Site investigations for specific contaminants including asbestos and acid sulfate soils, or groundwater analysis
Environmental Site Assessments
Our Focus
Our Environmental Services team offer a range of specialist inspections, assessments, sampling, testing and reporting for the purpose of Development Applications and land use changes.
An environmental site assessment seeks to understand past and present uses of a site and the impacts these may have had on the soil. Often required as part of a DA or land-use change, they often start with a Preliminary Site Investigation (PSI) with further investigations dictated by the results.
Some specific soil characteristics or contamination however may require a specialised assessment.
Our Services
Acid Sulfate Soil Assessments
Acid Sulfate Soils occur naturally and are the result of sulfidic ores within soil or rock. Acid sulfate soils are safe and harmless when undisturbed. If dug up or drained thus coming into contact with oxygen, the iron sulfides they contain react with oxygen to create sulfuric acid. This acid can cause harm to animals, plants, buildings, roads, and other structures.
Large areas of coastal NSW are impacted by acid sulfate soils. These areas are often low lying land surrounding coastal lakes and rivers. View the Acid Sulfate Soil Risk Map here.
The presence of Acid Sulfate Soils can impact civil works, construction, extraction, and agriculture. In these instances, assessment and management are required as per NSW Acid Sulfate Soils Manual guidelines.
If potential or actual acid sulfate soils are identified, they require neutralisation and treatment based on acid sulfate management plan. Early identification, prior to any civil works, is important so that appropriate management can be employed.
Hazmat Assessments
What is a Hazmat assessment?
A Hazardous Material Assessment (or survey) is a destructive or non-destructive, systematic building assessment, including physical sampling, for material deemed hazardous to people or the environment. Such materials include asbestos, Synthetic Mineral Fibre, lead paints and capacitors containing Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB).
Hazmat Surveys facilitate the removal of hazardous materials prior to full demolition, significantly reducing risk of contamination of underlying soils during the demolition process, as well as exposure of such materials to those undertaking the demolition.
Non-managed or poor demolition often results in asbestos contamination to the surface soil which leads to significant cost blow outs and time delays.
Asbestos Clearance Inspections
A clearance inspection is required at the completion of all licensed asbestos removal work, prior to reoccupation.
Hunter Civilab has a licensed asbestos assessor who can undertake independent inspections, provide air monitoring, and issue clearance certificates after removal work has been completed.
Groundwater Assessment
Groundwater assessments are utilised to evaluate the health, chemical makeup, or contamination of groundwater, or can provide ongoing monitoring.
A groundwater assessment may form part of a contaminated land assessment process, or be undertaken to understand impacts on existing or planned developments, or the environment.
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Contact our specialised team for more information about our services.