Environmental Due Diligence
Know the risk before committing to the site
Discover potential environmental liabilities before transacting
Past industrial activities, fuel storage, imported fill and neighbouring land uses can create environmental liabilities that may not be visible during a standard property inspection. When identified after settlement, these issues can affect planning approvals, design decisions, remediation costs and project timeframes.
Geotesta can review the site’s history and available environmental records to identify credible risks before you commit. When due diligence is intended to guide an internal purchase decision rather than meet a formal planning requirement, Geotesta can tailor the scope to focus on the information needed to assess the site and proceed with confidence.
Investigation Methods
Site history: historical land uses and activities
Geotesta reviews the site’s past uses and activities to identify potential sources of contamination or environmental liability.
Property records
Available planning, environmental and regulatory records are reviewed for notices, previous investigations, known contamination and site restrictions.
Surrounding lands/activities
Neighbouring properties and activities are considered where contamination may have migrated onto or otherwise affected the site.
Site inspection
Where required, Geotesta inspects the site’s current conditions, including land use, storage areas, imported fill and other visible indicators of potential contamination.
Risk screening
The available evidence is assessed to build a conceptual site model and determine whether a credible source, pathway and receptor relationship exists and whether further investigation is warranted.
Targeted sampling
Where a specific concern requires clarification, Geotesta can undertake targeted soil or groundwater sampling to better define the risk.
Practical guidance before making a significant financial commitment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Environmental due diligence refers to the process used to evaluate potential environmental risks and liabilities related to a property prior to finalising a purchase, sale, lease, investment or development decision.
Due diligence should take place before contracts become unconditional. This allows the findings to inform negotiations, identify the need for further investigation, clarify project feasibility, and support an informed decision about whether to proceed.
Not always. A formal Preliminary Site Investigation follows a prescribed scope, while transaction due diligence may be more focused when it’s only supporting an internal decision.
The scope may include historical land uses, planning and environmental records, previous reports, surrounding activities, current site conditions and other available evidence.
No. Some begin as desktop reviews. An inspection may be recommended where current conditions, site access or visible evidence could materially affect the conclusion. The scope can be tailored to meet your budget and risk appetite.