Industrial Site Closure Assessment
How GeoMeta connected a property owner with specialist environmental consultants to assess contamination at a former manufacturing site — enabling EPA approval and successful property transfer.
Project Overview
A property owner in Melbourne's western industrial corridor needed to close and sell a former manufacturing facility that had operated for over two decades. The site had history involving metal coating, chemical storage, and fuel tank operations — all potential sources of soil and groundwater contamination.
Before the property could be transferred, EPA Victoria required a comprehensive environmental assessment demonstrating that contamination had been identified, risks assessed, and an approved remediation strategy was in place. The owner came to GeoMeta to find qualified environmental consultants who could deliver this within strict legal settlement timelines.
Contamination Challenges
Given the site's manufacturing history, the assessment screened for the contaminants most commonly found at Australian industrial sites, guided by EPA Victoria and NEPM requirements:
PFAS from Industrial Processes
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are increasingly found at industrial sites where surface treatment, metal plating, or fire-fighting foams were used. These 'forever chemicals' don't break down naturally and require specialised testing and disposal.
EPA Victoria's PFAS position statement provides guidance on investigation and management requirements
Petroleum Hydrocarbons
Underground storage tanks, fuel depots, and machinery areas commonly leave hydrocarbon contamination in soil and groundwater. Depending on the type and concentration, these can pose risks to human health and the environment.
The National Environment Protection (Assessment of Site Contamination) Measure provides health-based investigation levels
Heavy Metals
Manufacturing processes involving metals — electroplating, casting, machining — can leave elevated concentrations of lead, chromium, nickel, and zinc in surrounding soils. These persist indefinitely and are a key concern for site rezoning.
NEPM guidelines set health investigation levels for heavy metals based on intended land use
Chlorinated Solvents
Industrial degreasers and cleaning solvents like trichloroethylene (TCE) are common at manufacturing sites. They migrate through soil and dissolve into groundwater, creating contamination plumes that can extend beyond site boundaries.
Australasian Land & Groundwater Association (ALGA) publishes guidance on chlorinated solvent investigation
Services Delivered
Phase 1 — Desktop Study
A thorough review of site history: what was manufactured, what chemicals were used, where tanks and drains were located, and any previous environmental incidents. This identified potential contamination sources and guided the Phase 2 sampling strategy.
Phase 2 — Intrusive Investigation
Physical drilling and sampling across the site, targeted at areas identified in Phase 1. Across the 8-hectare site this involved 68 boreholes, groundwater monitoring wells, and soil vapour assessment.
Risk Assessment
Evaluation of whether the identified contamination posed an unacceptable risk to human health or the environment, based on the intended future land use. This determined whether remediation was needed and to what standard.
Remediation Strategy
A practical, cost-effective plan to address the contamination. Options ranged from complete soil removal to in-situ treatment or risk-based containment — the approach chosen depended on contamination type, volume, and future land use.
Project Outcomes
Project Timeline
Specialist Matching
Week 1GeoMeta assessed project requirements and matched the owner with qualified environmental consultants and NATA-accredited labs
Phase 1 Assessment
Months 1-2Desktop study, site inspection, and preliminary risk assessment to guide investigation
Phase 2 Investigation
Months 3-5Intrusive drilling, soil and groundwater sampling, NATA-accredited laboratory analysis
Risk Assessment & Strategy
Months 6-7Contamination mapping, risk evaluation, and remediation strategy development
Regulatory Approval
Month 8EPA Victoria submission, stakeholder consultation, approval for property transfer
Project Details
Services Provided
Regulatory References
- • EPA Victoria — Environmental Audit Guidelines
- • NEPM — National Environment Protection (Assessment of Site Contamination) Measure
- • EPA Victoria — PFAS Position Statement
- • ALGA — Australasian Land & Groundwater Association guidance
Need Environmental Assessment?
Let GeoMeta connect you with qualified environmental consultants for your industrial site.