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| Site Contamination Assessments |
| Councils generally require a site contamination assessment (SCA) prior to a change in site usage. Purchasers of a site and/or their financers usually require a SCA, site owners or occupiers may also need to ascertain the environmental health of their site. To check that a tenant has not contaminated a site leasing agreements may also call for site assessments on lease termination. In some cases State authorities (in NSW the Department of Environment and Conservation, formerly the NSW EPA www.environment.nsw.gov.au ) may instruct site owners or occupiers to carry out a SCA. |
| Assessments are classified as Preliminary, Phase I or Phase II. A Preliminary SCA is the simplest and involves a site history investigation plus a walkover inspection. A Phase I includes a preliminary plus limited soil and possibly ground water sampling. A Phase II is the most detailed and involves extensive soil and if present ground water sampling. The Environmental Protection and Heritage Council www.ephc.gov.au has issued extensive and detailed NEPM guidelines on undertaking SCA investigations. |
| If contamination levels are above acceptable levels for the intended use then site remediation may be required. It is vital to use experienced professional consultants for SCAs. To avoid high costs and excessive delays it is important to use experienced qualified consultants. Getex consultants have the experience and qualifications, they put the client’s interest foremost. |
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| Soil/ Waste Disposal Reports |
| There are detailed protocols covering the transport and disposal of soil and waste. (in NSW provided by the Department of Environment and Conservation, formerly the NSW EPA www.environment.nsw.gov.au ). Disposal/treatment costs are dependant on waste classification. What is required will depend on the circumstances. Professionally qualified Getex personnel can undertake cost effective sampling and analysis and provide a written report classifying the waste as required by regulatory authorities. We caution that adequate time for testing be built in to any disposal plan |
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| Soil/Water Testing |
| A soil and/or water testing program involves collection of field samples for laboratory analysis or on-site testing with portable instrumentation. Specialised equipment, sampling protocols including chain of custody documentation, selection of analytes, detection limits and comparisons of results against appropriate standards or guidelines are all important considerations in ensuring successful outcomes. |
| The testing may be a stand alone program part of a wider investigation or quality control program such as a site contamination investigation, soil/waste disposal report, hazardous material survey, risk assessment, construction site management, or an OH&S assessment. The regulation/guidelines are detailed and complex and it is essential that the sampling program meets the intended purpose. Getex has the experience, professional consultants, and documented quality systems to achieve cost effective and timely results for our clients. |
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| Remedial Action Plans (RAPs) and Project Management/Supervision |
| The terms used for similar processes vary with the industry. The term “remediation” is used in the environmental industry for contaminated sites while “clean-up” or “decontamination” is more commonly used in the Occupational Health & Safety situations. The appropriate regulatory authority, guidelines and methodology also vary with the industry. |
| Getex provides RAPs and clean-up plans to the relevant protocols/regulations. We provide project management, preparation of scope of works documentation, advice on contractor selection, supervision/monitoring of the works and final sign off (validation) services. |
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| Validation Reports |
| On successful completion of a remediation or cleanup program Getex normally issues a Validation or Sign off Report to the effect that the work has been completed satisfactorily to the relevant guideline or standard. Getex has the specialist expertise to provide validation reports acceptable to meet relevant environmental and/or health and safety authority legislation and guidelines. Supervision, inspection, soil/water sampling and/or air monitoring may be necessary before a validation report can be issued. |
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| Pre-purchase/Due Diligence Reports |
| Unforseen environmental or health and safety issues can be a substantial liability in property investments. Experienced investors or lending authorities require a pre-purchase Health & Safety and Environmental (HSE) assessment to provide comfort as to the real value of the purchase. Generally clients are concerned with major potential cost issues rather than minor issues. Assessments are pre-purchase and clients are sometimes reluctant to incur major expense items. Getex EHS reports range from simple desktop studies plus a walk through site inspection to detailed investigations that include sampling. Potential concerns include asbestos, hazardous materials, lead, PCBs, hazardous chemicals, USTs, exhaust controls, site contamination, air quality, Legionella, lighting, building design safety, access/egress, and signage. |
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