Events

A Joint ALGA – ACLCA Initiative

The contaminated land industry is entering a period of significant change with the withdrawal of the AS 4482 contaminated land sampling standards and the proposed adoption of the ISO 18400 series. While many practitioners are aware that standards are evolving, there is often limited understanding of how international standards are reviewed, adapted and ultimately adopted within the Australian Standards framework.

Developing and adopting standards is a complex process involving collaboration between Australian and international experts, technical committee review, and consideration of local regulatory and industry needs. Understanding how this process works provides valuable context for the changes currently occurring within contaminated land practice.

The transition from long-established Australian standards to internationally harmonised approaches also presents a range of challenges. Balancing consistency with existing regulatory frameworks, managing transitional arrangements, ensuring standards remain fit for purpose across diverse Australian conditions, and addressing differences in practitioner expectations all play an important role in the adoption process.

In this webinar, our speakers will explore:

• How international standards are developed and become Australian Standards.
• The role of Australian experts in international technical committees.
• How ISO standards are assessed for suitability within the Australian context.
• Pathways for the direct adoption of international standards.
• The transition from AS 4482 to the ISO 18400 series and the factors driving change.
• Challenges associated with implementing internationally harmonised standards across regulatory and industry environments.
• Opportunities for industry professionals to contribute to the future development of standards.

Practical examples will provide a behind-the-scenes perspective on the standards development process and demonstrate how decisions made within standards committees influence contaminated land investigations, reporting and professional practice across Australia.

This webinar will be particularly valuable for contaminated land consultants, auditors, regulators, laboratories, site owners, and environmental professionals involved in site investigations and assessment. A live Q&A will follow, and the session will be recorded.