Contaminated Land and the NSW Planning Process

Planners and developers are often thrown into the world of contaminated land when they are working with a property that is known to be, or is potentially, contaminated.  An environmental site assessment report is often required to be submitted to council as part of the development application process.  The report is used by the council to determine if the site is suitable for the proposed land use or if remediation works will be required.    While contamination is usually thought to be associated with heavy industry such as gasworks, fuel storage sites and power stations, the urban-sprawl coupled with the pervasive nature of contamination means contaminated land is being encountered with increasing frequency.

If not appropriately characterised and managed, contaminated sites can result in large development delays and cost overruns including delays throughout the planning process.  Regardless of the stage of the project, it is essential to get advice from suitably experienced and qualified consultants, including those who employ accredited auditors, i.e. those who the regulators recognise as being appropriately experienced and competent.

To find out more about how contaminated land is incorporated into the NSW planning framework, follow the link below to download a copy of the full article.

Easterly Point – Contaminated land and the NSW planning process 1020