Industrial Environmental Assessment
Environmental site assessment and contamination investigation for a manufacturing facility closure in Melbourne's industrial corridor, supporting safe decommissioning and future development.
Project Overview
After many years of manufacturing operations, a local manufacturing company faced the complex challenge of safely decommissioning their 8.5-hectare facility in Melbourne's western industrial corridor. The site required comprehensive environmental assessment to identify contamination from years of metal coating, chemical processing, and petroleum storage operations.
Our environmental consultancy provided the complete contaminated land assessment needed for regulatory compliance and successful property transfer. This included identifying PFAS contamination from metal coating processes, petroleum hydrocarbon impacts from fuel storage, and heavy metal contamination from manufacturing operations - typical challenges facing Australia's aging industrial infrastructure.
Environmental Challenges
PFAS from Metal Coating Operations
Historical use of PFAS-containing metal treatment chemicals created contamination hotspots across the facility. Our specialized PFAS testing identified contaminated soil requiring specific disposal pathways under Australia's emerging PFAS regulations.
Underground Storage Tank Legacy
Multiple underground petroleum storage tanks installed over many years created complex hydrocarbon plumes. Our investigation mapped soil and groundwater contamination to support tank decommissioning and environmental risk assessment.
Chemical Processing Contamination
Various industrial solvents, degreasers, and processing chemicals had created point-source contamination requiring detailed mapping. Our site investigation identified chlorinated hydrocarbons and heavy metals throughout former processing areas.
Regulatory Compliance Requirements
Victoria EPA requirements for site closure demanded comprehensive documentation and waste classification. Our NATA-accredited testing and reporting ensured full regulatory compliance for both contaminated material disposal and future land use approval.
Our Environmental Services
Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment
Comprehensive desktop study reviewing years of site history, chemical usage records, and environmental incidents. Site inspection identified potential contamination sources and developed sampling strategy for Phase 2 investigation.
Phase 2 Contamination Investigation
Intrusive drilling program across manufacturing, storage, and workshop areas. 68 boreholes and 24 monitoring wells provided soil and groundwater samples for comprehensive laboratory analysis including PFAS, hydrocarbons, heavy metals, and chlorinated solvents.
Contaminated Material Classification
Detailed waste classification for 2,400 tonnes of contaminated soil and building materials. Our analysis determined appropriate disposal pathways and costs, supporting accurate decommissioning budgets and regulatory submissions.
Risk Assessment and Remediation Strategy
Human health and environmental risk evaluation for proposed industrial redevelopment. Developed cost-effective remediation strategy addressing contamination hotspots while enabling successful property transfer and future development approval.
Technical Methodology
Environmental Assessment
Phase 1 desktop study, Phase 2 intrusive investigation across manufacturing, storage and workshop areas
Contamination Sources
Metal coating chemicals, petroleum products, solvents, PFAS from industrial processes
Site Investigation
68 boreholes, 24 monitoring wells, groundwater and soil vapor assessment
Laboratory Analysis
Heavy metals, hydrocarbons, PFAS, chlorinated solvents, asbestos in building materials
Waste Classification
Hazardous waste identification, disposal pathway assessment, regulatory compliance
Risk Assessment
Human health and environmental risk evaluation for industrial land use scenarios
Project Outcomes
Project Timeline
Phase 1 Assessment
Historical research, site inspection, preliminary risk assessment
Phase 2 Investigation
Intrusive drilling, soil and groundwater sampling, laboratory analysis
Risk Assessment
Contamination mapping, exposure pathway evaluation, remediation strategy
Regulatory Approval
EPA submission, stakeholder consultation, decommissioning support
Services Provided
Need Environmental Assessment?
Our environmental consultants provide comprehensive contaminated land assessment for industrial facilities across Melbourne and Regional Victoria.