The Australian Contaminated Land Consultants Association Inc. (ACLCA) was formed in late 1995 to provide an industry association for professional services firms practicing in the area of contaminated land management.

The field of contaminated land consulting represents a relatively new discipline area, largely developed in the 1980s and 1990s in Australia, involving the interaction between traditional disciplines such as geology, hydrogeology, chemistry, ecology and biology. Most contaminated land studies today include the use of a multidisciplinary team to assess and provide solutions to issues faced by owners and developers of contaminated land. ACLCA represents professional services firms comprising of individuals with this unique blend of disciplines.

Our member companies comprise professional services consultants practising in the field of contaminated land assessment, contaminated land auditing, human health and environmental risk assessment and remediation. The association members include major national as well as state based, consulting firms actively involved in the assessment and management of contaminated sites in Australia and abroad.

ACLCA members are required to implement procedures to ensure they act with honesty and integrity in advice to customers, that staff working on projects are appropriately qualified and trained, and that the project is completed safely and with regard for the environment.

More information about ACLCA Code of Practice for members, Competency Requirements, HSE Standards or the Ethics Review Procedure are available from each chapter.

Our goals are to:

• Provide a forum for member companies to develop, discuss and respond to issues that affect us in our responsible management of contaminated lands;
• Establish and maintain a strong working relationship with regulatory authorities and other related agencies that have an interest in the management of contaminated lands;
• Encourage others to accept ACLCA as the consulting industry’s peak representative group on contaminated land issues;
• Assist in the development and maintenance of appropriate industry practices and encourage members to adopt these practices;
• Promote and encourage the open exchange of information between members and other interested bodies; and
• Promote an awareness and provide information to outside parties on the professional skills in the area of contaminated land management.

Member Services

Each of the state chapters provides member services in a range of areas, through either sub-committees or through assignment to individual committee members. Member services currently being provided are in the following areas:

• Health and safety management. ACLCA aims to maintain high standards of OHS management among its member companies.
• Maintaining member standards. There is an ongoing requirement to ensure that member companies are keeping to their commitment and to the ACLCA Code of practice. ACLCA monitors this through periodic assessment of member companies.
• Continued professional development. One of the key membership needs is for access to up to date, state of the art training and staff development in order to keep abreast of developments in the field. ACLCA works with international and local training service organisations to deliver training programs locally so that its members have access to cost effective training solutions, for the benefit of member companies and regulatory staff involved in contaminated land management.
• Supplier management. ACLCA serves as the key liaison point for suppliers to the industry, such as analytical laboratories, remediation technology vendors, drilling companies etc.
• Representations to regulatory agencies, state and federal. ACLCA has been invited to provide feedback and review on many regulatory reforms to the industry, including the recent amendment to the National Environment Protection Measure (Assessment of Site Contamination).
• Collaboration and interaction with research institutions. ACLCA has had a long involvement with CRC CARE over the years, assisting with direction and advice as well as supervision of projects.

Significant research is being conducted both internationally and recently in Australia in the area of contaminated land assessment, management and remediation. There is a need for practitioners to keep abreast of scientific and engineering research developments and to provide the ability for members to avail themselves of these new developments with a view to applying the research to current problems. ACLCA has recently formally teamed as a participant with CRC CARE, and is looking through this relationship to allow greater collaboration through the channelling of research into industry applications.

For and on behalf of state ACLCA Chapters, Alex Simopoulos National Chair – ACLCA

Contacts

National ACLCA — Alex Simopoulos, National Chair alex_simopoulos@urscorp.com

NSW ACLCA – Michael Dunbavan, NSW President michael_dunbavan@coffey.com

QLD ACLCA – Dan Morton, Qld President dmorton@environmentalearthsciences.com

South Aust ACLCA – Steve Kirsanovs, SA President steve.kirsanovs@aecaust.com.au

Victoria ACLCA – Glenn Thiele, Vic President gthiele@otek.com.au

Western Australia – Ivan Kwan, WA President ikwan@golder.com.au