At first glance, LPG-tank decommissioning, storage-tank maintenance, or underground fuel-system upgrades might seem like ordinary maintenance tasks – routine, behind-the-scenes, “just engineering work. – but in reality they carry major regulatory, environmental and financial risks. Under Australian law and industry standards, the site owner/operator is fully responsible for compliance before, during and after any mechanical or tank-storage works. If procedures are not followed precisely, the consequences can be severe, including heavy fines, long-term liability, closure orders or contamination remediation.
The regulatory framework surrounding underground petroleum storage systems (UPSS), LPG infrastructure and fuel-system mechanical works in Australia is one of the strictest in the retail fuel industry, and operators are legally expected to understand and uphold it. Each state has its own legislative structure, but the overarching requirements are consistent: service-station operators must be able to demonstrate that their underground tanks, pipework, monitoring systems and LPG components are designed, installed, maintained and decommissioned in accordance with environmental and dangerous-goods legislation.
Government agencies such as the NSW EPA and EPA Victoria outline that any site with a UPSS must have documented systems covering leak detection, integrity testing, maintenance schedules, monitoring records, incident responses and environmental controls, and operators remain responsible for ensuring these systems are active at all times. Under these guidelines, the operator is not a passive party – they are defined as the person who has management and control of the system, meaning liability stays with them during all stages of operation, repair or removal.
Australian Standards further reinforce this responsibility. Standards like AS 4976 (for the decommissioning, removal and disposal of underground tanks) and AS 4897 (for the design, installation and ongoing operation of UPSS) provide the technical expectations that regulators use when assessing whether a site has met its duty of care. These standards require operators to ensure that any tank removal, excavation, modification, or mechanical repair is carried out using safe procedures, appropriate equipment, licensed personnel and environmental protection measures. They also emphasise controlling ignition sources, managing vapours, using proper purging techniques for LPG systems, and protecting soil and groundwater from contamination – all of which become the operator’s responsibility to verify.
Because of this, regulatory bodies expect operators to maintain accurate, complete and up-to-date records covering all aspects of their system’s history: monitoring logs, leak detection results, annual system checks, groundwater reports where required, maintenance documentation, and detailed work reports for any repairs or alterations. If contamination occurs or a failure is discovered, these records become central in determining compliance and, importantly, in establishing whether the operator acted responsibly. In cases where documentation is missing or procedures were not followed, regulators can classify the event as a pollution incident, which immediately triggers notification duties and often leads to costly remediation orders.
This framework makes one thing clear: compliance with tank work, LPG systems and underground piping is not something an operator can delegate and forget. Even when licensed contractors are performing the work, the operator remains the accountable party under environmental, safety and dangerous-goods law. Oracle Petroleum’s role is to ensure operators understand this reality and to provide the oversight, structure and support needed to meet these expectations before regulators ever need to step in.
Prevention Requires Proactive Oversight – Not Just Trust in Contractors
The biggest compliance failures during tank, LPG or underground pipe work rarely come from deliberate negligence – they come from assumptions. Contractors may be licensed, experienced or familiar with the site, but under Australian safety and environmental regulations, the legal responsibility stays with the operator. This means every piece of underground or LPG work must be planned, supervised and documented as if you alone are accountable, because legally, you are.
The safest operators follow a clear, structured approach grounded in government-issued UPSS guidelines, dangerous goods laws, and the relevant Australian Standards. That includes ensuring only appropriately licensed trades perform the work — for example, LPG and gas systems must be handled by a certified gas fitter under state and territory gas safety legislation, and tank removals or UPSS modifications must adhere to standards such as AS 4976 (tank decommissioning) and AS 4897 (UPSS installation and operation).
Before any work starts, the operator should require a detailed Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) that identifies site-specific hazards such as vapour accumulation, ignition sources, excavation risks or contaminated groundwater. A generic template is not enough – regulators expect a risk assessment tailored to the actual site, including vent line positions, tank arrangement, electrical equipment, spill containment systems, and traffic movement patterns.
Work should only proceed once isolation procedures are confirmed in writing, including de-energising relevant electrical circuits, shutting down tank monitoring systems appropriately, and locking out fuel delivery points where required. Improper isolation is one of the most common causes of LPG or petrol vapour releases.
Critically, operators should supervise or audit key stages of the work, not simply accept the contractor’s assurances. After any maintenance, repair or decommissioning task, all affected systems must be physically checked: fill points must be resealed correctly; monitoring probes must be reconnected and functional; vent lines must be intact; sumps must be clean and watertight; and any LPG valves, regulators or pressure components must be tested after installation.
Finally, comprehensive documentation is essential. Regulators expect operators to maintain clear, organised records of contractor licences, work permits, isolation procedures, photos of pre- and post-work conditions, testing reports, purge certificates (for LPG), tank removal documentation (if applicable), and any environmental assessments associated with the work. These records can be the difference between demonstrating compliance instantly, or facing enforcement action.
This structured approach isn’t optional: it is exactly the kind of diligence the government expects under dangerous goods laws, environmental regulations, and the UPSS framework used throughout Australia. And while it takes time, it prevents the kind of long-term liability and environmental damage that destroys sites financially.
Why Site Owners Should Care – Compliance Is Not Optional
Compliance in underground tank systems, LPG infrastructure and fuel-system maintenance is not a matter of preference — it is a legal obligation for every site owner in Australia, and the consequences of overlooking it can be severe. Under state environmental legislation and dangerous goods laws, the operator is recognised as the person who has ongoing control over the underground petroleum storage system, regardless of who performs the physical work. This means that when something goes wrong, whether a spill, a leak, a vapour release, or a contamination event – the regulator looks first to the operator for answers, not the contractor.
The risks extend far beyond immediate safety concerns. Improper tank work or inadequate monitoring can lead to petroleum entering the soil or groundwater beneath a service station, and once contamination occurs, the operator may be required by law to notify authorities, commission environmental assessments, undertake remediation, and manage long-term monitoring programs. These processes are expensive, time-consuming, and can have lasting effects on a property’s usability or market value. In serious cases, regulators may impose clean-up notices, enforce site shutdowns, or direct the operator to implement costly infrastructure upgrades to prevent further environmental harm.
Insurance can also be affected. Policies often require operators to follow recognised safety procedures, maintain monitoring systems, conduct regular leak detection and keep accurate documentation. If an incident occurs and the insurer determines that the operator failed to meet these obligations, parts of the claim may be denied, leaving the financial burden entirely on the business.
Beyond the direct financial impacts, non-compliance damages the long-term viability and reputation of a service station. Environmental incidents attract regulatory attention, reduce customer trust, and can jeopardise commercial relationships with suppliers, landlords, or franchise owners. A single poor decision during tank or LPG work can leave an operator managing the consequences for years.
For these reasons, OP emphasises a proactive approach. When operators understand their legal responsibilities, maintain reliable documentation, and treat mechanical and tank-related works as high-risk activities requiring oversight, they significantly reduce their exposure. Compliance is not simply a box to tick, it is a core part of protecting the business, the land it operates on, and the future of the site itself.
For operators who value security and long-term viability, bringing in an experienced compliance partner like Oracle Petroleum, for mechanical and tank work oversight is no longer optional – it’s essential. With that level of diligence you’re no longer relying on chance. You have control. You have documentation. You have protection.
Bottom Line
Unsafe or poorly managed fuel-storage and mechanical work is not a “back-of-house problem.” It is a frontline compliance issue with real consequences: fines, liability, contamination, shutdowns, loss of value.
If you care about your site – its longevity, its safety, its reputation – you must treat every tank, pipe, vent or electrical change as something that demands oversight. When the regulators or environment demand accountability, it is you they will hold responsible so make sure you have the #OracleAdvantage working with you – every step of the way.