Contaminated Sites
Contaminated Sites Register and Screening Tool
Management of Fuel Storage and Delivery Infrastructure
Land can become contaminated as a result of current or past uses such as refuse disposal, petroleum storage, timber treatment activities, heavy industry etc. Contaminated land potentially can have significant impacts on human health and ecosystems. The financial costs of cleaning up a site can also be high.
Contaminated Sites Register and Screening Tool
This Living Environment program is developing a register so that people can identify land that is, or may be, contaminated. This register will allow access to a more comprehensive scope of records than is currently available:
This register will benefit:
- planners and land managers who require accurate information in order to make informed decisions with regard to the future land uses or development
- parties involved in real estate transactions who have an interest in whether land is, or is potentially, contaminated
- Council officers and environmental officers and consultants involved in the management of issues associated with contaminated land.
A spatial data interface will be used to display the information within the register.
See also:
More information on Contaminated Sites on this website.
Management of Fuel Storage and Delivery Infrastructure
This Living Environment program will develop an Environmental Management System with mechanisms aimed at the prevention and early detection of contamination caused by underground petroleum storage tanks.
Underground storage tanks are a major source of soil and groundwater contamination. While the cost of lost fuel and clean ups provide a significant incentive for fuel companies etc to maintain infrastructure and prevent leaks, there are currently no mechanisms in place that require routine monitoring of tanks or placement of groundwater bores for early detection of leaks.
The project will commence in mid-2006 and is expected to be completed in 2008.
The project will:
- Determine a process for assigning site sensitivities based on environmental characteristics and other risks such as proximity to sensitive receptors
- Require new sites to install specified types of equipment for ongoing monitoring
- Require existing sites to install monitoring equipment and to complete installation within a specified timeframe.
It is proposed that compliance with the developed measures will be mandatory and that penalties will be imposed for non-compliance.
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Further information:
Contact: Environment Enquires
Environment Division Enquiries
Phone: 6233 2758
Email: EnvironmentEnquiries@environment.tas.gov.au
