Consultants working in contaminated land assessment must balance good intentions with professional responsibility. Mixed fill sites pose high uncertainty, and shortcutting guidelines can mislead landowners and increase risk. Your role is to provide clear, evidence-based advice so landowners can make informed decisions. The risk, responsibility, and reward remain with them—your fee reflects your own boundaries.

In Queensland, the movement of clean soil between lots within a development footprint raises a key regulatory question: must it always be treated as “waste” under the WRR Act? This post explores the intersection of the Waste and Contaminated Land frameworks, clarifies when soil becomes waste or contaminated, and discusses lawful pathways for reuse without triggering levy obligations.

Many CLID submissions in Queensland mistakenly have the SQP sign both declarations, omitting the legally required declaration from the relevant person. Under the EP Act, only a suitably qualified person (SQP) can prepare a CLID, but only the relevant person—typically the landowner or agent—can submit it. The auditor relies on the relevant person’s declaration, not the SQP’s, to confirm the integrity of the submission.

Contaminated land auditors in Queensland operate under Section 568(b) of the EP Act to independently evaluate investigation documents—not to regulate. They do not enforce remediation or notify third parties. That responsibility lies with DETSI, the administering authority. Auditors must notify DETSI of serious or material environmental harm under Section 320, but have no power to initiate regulatory action. Their role is technical, not enforcement.

A graphical Conceptual Site Model (CSM) is a vital early-stage tool in contaminated land investigations. It visually integrates site data—such as contamination sources, infrastructure, geology, groundwater, drainage, and receptors—to guide sampling and decision-making. Used in plan and cross-section views, it clarifies site dynamics, supports risk assessments, and aligns stakeholders.

Contamination is the presence of harmful substances in soil, water, or air. Contaminated land is land where those substances pose a serious or material risk to health or the environment. In contrast, clean earth is natural soil, rock, or sand free from waste or hazardous contaminants—safe for reuse and exempt from regulation.

Contaminated land management in Queensland is shaped by two distinct frameworks: the National Environment Protection (Assessment of Site...

In Queensland, the contaminated land industry faces a significant challenge. Despite the State Government’s requirement for the...

Having a clear and simple definition of what constitutes clean earth or clean fill seems like a no-brainer, but it is something that has...

When completing a contaminated land investigation, you may need to use data or reports written by someone else or rely on past work your...

The Invisible Hand. The force that leads to socially beneficial outcomes through the actions of selfish individuals... and it’s not the...

Like it or not first impressions count. There is nothing more depressing than opening a report and reading "XYZ was engaged to conduct a...

Updated 22 September 2025 Contaminated land auditors  are independent professionals approved under Queensland’s Environmental Protection...

Queenslanders know Queensland is special, and when it comes to contaminated land audits and assessments, it's no different. Contaminated...

In Queensland, contaminated land investigation must be undertaken by a suitably qualified person (SQP). This is regulated such that...

The Queensland Government has established a scheme for giving approval to contaminated land auditors to undertake certain functions on...

In Queensland you can do a contaminated land assessment without engaging an auditor, but if you want a statutory decision about your land...

Developers often want, or need, certainty before they proceed with land development. This one's a bit dry, but explains why auditor's...

When building infrastructure, passing through, over or under a contamianted site can cause significant delays and increased costs if not...

In the digital age there is no shortage of data, and slowly but surely, information is being replaced with data.