Check for contamination before you buy
The EPA Contaminated Land Register is public. But nobody tells you to check it before you buy.
Former service stations. Old dry cleaners. Industrial sites that closed decades ago but left chemicals in the soil. They're scattered across Newcastle — 10 sites on the EPA register, spread across 8 suburbs. Some are significantly contaminated.
A conveyancing search checks if YOUR lot is listed — and rightly so, that's its scope. But the contaminated site 200m up the road? That's outside any title search. Our report maps every EPA-listed contamination site within 500m of your address.
Our report maps every EPA-listed contamination site within 500m of your address, shows the contamination type and management class, and flags whether remediation is complete or ongoing.
What contamination looks like in Newcastle
Underground fuel tanks leak. Even decommissioned sites can have petroleum hydrocarbons in the soil for decades.
Newcastle's industrial heritage means heavy metals, solvents, and asbestos in suburbs that are now residential.
Chlorinated solvents from dry cleaners and mechanical workshops — common in older shopping strips.
Land filled with demolition waste or contaminated soil from other sites. Common in former industrial areas being redeveloped.
What you'll see in the report
- ✓ EPA-listed sites within 500m — Every Contaminated Land Register entry near your address, mapped with distance
- ✓ Contamination type — What contaminants are present — petroleum, heavy metals, solvents, asbestos, PFAS, or mixed
- ✓ Management class — Whether the site requires ongoing management, has been remediated, or is under investigation
- ✓ Environmental hazards — Industrial zones, power infrastructure, helipads, and other environmental nuisances within 1km
- ✓ Surroundings context — How contamination fits with other signals — development activity, noise, crime, and neighbourhood trajectory
Don't find out after you've signed
A contamination check takes 3 minutes to order and could save you from buying next to something you can't undo. Enter any Newcastle address.
Try: 1 Union Street, Wickham
Frequently asked questions
How many contaminated sites are in Newcastle?
We track 10 EPA-listed contamination sites across 8 suburbs in Newcastle. These range from former service stations to major industrial sites.
Does a standard property search cover nearby contamination?
A conveyancing search checks if YOUR specific lot has contamination notices — that's its scope. Contaminated sites on neighbouring properties or across the road fall outside a title search. Our report fills that gap by mapping every EPA-listed site within 500m.
What types of contamination are common?
Petroleum hydrocarbons (former service stations), heavy metals and solvents (industrial sites), chlorinated solvents (dry cleaners), and asbestos (demolition fill). Newcastle's industrial history means these are spread across residential suburbs.
Is the EPA register up to date?
The EPA Contaminated Land Register is the official NSW government record. We check it regularly and map entries to specific addresses. Remediation status and management classes are included.