Cost-effective, certified soil disposal solutions for builders, developers, and civil contractors across the Central Coast.

If you’re excavating soil on the Central Coast, whether for a building project, site cut, driveway, or subdivision, you’re probably wondering:

• Where can I tip this soil?

• How can I dispose of clean soil without paying high landfill fees?

• Is my site eligible for free or low-cost soil disposal under VENM?

At Confluence Environmental, we help you answer those questions with fast, professional VENM assessments and certification services tailored to local Central Coast projects. We make it simple and affordable to confirm whether your excavated material qualifies as Virgin Excavated Natural Material (VENM) under NSW EPA guidelines—helping you avoid unnecessary sampling, reduce tipping costs, and stay compliant.

What is VENM (Virgin Excavated Natural Material)?

VENM is natural soil, rock, sand, or clay that has been excavated and has not been mixed with or contaminated by manufactured chemicals, demolition waste, fill, or other materials. If your excavated material meets the VENM criteria, it can often be:

• Reused legally on another site

• Accepted by VENM receivers for free or at very low cost

• Disposed of without needing expensive waste classification reports

This makes VENM certification one of the easiest ways to reduce waste disposal costs and streamline your earthworks.

Who Needs a VENM Assessment?

Our VENM services are designed for anyone involved in excavation or earthworks, including:

• Residential builders digging house pads, footings, driveways, or service trenches

• Developers and civil contractors undertaking subdivision works or bulk excavation

• Landscapers and earthmovers looking to remove spoil from backyard projects

• Plumbers and electricians needing to dispose of trench soil legally

• Pool builders excavating clay or sandstone from in-ground pool sites

If you’re digging soil and need to remove it off-site, you’ll usually need a certificate confirming that it’s VENM or another EPA-approved classification before any tip or fill site will accept it.

Our Central Coast VENM Services

At Confluence Environmental, we make VENM assessments quick, compliant, and affordable:

1. Visual VENM Assessments

For many Central Coast sites, particularly those with natural clay, sand, or sandstone, we can often certify material as VENM based on a site inspection alone. This is especially common in new subdivisions, rural properties, or areas with visible natural geology and no history of contamination.

No need for laboratory testing. No delays. Just expert judgment from a qualified environmental consultant with local experience.

2. Limited Soil Sampling

Where visual inspection alone cannot confirm VENM status — for example, on sites with mixed fill, unclear soil origins, or previous activity — we’ll collect limited soil samples for laboratory testing at a NATA-accredited facility.

Sampling is carried out only where professional judgment determines it’s necessary, ensuring compliance with EPA requirements while keeping unnecessary testing and costs to a minimum.

3. VENM Certification

Once the assessment is complete, we’ll provide a formal VENM certificate, including:

• Site address and description

• Details of excavation areas

• Soil observations and classification

• Any sample results (if applicable)

• Statement of compliance with EPA VENM Order

This documentation satisfies the requirements of tipping sites, developers, councils, and EPA inspectors.

Why Choose Confluence Environmental?

• Local Knowledge – We understand the soil profiles across the Central Coast, from Gosford to Wyong, Wamberal to Wyee. We know what qualifies as VENM and how to get it certified quickly.

• Fast Turnaround – Need to move soil today or tomorrow? We offer same-day or next-day assessments for urgent jobs across the Central Coast.

• Minimised Costs – Our focus is to help you classify soil accurately without unnecessary sampling or inflated reports.

• Fully Qualified – All assessments are performed by experienced environmental consultants, not subcontractors, with full insurance and EPA understanding.

• No Hidden Fees – Fixed pricing available for common jobs. We also offer quotes based on size, location, and urgency.