Contaminated lands

The Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM) deals with matters relating to contaminated land in accordance with the Environmental Protection Act 1994 (EP Act).

In administering the EP Act the DERM aids in managing potential contaminated land and known contaminated land to prevent both environmental and health risks. Contaminated land is defined as land contaminated with a hazardous contaminant.

DERM maintains two public access registers — the Environmental Management Register and the Contaminated Land Register. Activities that may be known to cause contamination are called ‘notifiable activities’ in which DERM keep an inclusion of land on the environmental management register.

In accordance with the EP Act local government is required to notify the DERM of land that has been used for a notifiable activity or contaminated by a hazardous contaminant. In addition, landowners and occupiers also have a responsibility to notify DERM when their land has been or is being used for a notifiable activity or contaminated by a hazardous contaminant.

Contaminated lands register

The contaminated lands register is a register of known contaminated land that causes or is likely to cause environmental harm. A scientific investigation is conducted to determine the land is contaminated prior to being recorded on the register.

Environmental Management Register (EMR)

The environmental management register is a register of land that has been or is being used for a notifiable activity. The EMR is a land use planning and management register that provides information on historical and current land use.

Searching the Registers / Notification of Land

The DERM has a public register for EMR/CLR and anyone can undertake a search of any parcel of land for the prescribed fee by contacting the DERM.

  • Further Information Contact DERM to obtain a land search form or obtain more information from the DERM website. Phone 1300 368 326.
  • Contaminated Land Unit Department of Environment and Resource Management GPO Box 2771 BRISBANE QLD 4001 Phone (07) 3225 8402 or (07) 3225 1066 Fax (07) 3247 3278
  • Copies of the Environmental Protection Act 1994 and associated legislation can be found at the Queensland Legislation website.