An introduction to the Australian contaminated land industry

Contaminated land in Australia: how did it get here?

Australia's industrial history, much like other developed nations, has left a legacy of historical contamination. Past industrial activities such as manufacturing, mining, waste disposal, and chemical and fuel storage have impacted soil, groundwater and surface water in parts of Australia with harmful chemicals, which pose environmental and health risks. The contaminated land industry in Australia is focused towards identifying, managing, and remediating such impacted areas.

Rules and guidance

The contaminated land industry is governed by both state and national regulations under the guidance of the National Environment Protection (Assessment of Site Contamination) Measures. National Environment Protection Measures (NEPMs) are legal instruments that specify national standards for a variety of environmental issues. They are binding on all Governments that are members of the National Environment Protection Council (NEPC). NEPMs are designed to assist in protecting or managing particular aspects of the environment and are highly technical documents used for managing issues that can impact on the environment, such as land contamination and air quality.

Urban growth and remediation

The demand for expertise in contaminated land continues to grow as Australia’s city’s expand into brownfield land (i.e. land that is abandoned or underutilized due to pollution from previous use). The contaminated land industry not only helps mitigate environmental threats but also repurposes land for new developments, playing an important role in sustainable urban planning.