercial properties, it may be advisable to determine contamination conditions through a baseline investigation prior to constructing a petroleum station or other potentially contaminating facility. This can protect you from future litigation should contamination be discovered later. We can design a sampling plan to determine the contamination status of site soil and groundwater before construction begins.