New South Wales DECCW Audit System
Western Australia Audit System
Environmental Management Systems (EMS) Auditing
Engineering Management & Dangerous Goods Audits
In Queensland the TPR or Third Party Review process is in operation under the auspices of the Environmental Protection Act 1994 and administered by the 
Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM).
Under this system contaminated site assessment and cleanup as conducted by competent practitioners is reviewed and certified by independent experienced professionals accepted by DERM, known as third party reviewers (TPRs).
As with the other states the system is designed to streamline statutory timeframes, and improve the quality control and standard of works performed and has been developed in-line with Schedule B10 of the NEPM 1999.
The TPR system is site specific and may be used voluntarily by any person seeking statutory decisions from DERM relating to contaminated land. The DERM encourages landowners and developers to use the TPR system in line with the voluntary processes in the EP Act for submission of site investigation and validation reports.
When considered relevant and appropriate to manage sites with a medium to high level of human health and/or environmental risk or sites involving a high level of contamination complexity, DERM may require that a TPR be used:
- under its concurrence role for contaminated land in the Sustainable Planning Act 2009;or
- as a condition of a statutory site management plan (SMP); or
- as a requirement of a notice under the EP Act.
The DERM also administers the Environmental Management Register (EMR) and Contaminated Land Register (CLR) where sites that have been subject to activities identified as being likely to cause land contamination are listed as ‘notifiable activities’ in Schedule 3 of the EP Act. The CLR lists “risk sites”.
Sites recorded on the EMR pose a low risk to human health and the environment under the current land use. Entry on the EMR does not mean the land must be cleaned up or that the current land use must stop. Land is recorded on the CLR when scientific investigation shows it is contaminated and action needs to be taken to remediate or manage the land. Actions could include:
- technical measures to prevent migration of contaminants, or
- full removal of contaminants and off-site treatment to prevent serious environmental harm or public health risks.
Useful Publications provided by the DERM that can be found on their website (http://www.derm.qld.gov.au/) include:
- Draft guidelines for the assessment and management of contaminated land in Queensland.
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