How Long Does a Preliminary Site Investigation Take?

As a general guide, a Preliminary Site Investigation (PSI) can often be completed in around three weeks.

However, there is no fixed timeframe.

A straightforward property with a simple history may be completed sooner, while a large or complex site can take longer due to additional historical research, site inspection, sampling, reporting and technical review.

In urgent situations, a PSI can sometimes be completed within a few days, although accelerated delivery generally requires additional resources and may attract additional fees.

If you need a PSI for a Development Application, planning matter or property transaction, see our Preliminary Site Investigation services in NSW.

What Takes Time During a PSI?

A PSI is more than a site inspection and a short report.

Depending on the property, the investigation may involve:

• reviewing historical aerial photographs;

• obtaining and reviewing planning certificates;

• historical title and ownership searches;

• reviewing Council and EPA information;

• assessing surrounding potentially contaminating land uses;

• reviewing geology and groundwater conditions;

• undertaking a site walkover;

• developing a Conceptual Site Model;

• interpreting any soil sampling results; and

• preparing and technically reviewing the report.

Some of these tasks can be completed quickly.

Others depend on third-party information, laboratory turnaround or the complexity of the site itself.

Site Complexity Can Affect the Programme

A small property with a relatively simple history may only require a straightforward desktop review and site inspection.

A large industrial or commercial site may have:

• multiple historical owners;

• numerous buildings or operational areas;

• several Areas of Environmental Concern;

• fuel or chemical infrastructure;

• historical filling;

• neighbouring contamination sources; and

• a more complex Conceptual Site Model.

That means more information needs to be reviewed and more time is required to understand the site properly.

Larger or more complicated properties can also require substantially more time on site.

A brief walkover of a small development site is very different to inspecting a large industrial facility, rural holding or multi-lot property.

The additional field and reporting time can affect both the timeframe and the overall investigation cost.

For more information, see How Much Does a Preliminary Site Investigation Cost in NSW?

Does Soil Sampling Make a PSI Take Longer?

It can.

A PSI that does not require sampling can often progress directly from the site inspection and desktop review into reporting.

Where targeted soil sampling is included, additional time may be required for:

• fieldwork;

• laboratory analysis;

• quality assurance review;

• interpretation of analytical results; and

• incorporation of the findings into the Conceptual Site Model.

Laboratory turnaround is therefore another factor that can influence the delivery date.

Where sampling is limited and the laboratory turnaround is standard, the impact may be relatively small.

For more complex sampling programmes, the investigation may take longer.

For more information, see Does a Preliminary Site Investigation Need Soil Sampling?

What About Auditor-Reviewed Projects?

A PSI prepared as part of a project involving an independent EPA-accredited Site Auditor will often take longer than a straightforward Council-focused assessment.

These projects can require:

• more detailed documentation;

• additional internal technical review;

• responses to auditor comments;

• revisions to the Conceptual Site Model; and

• potentially more than one review cycle.

The investigation programme should therefore allow time not only for preparation of the PSI, but also for external review where required.

Can a PSI Be Completed Urgently?

Sometimes.

Where the site is relatively straightforward and the necessary information can be obtained quickly, a PSI may be completed within several days.

However, urgent delivery may require:

• reprioritising existing work;

• additional consultant resources;

• overtime;

• expedited laboratory analysis;

• accelerated technical review; and

• faster turnaround of searches where available.

For this reason, urgent PSI work may attract additional fees.

If you have a fixed Council, settlement or project deadline, it is best to provide that timeframe when requesting a proposal.

That allows the consultant to confirm whether the programme is achievable before the investigation begins.

What Can Delay a PSI?

Common causes of delay include:

• waiting for historical title information;

• delays obtaining Council or planning records;

• laboratory turnaround;

• difficulty accessing parts of the site;

• discovering additional historical land uses;

• identifying previously unknown contamination issues;

• waiting for information from the client or project team; and

• additional technical or auditor review.

Providing available documents at the start of the project can help reduce unnecessary delays.

Useful information can include:

• section 10.7 planning certificates;

• Council correspondence;

• proposed development plans;

• previous environmental reports;

• demolition or remediation records; and

• information about former fuel tanks, workshops or fill.

How Long Should You Allow?

For a relatively straightforward PSI, allowing around three weeks is generally a sensible starting point.

A simple site may be completed sooner.

A large, complex or auditor-reviewed site may require additional time.

And where the project is genuinely urgent, an accelerated programme may be possible depending on the scope and consultant availability.

The best approach is to establish the required delivery date when the PSI is first scoped.

That allows the investigation programme to be designed around the project rather than trying to compress it after work has commenced.

Need a PSI Within a Specific Timeframe?

If you require a Preliminary Site Investigation for a Development Application, rezoning, subdivision, property purchase or Council requirement, send us:

• the property address;

• proposed development;

• required delivery date;

• Council correspondence; and

• any previous environmental reports.

We can review the available information and advise on an appropriate scope and programme.

Learn more about our Preliminary Site Investigation services in NSW or contact Confluence Environmental for a project-specific quote.