Contaminated sites

Legislative overview

The Contaminated Sites Act 2003 (CSA) (external link) imposes significant responsibilities on parties causing contamination, and on owners of contaminated land.

The CSA binds the State, and limits the extent to which responsibility for (potentially) contaminated lands can be transferred to other parties.

The Minister for Lands is bound by the requirements of the CSA and is responsible for reporting to the Department of Environment and Conservation any known or suspected contamination on State (or other government) land under the control of the Department for Planning and Infrastructure.

Administration and management procedures and practices

Chapter 13 of the Crown land administration and registration practice manual provides detailed information on contaminated sites, including:

• contamination of State land identification, remediation and management;

• classification and notices;

• remediation of contaminated sites;

• orphan sites;

• identification of contamination on State land;

• liability in relation to contamination on State land;

• transferring liability; and 

• receiving land into the State land estate/Departmental control.