We get asked “How much will an audit cost?” almost every day. Auditors generally charge by an hourly rate. The rates vary depending on the experience and requirement of the auditor chosen. There are many factors for why the cost of an audit would differ. Some of these variables to consider may include: Nature and extent of contamination; Timing and quality of the consultants assessment and remediation work; Complexity of the site and future use; Number of documents for audit review; and, Need for a site inspection. If you engage an auditor early in the process then this may result in significant cost savings by reducing any possible project delays. Best case scenario would be a site that has undertaken due diligence prior to purchasing and has resulted in minimal contamination impact to human health and the environment, complemented with good quality consultant reports for auditor review. A more complicated scenario may be a proposed mixed-use site purchased on a contaminated property without any due diligence (resulting in further testing and remediation works) together with poor quality consultant reports and engaging an environmental auditor late in the process. What types of documents do Auditors need to review? Auditors review all sorts of documents, including results from soil sampling and analysis, groundwater monitoring events, remediation action plans, site environmental management plans, planning and development plans, any other relevant documents at the request of the auditor to assist in the audit outcome. Important Note Although those Auditors with more years’ experience may have a higher hourly rate, they may add value by completing document reviews quicker or pick up on issues for faster attention by the client. Choosing the right Auditor for your project will make a difference to the project’s bottom line. At AEA, we have seven Auditors with multiple accreditations/appointments across the country and a variety of disciplines. Call one of our offices to find the right Auditor to suit your project.
As you may or may not be aware, as of the 1st of July 2019, EPA Victoria no longer accepts paper waste transport certificates for the movement of Prescribed Industrial Waste (PIW) in Victoria; this includes licensed receivers (e.g. landfills, treatment facilities) for contaminated soil. The Directors and staff at Australian Environmental Auditors (AEA) feel it is our duty to inform our stakeholders, and particularly those that may be effected by this new system, that you are now required to submit waste transport certificates electronically. The new system will enable EPA to monitor the movement of waste more efficiently and accurately. This will help to prevent potential harm to human health and the environment. Here’s what you need to know: Every producer, transporter and receiver using waste transport certificates must register. Electronic certificates are free of charge until 30 June 2020. Forms are only accessible/compatible using Internet Explorer from a desktop only. Save time and create a template when needing numerous, similar certificates. There are three parts to a waste transport certificate: Here’s what to do: Create an account on the EPA Interaction Portal (register on behalf of a business) or Log In if you already have an account. If you are producing waste, select ‘Waste transport certificates’ on the left-hand side and create the appropriate certificate (you can also save time and set up a template for future use). Note EPA require submission on the day of works, not prior to. Once completed, click ‘view and print’. Watch the video tutorial here. Or read the user guide here. There is also a Q&A section on the EPA website that may be helpful. On behalf of all of us at AEA, thanks, kind regards and good luck with the new system.
We are thrilled to congratulate Alyson on a huge milestone and well-deserved achievement of becoming an auditor. Alyson has recently achieved accreditation as a Site Auditor in NSW. Prior to this, she has been a passionate team member at AEA for over 5 years as audit support including expert support in quantitative human health risk assessment. Alyson has an impressive background in environmental engineering and science with over 20 years’ experience in the contaminated land industry. She has completed audits, risk assessments and environmental assessments for a diverse range of land uses including chemical and automotive manufacturing plants, gasworks, depots, commercial and residential properties, petroleum terminals and service station sites. In her spare time, Alyson enjoys slow cycling and bushwalking, dabbles in various styles of dance and is active in several community groups. Get in contact with Alyson today to chat about your projects.
Nick is an experienced Environmental Auditor and has recently joined our team. He is appointed in VIC and WA and has been involved in the contaminated sites industry around the world for more than 32 years. Complementing his environmental consulting and auditing skills, Nick has also worked in the military (soil and terrain evaluation) and mining sectors, and has some extraordinary stories to share. Nick has a wealth of experience in hydrogeology assessments, soil mapping, water wellfield development, and rural water supply schemes for remote communities throughout Southern Africa. Nick enjoys remote high altitude trekking in Nepal and Africa with his wife. He has also been part of Melbourne Oxfam Trailwalker (100km event) for several years. Drop Nick a line or send him an email to talk through your projects.
Wow! What an achievement. Congratulations to Richard Wolfe for 25 years of service to the Victorian environment. A rewarding milestone in itself. Your team at AEA are privileged to work with you and learn from you.
We would like to welcome and introduce Sylvia Tari to the AEA team as an experienced auditor assistant. Sylvia has a history of working in the environmental consulting industry for over 14 years with an emphasis on environmental audits in Victoria (section 53X and section 53V) including the preparation of CUTEP applications. Sylvia is a skilled team member and we are thrilled to have her join AEA.
A huge welcome to Melanie Nunn who has recently joined our office in Perth. Melanie has a strong background in the regulatory environment which complements her experience with contaminated sites. We hope you are settling in nicely to your new role as technical auditor assistant.
EPA Victoria have been working with DELWP on a searchable contaminated land database called Victoria Unearthed. This new online tool, launched on Thursday 14th of March, will help Victorians identify and investigate the quality of land and groundwater on their properties. Victoria Unearthed includes data about land and groundwater that’s been brought together in the one place for the first time, delivering new levels of transparency for information relating to past land use. This a great tool for our property development clients prior to purchasing properties. If your property has an Environmental Audit Overlay (EAO), one of our auditors would be pleased to chat about this planning restriction and how to tackle it.
Welcome to the AEA team, Kate Sims. Kate has recently joined us (in our Melbourne office) as an experienced environmental scientist with a strong background in the landfill sector. She will support our auditors and complement our strong, in-house landfill team. Kate has already impressed us and we all look forward to introducing you to our clients and working together.