New South Wales DECCW Audit System
Western Australia Audit System
Environmental Management Systems (EMS) Auditing
Engineering Management & Dangerous Goods Audits
The Western Australia Department of Environment whilst initially recognising auditors from Victoria and New South Wales did not implement their own audit 
scheme until 2006 under Contaminated Sites Act 2003.
Duty to Report - Land owners, occupiers and polluters are required to report known or suspected contaminated sites to the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC). Reported sites are then classified, in consultation with the Department of Health, based on the risks posed to the community and the environment.
A site classification is a description assigned to an area of land that has been reported to the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) under the Contaminated Sites Act 2003 (Act), as a site that is known or suspected to be contaminated. DEC can allocate any one of seven possible classifications to a site:
- Report not substantiated – There is not enough information to indicate the presence of contamination at the site.
- Possibly contaminated – investigation required – There are grounds to indicate the presence of contamination at the site, however more information is required to confirm or dismiss the possibility of contamination.
- Not contaminated – unrestricted use – After investigation, the site was found not to be contaminated.
- Contaminated – restricted use – The site is contaminated but suitable for restricted uses (e.g. the site may be suitable for commercial use, but not residential use or the site may be suitable for any land use, but restrictions on groundwater use may apply).
- Remediated for restricted use – The site is contaminated but has been remediated so that it is suitable for restricted use (e.g. the site may be suitable for an apartment block, but not for a kindergarten).
- Contaminated – remediation required – The site is contaminated and remediation is required to ensure it does not present a risk to human health, the environment or any environmental value. This classification will remain until remediation is complete.
- Decontaminated – The site has been remediated and is suitable for all uses and does not pose a risk to the environment or any environmental value.
The Contaminated Sites Database which can be accessed for free via the internet (http://www.dec.wa.gov.au) holds information on sites classified as:
- contaminated - remediation required;
- contaminated - restricted use; or
- remediated for restricted use.
The work performed by your chosen consultant will need to be reviewed by a DEC Accredited Contaminated Site Auditor if your investigation requires assessment by DEC. To remain time and cost effective, it is recommended that you involve the Auditor at the outset of your project. Auditor’s fees are likely to be charged at an hourly rate.
Mandatory Auditor’s Reports are required in the following circumstances:
- When a regulatory notice is issued under the Act;
- When a certificate of contamination audit is requested;
- When contamination has moved away from the property on which it originated, to affect other properties (i.e. the site is a ‘source site’); and
- When a report is submitted in order to comply with a planning or Ministerial condition or similar statutory requirement.
Useful information and publications relating to the WA DEC Contaminated Sites Audit System can be found on their website (http://www.dec.wa.gov.au/content/ category/32/755/1579/) and include:
- Contaminated Sites Management Series – Contaminated Sites Auditors: Guidelines for Accreditation, Conduct and Reporting;
- Contaminated Sites Management Series – Reporting of Known or Suspected Contaminated Sites; and
- Contaminated Sites Management Series – Site Classification Scheme.
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