Former Service Station – Environmental Audit

Overview

Beveridge Williams’ environmental division was pivotal in the detailed contamination assessment and site cleanup of a former service station in Caulfield North for redevelopment.

An Environmental Audit was required as part of the redevelopment process to ensure that the contaminated soil, soil gas, and groundwater at the site were suitable for residential use and to ensure the adequate removal of all remnant service station and mechanic infrastructure.

Work Undertaken

The site soil and groundwater were impacted by hydrocarbons from underground infrastructure present at the site, including:

• Over 12 fuel, waste oil and kerosene underground storage tanks
• A former service pit with a hoist
• A triple interceptor trap
• A roadside bowser
• An old sewer pipe

Beveridge Williams completed a detailed contamination assessment at the site, which included:

• A detailed review of site history
• Service location and investigation into the presence of underground infrastructure
• Soil sampling and testing
• Soil vapour pin installation, sampling and testing
• Removal of all underground infrastructure and surrounding contaminated soils to ensure all contaminated source zones are removed from site
• Validation of soil contamination around removed underground infrastructure
• Groundwater monitoring well installation, sampling and testing.

Groundwater was determined to be contaminated with heavy metals and volatile organic compounds, posing a potential risk to the human health of future site users and the environment. A complex assessment regime and Human Health Risk Assessment (HHRA) was conducted for impacted groundwater, and a CUTEP (clean-up to the extent practicable) was endorsed by EPA marking the end of the site cleanup and construction of the new residential apartments was completed in 2016.

Beveridge Williams takes pride in its role regenerating contaminated sites for new urban growth opportunities.