Acid Sulfate Soil Assessment

Expert Acid Sulfate Soil Management & Reporting

Metech Consulting offers comprehensive Acid Sulfate Soil (ASS) assessments and Acid Sulfate Soil Management Plans (ASSMP), with testing and reporting explicitly tailored for developers, builders, environmental planning consultants and property owners to support development in coastal areas throughout NSW. Our site-specific approach is developed in accordance with NSW EPA-endorsed guidelines to ensure compliance with local council requirements.

Understanding Acid Sulfate Soils

Acid sulfate soils primarily occur in coastal lowlands at elevations below 5m AHD. Containing naturally occurring iron sulfides, these soils generate sulfuric acid when exposed to oxygen through excavation or drainage, significantly impacting groundwater and surface water quality. 

Understanding the nature of acid sulfate soils present at a property before disturbance is crucial to ensuring the associated risks are successfully managed throughout development.

Our Comprehensive Acid Sulfate Soil Services

Metech Consulting adopts a site-specific, stepwise approach to Acid Sulfate Soil assessment and management, supporting your project’s needs from preliminary evaluation through to successful management and validation:

• Preliminary Investigations: Initial risk evaluation to identify the likelihood of the presence of acid sulfate soils, the potential for disturbance of any acid sulfate soils during development and the need for detailed investigation.
• Detailed Investigations: Comprehensive soil sampling and analysis programs to accurately determine the distribution of Actual Acid Sulfate Soils (AASS) and Potential Acid Sulfate Soils (PASS) and the need for management as part of the development.
• Acid Sulfate Soil Management Plans: Tailored management strategies addressing identified acid sulfate soils, including precise neutralisation and management protocols for construction activities.
• Treatment & Monitoring: Implementation of management strategies, ensuring effective neutralisation of acid sulfate soils to mitigate environmental impacts and to enable soils to be beneficially reused or disposed of.
• Validation & Reporting: Supervision of earthworks, validation sampling and comprehensive reporting confirming successful remediation and full regulatory compliance.

Why Choose Metech Consulting?

• Localised Expertise: Specialised knowledge and services tailored for projects throughout NSW, particularly in high-risk areas including Kurnell and Sylvania Waters.
• Council Compliance: Extensive experience ensuring complete adherence to local council and environmental guidelines.
• Certified Environmental Practitioners: This level of certification guarantees that all works will be delivered to the Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand (EIANZ) high standards and is a requirement to submit an acid sulfate soils assessment to a consent authority.
• Expert-Level Service at Value for Money Price: Our company structure and site-specific approach ensures that all works are provided at the best possible price and unprecedented level of customer service.
• Efficient Project Delivery: Quick response times and accurate reporting that streamline project approvals and ensure environmental compliance.