Environmental Management & Compliance
Environmental compliance and due diligence
Managing environmental risk and maintaining regulatory compliance is a critical part of land development and land management. When handled effectively, it reduces legal exposure, controls costs, and keeps projects moving.
The 2017 Environmental Protection Act (Vic) sets out the regulatory and legal responsibilities of owners and managers of land to assess and manage environmental risk, and to notify EPA where required.
Atma acts as an experienced intermediary, bringing the practical, regulatory and advocacy skills needed to form realistic responses that address stakeholder concerns – then implements and manages the plan to bring clients into compliance.
What we do
Atma provides practical, experience-led support across all aspects of environmental management and compliance – helping organisations understand their obligations, manage risk, and respond effectively to regulatory requirements.
Environmental Due Diligence & Strategic Advice
Having worked across thousands of contaminated land sites in Victoria, Atma draws on a deep well of past project experience to deliver expertly informed due-diligence advice on potentially problematic land acquisitions.
Clients benefit from our direct site knowledge, our timely delivery and previous site remediation expertise to estimate what their potential cost liabilities are.
We provide strategic advice for new developments and planning scheme amendments. Site investigations are tailored to client priorities, with a focus on the early identification of potential ‘show-stoppers’ and navigating the entire environmental approvals process.
From site acquisition, to remediation, to final approval and follow up monitoring – Atma delivers comprehensive expert advice and capabilities to provide the data, clarity and insights needed to support informed investment and planning decisions.
EPA Duties & Obligations
Atma assists organisations to comply with the Environment Protection Act 2017 and the General Environmental Duty (GED). The GED requires any person or business undertaking activities that may pose a risk to human health or the environment to minimise that risk so far as reasonably practicable.
Drawing on extensive experience across a wide range of sites, Atma provides practical and informed advice to anticipate likely outcomes, identify risks early, navigate regulatory requirements, and implement effective strategies to manage obligations and minimise liability.
Duty to Manage
Organisations must minimise the risk of harm to human health and the environment from contaminated land and groundwater, so far as reasonably practicable. This duty applies to those who manage or control contaminated land, including groundwater, and is required even if you did not cause the contamination.
Duty to Notify
Organisations must notify the EPA of prescribed notifiable contamination on land under their management or control, including groundwater contamination. When prescribed notifiable contamination is identified – or reasonably should have been identified – notification must be made to the EPA as soon as practicable. The duty applies to businesses and individuals responsible for managing or controlling contaminated land.
EPA Notices
EPA notices are issued where environmental risks are identified, or a site’s management does not meet regulatory requirements. These notices require timely and structured action to address EPA requirements and achieve compliance.
Atma supports businesses and organisations in responding to EPA Notices by interpreting requirements, providing technical advice before the Notice is finalised, undertaking site investigations and/or managing the required activity (e.g remediation) inside the deadlines provided. Our successful track record on Notices means clients have a recognised expert in their corner, providing the best advice possible.
Corporate Risk Management
Atma assists organisations to manage risks associated with actual or potential site contamination or waste; and its impact on human health and the environment. Effective risk management is essential to minimise legal liability, protect corporate reputation, and support efficient operations.
Atma provides tailored, experience-led support to property teams for screening and prioritising land which may be contaminated. With a pragmatic approach, Atma helps organisations to identify and reduce the risks they face due to contaminated land and groundwater issues.
Our Process
Our structured, end-to-end approach ensures environmental risks are clearly understood, managed, and aligned with regulatory requirements at every stage.
Review & Liaison
We begin by gaining a solid understanding of your site or operations and the background leading to your present place. If it is an EPA Notice, we’ll meet with them to hear their concerns. In all cases, we ensure that your objectives are clearly registered.
Assessments
We plan the course of action needed to inform your response. This can mean designing and completing targeted assessments and site audits to identify risks, evaluate current management practices, and determine where gaps in compliance or exposure may exist.
Advice
Based on our findings, we provide clear, practical advice on regulatory requirements, risk mitigation strategies, and the most effective path forward.
Implementation & Implementation
We support the implementation of recommended actions, including coordinating investigations, remediation, and management plans to address risks and meet regulatory expectations.
Monitoring
We provide ongoing support to monitor site conditions, maintain compliance, and respond to regulatory requirements as they evolve.
Case Study
Environmental Due Diligence & Contamination Assessment, North Geelong, VIC
The Challenge
A commercial/industrial property being considered for acquisition required environmental due diligence to assess potential contamination liabilities associated with historical refuse filling, industrial uses and nearby gasworks-related impacts.
Our Approach
Atma completed a targeted ESA including historical review, site inspection, methane survey, soil investigation, groundwater monitoring, soil vapour assessment and indoor air sampling.
Delivery
The assessment investigated on-site and off-site contamination risks, including former refuse pit filling, uncontrolled fill, anthropogenic waste, asbestos fragments, vapour risks and potential groundwater impacts from surrounding industrial land.
Outcome
Atma provided the client with a clear understanding of environmental risks, potential liabilities and future management obligations prior to acquisition. The assessment identified key contamination sources, evaluated landfill gas, vapour, soil and groundwater risks, and considered whether off-site industrial impacts were likely to affect the site. The project demonstrates Atma’s capability in property transaction support, environmental due diligence, commercial/industrial site assessment, landfill gas screening, vapour intrusion assessment and practical risk-based advice to support informed acquisition and redevelopment decisions.
Latest Projects
Trusted on complex environmental management and compliance projects across all government, education, infrastructure, commercial and industrial sectors.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is potential contamination managed during a development project?
Managing contamination is often more complex than simply identifying an environmental issue and undertaking remediation. Effective contaminated land management requires a thorough understanding of site conditions, regulatory requirements, development objectives, remediation options and potential project risks.
The most appropriate response will vary depending on the nature and extent of contamination, the proposed land use, planning requirements and the site’s commercial constraints. In many cases, there are multiple management pathways available, each with different cost, timing and compliance implications.
Atma works closely with developers, landowners and project teams to evaluate contamination risks, assess available options and develop practical management strategies tailored to the specific site. By identifying issues early, considering alternative approaches and providing clear regulatory guidance, we help clients make informed decisions, manage environmental liabilities and minimise unnecessary project costs.
Our practical, science-led approach ensures contamination risks are addressed efficiently while supporting development approvals, regulatory compliance and project objectives.
Why should environmental due diligence be undertaken before purchasing a property?
Environmental due diligence helps identify potential contamination, regulatory obligations and environmental liabilities before a property is purchased. Without adequate investigation, purchasers may unknowingly acquire sites with contamination issues that can result in significant remediation costs, planning constraints, compliance requirements and reduced development potential.
A Preliminary Site Assessment (also known as a Preliminary Site Investigation or ESA 1) is often the first step in understanding a site’s environmental risks. The assessment reviews the site’s history, surrounding land uses and available environmental information to identify potential contamination concerns and determine whether further investigation may be required.
By undertaking environmental due diligence before purchase, developers, investors and landowners can make informed decisions, better understand potential liabilities and avoid costly surprises later in the development process.
What are the risks of not investigating potential contamination early?
Failing to identify contamination risks early can lead to significant project delays, unexpected remediation costs and avoidable environmental liabilities. In many cases, contamination issues only become apparent during planning approvals, environmental audits, demolition works or construction activities, when they are often more expensive and disruptive to address.
One of the most costly mistakes is commencing demolition or earthworks before understanding site conditions. This can spread contamination into previously unaffected areas, increasing the volume of impacted material and significantly raising remediation and disposal costs.
Early site investigations provide a clear understanding of environmental risks, allowing project teams to plan appropriately, assess management options and incorporate potential remediation requirements into project budgets and timelines. Identifying issues early almost always provides greater flexibility, lower costs and improved development certainty.
