Environment and Climate Change

Contaminated land

Managing Land Contamination: Guidelines - Consultation Draft

The NSW Department of Planning and DECC are inviting public comment on revised guidelines for managing land contamination. The proposed changes to the 1998 guidelines reflect the evolving regulatory requirements over the past 10 years and clarify advice in relation to the application of the guidelines.

The draft guidelines are available from the Department of Planning's website. Comments are invited until Friday 30 January 2009.

Contaminated land can have major economic, legal and planning implications for the community. Contamination can limit land use potential or increase costs for developers and councils. Their investigation and clean-up is important to protect human health and the environment.

Although contaminated sites may occur anywhere, they are typically clustered in areas which have been used for heavy industry or chemically intensive agriculture. They may also include residential properties, for example, from flaking of lead-based paints or excessive pesticide use.

Contaminated land in NSW is broadly managed by:

DECC, which uses its powers under the Contaminated Land Management Act 1997 (CLM Act) to deal with contamination where DECC identifies there is 'significant risk of harm'
local councils, which deal with less serious contamination, generally when landowners want approval to undertake new development.

More information on contaminated land management in NSW

Role of DECC
Flow chart of steps in regulating sites under the CLM Act
Role of planning authorities
Process and outcomes of the review of the CLM Act
Policy on former Unhealthy Building Land sites.

More information on the following contaminated land topics

The NSW site auditor scheme aims to ensure proper management of contaminated land by providing a pool of accredited 'site auditors' who can be engaged to review investigation, remediation and validation work conducted by contaminated land consultants.
Details of all guidelines under the Contaminated Land Management Act 1997 (CLM Act) made or approved by DECC.
Environment protection notices issued under the CLM Act, the names of sites and owners or occupiers and copies of site audit statements.
Information on engaging a consultant for contaminated site investigations and remediation in NSW.
Information on remediation of former gasworks sites.
Regulatory impact statement on a new law is proposed to apply to all underground petroleum storage systems.
Frequently asked questions about contaminated land.
More information about land.