A preliminary risk screen assessment (PRSA) is an important part of our environmental audit system. It helps decide if an environmental audit of a site is required. It does not:
- replace an environmental audit
- confirm if a site is suitable for your existing or proposed use.
A PRSA does these things:
- check the likelihood that there is contaminated land at a site
- determine if a site needs an environmental audit for its proposed use
- recommend the scope of an environmental audit, if required.
A PRSA can support planning decisions or approvals. However, it does not determine if land meets the definition of potentially contaminated land under the land use planning framework.
When the PRSA on your site is finished, you get a statement and report.
The PRSA process is an independent process. We do not:
- select or engage an environmental auditor to perform a PRSA
- control the progress of a PRSA once it starts.
Register of PRSAs
We publish PRSAs on our public register. The register also includes environmental audits.
If you cannot find the PRSA report you’re looking for, contact us.
When a PRSA is needed
The most common reason to get a PRSA is planning controls. A PRSA may be required:
- by an environmental audit overlay
- by a permit condition
- to support a planning scheme amendment.
For more information, refer to Planning Victoria’s Planning Practice Note 30: Potentially contaminated land.
A PRSA can also be completed voluntarily.
A PRSA is often needed for new developments and subdivisions. Subdivision of large farmlands or previous industrial sites is likely to need a PRSA to identify areas that may have been contaminated and need an environmental audit. The PRSA helps separate these areas from areas that do not need an audit.
Who conducts a PRSA
Only an EPA-appointed environmental auditor (contaminated land) can prepare a PRSA report and statement.
If you need a PRSA for your site, you can engage:
- an environmental auditor to carry out the preliminary site investigation and complete the PRSA report and statement, or
- an environmental consultant to carry out the preliminary site investigation and then an environmental auditor to complete the PRSA report and statement.
You can find an EPA-appointed environmental auditor on our public register. Visit Choosing an environmental auditor.
PRSA process
A PRSA can take several weeks or months to complete. How long it takes depends on the size and history of the site.
Preliminary site investigation
The first step is to review the site’s history and current land use. This review helps identify possible sources of contamination. An environmental consultant or an environmental auditor can carry out this step.
The preliminary site investigation can include limited and targeted sampling of soil, soil vapour or groundwater. This sampling should only be to confirm if there's no contamination. Sampling should not cover the whole site or test for lots of chemicals.
PRSA statement and report
When the preliminary site investigation is complete, the auditor prepares a:
- PRSA statement
- PRSA report.
The environmental auditor must provide a copy of the statement and report to:
- us within 5 business days of completion
- the party requesting the audit (this is usually the site owner)
- the relevant planning and responsible authority.
If a PRSA statement has been issued for a site, the person in management or control of the site must provide a copy of the statement to anyone who intends to take over management or control of the site.
You must provide the statement and report to others to meet your duty to manage contaminated land.
PRSA statement
The PRSA statement is a short-form summary of key information and outcomes. Each statement area usually aligns with existing or proposed title boundaries. There may be exceptions.
The statement must include:
- all the matters set out in the scope of the preliminary site investigation
- the name of the person who engaged the environmental auditor
- the environmental auditor’s signature and contact details
- the scope of the environmental audit, if recommended.
A preliminary site investigation may lead to more than one statement. For example, an environmental auditor may prepare more than one PRSA statement if they conclude that one part of the site requires an environmental audit but another part does not.
PRSA report
A full report accompanies the PRSA statement. It must contain:
- a review of all relevant information collected during the preliminary site investigation
- the reasons for the site investigation findings.
Guidance and forms for PRSA
Visit Our role in the environmental audit system for:
- all our guidelines and forms used by environmental auditors when conducting a PRSA
- more information on the roles and responsibilities of environmental auditors on this page.
Our guidelines may be useful for anyone involved in the PRSA process.
PRSA outcome
The auditor states the likelihood of contaminated land and the requirement for an environmental audit. There are 3 possible outcomes:
- Contaminated land is considered unlikely, and an environmental audit is not required.
- Contaminated land is considered likely, but an environmental audit is not required. (An environmental audit is not required when there's no risk of harm based on the proposed site use. Note that you may still have a duty to manage contaminated land.)
- Contaminated land is likely. An environmental audit is required.
The outcome of a PRSA is only valid for the proposed land use that the auditor has specified.
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