Contamination risk doesn’t care whether a site sells coffee or just fuel. Across Australia, environmental regulators are sharpening scrutiny – especially on service stations – due to their underground infrastructure and potential for long-term soil or groundwater harm. In June 2025, several official updates reinforced this trend, making environmental compliance a critical, ongoing business consideration.

Before you can protect your business, it’s important to understand what’s actually changing. Let’s look at some of the most relevant updates across key states and national frameworks, and how they may affect the way you operate.

Victoria: A Clear Legislative Duty to Act

Since the Environment Protection Act 2017 (VIC) came into effect in mid‑2021, Victoria’s EPA has enforced a duty to manage contaminated land. As of May 2025, updated guidance clarifies that anyone controlling land such as fuel station operators must take “reasonably practicable” steps to assess and manage contamination risks, and notify the EPA when appropriate. This update serves as a timely reminder: ignoring visual signs of leaks or skipping regular checks is no longer defensible under law.

NSW: Real-Time Monitoring and Expanded Public Transparency

NSW maintains a monthly public register of contaminated sites regulated under the Contaminated Land Management Act 1997 (CLM Act). As of 10 June 2025, multiple service‑station sites appear on this list -not necessarily because contamination is controlled by law, but because they’re under official assessment. This transparency means owners should proactively monitor such databases and consider early site testing, even if no problem has been identified.

National-Level Developments: PFAS Remediation Rules Tightened

Australia-wide, regulators are recalibrating environmental policy, especially around emerging contaminants. A notable development in FY2025 was the March launch of NEMP 3.0, updating PFAS contamination guidelines across soil, water, and biosolid reuse. Though PFAS isn’t typically associated with fuel-only sites, many are located adjacent to industrial zones where PFAS risks could emerge. The redefined thresholds signal regulators may hold all businesses – in fuel precincts included – to heightened standards of environmental safety.

Western Australia: A Court Ruling That Matters For Leases

In April 2025, the WA Supreme Court published a landmark ruling (Henderson v Contaminated Sites Committee) concerning a contaminated service station corridor. The judgement underscores how lease agreements can determine liability through the decades-long remediation journey. If your station is leased property or you’re contemplating a lease, the case signals the need for airtight contractual terms: who covers assessment, clean-up, and related costs must be crystal clear.

What This Means for Fuel-Only Service Stations

These updates, though varied in jurisdiction and scope, collectively highlight that environmental liability is evolving into a pervasive, operational reality even for pure fuel retailers:

  • Fuel-station contamination can remain invisible, yet are a significant legal and financial risk.
  • Regulators now monitor proactively via public registers, updated guidelines, and contamination thresholds.
  • Even legacy or adjacent land use changes (e.g. PFAS) may bring new liability into your site’s sphere.
  • Lease agreements must clearly allocate contamination responsibility or face unintended remediation costs down the track.

How Oracle Petroleum Helps Turn Risk into Readiness

  • Compliance Auditing: We conduct tailored environmental risk reviews, aligned with EPA expectations and your site’s specifics.
  • Public Source Monitoring: We track EPA registers and contamination alerts, keeping you ahead of issues before they become problems.
  • Lease Risk Mitigation: Our legal experts can review contracts to ensure contamination liability clauses protect station owners.
  • Regulatory Navigation & Response: If an issue arises, whether detection or notification – we guide your compliance strategy from investigation to resolution.
  • Staff Education & Operational Protocols: Simple, practical protocols keep your team alert to issues like minor leaks, vapour evidence, and reporting triggers.

In June 2025, even without visible issues, environmental liability landed firmly on the radar for fuel-only stations. The law, community oversight, and evolving contamination thresholds are making it harder to ignore risks. Your consumers expect safety, your regulators demand diligence – and failure here can disrupt operations or trigger expensive clean-ups.

Oracle Petroleum is your strategic partner, helping you build confidence, manage risk, and operate securely with environmental assurance.