The Problem:
An established bus depot in western Melbourne, Victoria, were provided a Baseline Environmental Condition Investigation (BECI) to assess potential contamination risks to strict Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) requirements. Previous studies in nearby landholdings had revealed petroleum hydrocarbons and asbestos in soil, raising concerns for groundwater and soil quality. With the depot operating refuelling, bus wash, and maintenance facilities, regulators required assurance that the site was compliant and safe for continued industrial use.
Project Summary:
iEnvi conducted a series of environmental compliance audits and detailed site investigations across other bus depots, with a BECI completed at the western Melbourne depot. Activities included site inspections, compliance audits, targeted soil and groundwater sampling, and preparation of consolidated Environmental Site Assessment reports.
Investigations included drilling 10 new soil bores, installing groundwater monitoring wells, and sampling to test for hydrocarbons, heavy metals, PFAS (Per-and Polyfluoroalkyl substances), nutrients, and asbestos in soil. These were benchmarked against NEPM (National Environmental Protection Measures) and EPA (Environment Protection Authority) Victoria guidelines.
Solution & Benefit:
The investigations confirmed that all depots were environmentally compliant and suitable for continued industrial use. No significant contamination was detected, and only minor natural background concentrations of metals were observed. Groundwater exceedances of copper and nickel were attributed to natural geology rather than site activities. PFAS and nutrient detections were well below risk thresholds.
Importantly:
- No remediation was required
- A Fuel System Operating Plan (FSOP) was recommended to ensure ongoing compliance for refuelling operations
- The comprehensive reporting provided legally defensible documentation for regulators, giving the operator confidence that they meet their obligations under the Environmental Protection Act 2017 (Vic)
These works demonstrate iEnvi’s expertise in delivering cost-effective, regulator-aligned outcomes that reduce environmental risk for complex transport facilities.
