Schofields Remediation

Assessment and remediation of contaminated land to be developed for multi-storey residential land use.

Description and value of services provided by the consultant

Value of Services: >$3,450,000

Raw Earth Environmental Pty Ltd (Raw Earth) were engaged to undertake site contamination assessments and remediation works at the site.

The following services and reports were also provided to the client.

A) Friable Asbestos Demolition, Excavation and Clearance

Raw Earth project managed the demolition of a severely fire damaged structure on the site. Friable asbestos was amongst the debris which required remediation and validation. Raw Earth’s SafeWork NSW Licensed Asbestos Assessors undertook supervision, asbestos air monitoring and validation sampling to issue a final clearance of the work area.

B) Waste Classification

Waste Classification reports were prepared for the offsite disposal of contaminated and non-contaminated soils.

C) Sampling Analysis Quality Plan (SAQP)

The SAQP was designed to outline a sampling program appropriate to provide detailed Characterisation of the site with respect to Contaminants of Potential Concern (COPC).

D) Detailed Site Investigation

The objectives of the Detailed Site Investigation were to:

• Identify contamination at the site.
• Incorporate the previously prepared SAQP into the investigation.
• Provide a single report on the contamination status of the site.

E) Remediation Action Plan

The development of the Remediation Action Plan produced for the site detailed the following scope of works:

• Review all previous environmental investigations for the site.
• Establish remediation goals and criteria for the site.
• Evaluate remediation technologies and select appropriate remediation strategies.
• Provide guidance on licenses, an Environmental Management Plan, Work Health & Safety Plan and other relevant site plans required for the remedial works.
• Outline necessary site operations including excavation, stockpiling, management and disposal of soil materials, environmental controls and supply an Unexpected Finds Protocol and a Contingency Plan in to manage additional identified contamination that may be discovered during remediation and validation works.
• Advise processes for the unexpected finds of suspicious materials and an Unexpected Finds Protocol.
• Address recommendations made in previous environmental investigations and outline additional investigations which may need to be undertaken for the site, including data gap closure.
• Establish a sampling, analysis and quality control plan for remediation and validation works.

Specific challenges related to the services and actions taken by the consultant to deal with them.

The client required a cost-effective strategy for the assessment and remediation of their site to comply with the NSW EPA clean-up notice. Raw Earth were able to liaise with the EPA to determine a program of works which complied with regulations and kept costs to a minimum, which reduced the amount of contaminated soils requiring offsite disposal therefore reducing costs for the client. A Sampling, Analysis & Quality Plan (SAQP) was developed to outline the assessment of the contamination and provide a method to segregate contaminated soils from non-contaminated soils for off-site disposal. The SAQP was approved by the NSW EPA and the assessment program was completed successfully.