2.3 Management framework for contaminated land in Australia
Depending on the perceived risk, management of contaminated land in Australia is regulated by:
- Environment Protection Authority (EPA), which uses its powers under the Contaminated, Land Management Act 1997 No 140. Deals with site contamination that is significant enough to warrant regulation under the Act, given the site’s current or approved use.
- Local councils which deal with other contamination sites under the planning and development framework, including the State Environmental Planning Policy No. 55 – Remediation of Land and Managing Land Contamination – Planning Guides. This applies to sites which, despite being contaminated, do not pose an unacceptable risk under their current or approved use.