Council-owned-and-managed lands

Councils' responsibilities for contaminated land as landowners and land managers falls mainly under the Contaminated Land Management Act 1997.

The framework includes specific obligations for landowners and managers on the duty to report contamination to the NSW EPA when certain triggers are met (these are outlined in the Guidelines on the Duty to Report Contamination under the Contaminated Land Management Act 1997).

However, there are other requirements such as the Local Government Act, which requires that local government provides a system that is accountable to the community, and enables councils to carry out their functions in a way that facilitates local communities that are strong, healthy and prosperous.

For council-owned and managed land, typical examples are public parks, sport fields, road reserves, council depots, landfill sites, former night soil sites and, for some councils, waste water treatment plants.

Common historical land uses contributing to contamination of council-managed lands include former landfills, gasworks, mines, uncontrolled fill, and derelict underground petroleum storage systems (UPSS).

Click here for available resources supporting councils in their role as a landowner and manager.

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