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Site testing and waste classification

Overview

Senversa was engaged by Kennett Builders to undertake a staged soil contamination assessment program to support the proposed demolition and redevelopment of multiple residential properties associated with the Uniting on Hawker project in Bowden, South Australia. The redevelopment involves the construction of social and affordable housing and required a clear understanding of soil quality to inform suitability for continued residential land use and off-site soil disposal requirements.

Scope

The scope of consultancy work comprised two primary phases: a preliminary soil sampling assessment undertaken prior to demolition activities, followed by a detailed in-situ soil testing and waste classification investigation completed post-demolition. The preliminary assessment was designed to provide an initial understanding of subsurface conditions across the site and to identify potential contamination issues early in the project. This phase included a site inspection, review of historical aerial photography dating back to 1949 and intrusive investigations to assess for the presence of soil contamination caused by historical site activities.   

Following demolition, Senversa was re-engaged to complete a detailed in-situ soil assessment to support waste soil classification for surplus material requiring off-site disposal during construction works. This phase involved excavation of 25 test pits across the approximately 3,000 m² development footprint to depths of up to 1 m below ground level. Soil samples were collected at surface and stratigraphic changes, with an extensive laboratory analytical program completed by a NATA-accredited laboratory.  

Both phases of work were undertaken in accordance with relevant Australian and South Australian regulatory guidance, including the ASC NEPM (2013), EPA Victoria IWRG guidelines, and South Australian EPA waste classification criteria. Statistical assessment was also applied to support land use suitability and waste classification decisions. The scope also included data quality assessment, interpretation of results against human health, ecological and waste disposal criteria, and the provision of clear recommendations to facilitate compliant soil management during redevelopment. 

Challenge

A key challenge for the project was balancing regulatory compliance with constructability and cost efficiency.
Without appropriate delineation, the presence of isolated exceedances could have resulted in large volumes of soil being conservatively classified as higher contamination categories. Senversa addressed this challenge through high-density sampling, rigorous QA/QC processes, and the use of recognised statistical methods to justify waste classifications. Recommendations were provided for the targeted removal of hotspot areas only, while confirming that remaining materials could be managed as the lowest contamination category.

Outcome

 

Robust & defensible understanding of soil conditions

The staged assessment approach adopted by Senversa provided Kennett Builders with a robust and defensible understanding of soil conditions across the proposed development, enabling informed decision-making throughout demolition and redevelopment planning. Outcomes from the preliminary soil sampling assessment demonstrated that, notwithstanding isolated and marginal exceedances of investigation levels for some chemicals, the soils were generally suitable to remain on-site for the current and proposed residential land use when assessed using statistical methods consistent with the ASC NEPM. This outcome reduced the potential for unnecessary remediation activities and associated costs.

Practical segregation of soils during excavation

The subsequent in-situ investigation refined this understanding by delineating fill and natural soils and identifying discrete contaminant hotspots within shallow fill materials. While the majority of soils across the site were found to meet the lowest contamination category criteria in terms of off-site disposal, select locations exceeded the highest contamination category criteria thresholds for some chemical groups. Through the application of statistical analysis and targeted leachability testing, Senversa was able to demonstrate that exceedances were limited in extent and largely restricted to shallow fill materials, allowing for practical segregation of soils during excavation.

Impact

Overall, the project delivered a clear soil management strategy that supported timely redevelopment, regulatory approval, and cost-effective material handling while maintaining protection of human health and the environment. 


The Team

Connect to learn more about their experience.

Paul Monaco

Paul Monaco

Senior Environmental Scientist

Joel Brown

Joel Brown

Senior Associate Environmental Scientist

Maria Ricce

Maria Ricce

Business Support Assistant

Catherine Lawrey

Catherine Lawrey

Project Environmental Scientist

auditors-compressed

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