UPSS exemption plan: sensitive zones
In order to obtain a Class 2A exemption under the Underground Petroleum Storage Systems Regulation 2008 (UPSS Regulation), the physical location of the UPSS site must be outside the regions within New South Wales that the DECC has determined to be "sensitive zones" with respect to the UPSS Regulation.
Sensitive zone maps
Maps showing the UPSS sensitive zones in each local council area are available for download as PDF files. The maps are listed under the title of the local government area:
List of UPSS Exemption Plan maps
More information and help
What is a UPSS sensitive zone?
How has DECC defined the UPSS sensitive zones?
How do I determine if a site is located outside a UPSS sensitive zone?
How do I obtain a Class 2A exemption?
What is a UPSS sensitive zone?
The UPSS sensitive zones have been identified through a risk-based approach to protect sensitive environmental receptors. They represent a conservative assessment of areas that are likely to be vulnerable to contamination from leaking UPSS (i.e. due to geology or groundwater properties), or in close proximity to vulnerable environmental receptors (i.e. national parks and anything that is likely to be adversely affected by contaminated groundwater, such as groundwater bores, rivers, lakes, etc.).
The guiding principles were:
- Use the best available data to determine regions of high sensitivity to contamination derived from leaking UPSS.
- Focus on sensitive environmental receptors.
- Apply precautionary principle.
- Simplicity and clarity.
- Consistency across New South Wales.
The UPSS sensitive zone maps have been designed to enable a quick and simple way to assess the risk a UPSS site posed to a recognised environmentally sensitive receptor in any part of New South Wales.
The UPSS sensitive zones have been developed in consultation with relevant State government departments and industry stakeholders to ensure a consistent approach and relevant level of protection of sensitive environmental receptors.
How has DECC defined the UPSS sensitive zones?
The UPSS sensitive zones were defined as:
- The regions immediately surrounding sensitive receptors (e.g. rivers, drinking water bores).
- Regions on or near vulnerable groundwater (e.g. due to geology, links to catchment areas).
- Regions of recognised environmental significance (e.g. national parks).
Example - Defining sensitive zones
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1. River (a common sensitive receptor which needs to be protected). | 2. Create a 500m buffer around the river. | 3. The buffer becomes part of the UPSS sensitive zone. |
GIS
To accurately identify these regions a Geographical Information System (GIS) was created to aggregate and analyse a broad set of geospatial information. This data includes:
- Groundwater bores (location data from Department of Water and Energy (DWE)),
- Surface water features (e.g. rivers, coastline. Location data from Geoscience Australia and Department of Lands),
- Protected areas (e.g. National Parks),
- Groundwater vulnerability maps (prepared by DWE).
Delineating sensitive zones
Conservative buffers were defined around bores and surface water features, including:
- 500m buffer around all lakes and reservoirs.
- 500m buffer along the coastline.
- 500m buffer around all named and major drainage areas.
- 5000m buffer around licensed bores used for public drinking water.
- 1000m buffer around licensed domestic bores.
- 500m buffer around licensed agricultural bores.
Protected areas, including all parks, reserves, estate and other lands that are administered for conservation purposes by DECC (NSW), were considered to be sensitive zones.
NSW groundwater vulnerability maps obtained from DWE used hydrogeology data to determine zones of potential groundwater vulnerability. Where available, UPSS sensitive zones incorporate regions which are classified as high vulnerability or moderately high vulnerability.
These data were integrated to create an integrated set of high-risk areas which are considered to be sensitive zones for the purposes of the UPSS Regulation.
How do I determine if a site is located outside a UPSS sensitive zone?
To check if a UPSS site may be located outside the UPSS sensitive zone, a preliminary check may be undertaken using the UPSS Exemption Plan maps. To do this you will need:
- The local government area in which the UPSS site is located.
- The street address of the UPSS site.
To check if the site is located outside a UPSS sensitive zone:
- Download the relevant local council map from the map page.
- Locate the position of the UPSS site on the map. Remember these maps are a guide only and the final determination of whether a site lies inside the UPSS sensitive zone will be made by the DECC.
- Where the resolution of the PDF map does not enable you to precisely locate the UPSS site, please contact DECC via email on upssreg@environment.nsw.gov.au. You will need to include the business name and the exact street address of the site. The DECC will endeavour to respond to your inquiry within three working days.
- If the site is not within a green area which marks the UPSS sensitive zone, that is, outside a designated sensitive zone, the person responsible for the UPSS can apply for a Class 2A Exemption. If the site is inside a UPSS sensitive zone it will not be eligible for the Class 2A Exemption.
- You may submit an Exemption Application form to the DECC (refer to the UPSS Guideline for details and an exemption application form - you will need Adobe Reader to open this file). The DECC will confirm the site is outside the UPSS sensitive zone and grant the person responsible for the UPSS a Class 2A Exemption.
How do I obtain a Class 2A exemption?
Detailed instructions on the way to obtain a Class 2A exemption are provided in the UPSS Guideline. Refer to this document for the relevant forms and information required.