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Acid Sulfate Soils
Acid sulfate soils is the common name given to naturally occurring soil and sediment containing iron sulfides. When these natural occurring sulfides are disturbed and exposed to air, oxidation occurs and sulfuric acid is ultimately produced. For every tonne of sulfidic material that completely oxidises, 1.6 tonnes of pure sulfuric acid is produced. This sulfuric acid can drain into waterways and cause severe short and long term socio-economic and environmental impacts.
In NSW, acid sulfate soils have been found in every coastal estuary and embayment between the Victorian and Queensland border. It is estimated that there are over 400,000 hectares of acid sulfate soils in NSW being impacted by existing and new activities.
Acid Sulfate Soil Manual
The Acid Sulfate Soils Manual (ASS Manual) forms part of an ‘all of government’ approach to the management of acid sulfate soils in New South Wales. In regard to Development Consent, particular note should be taken of Section 2 Assessment Guidelines and Section 3 Management Guidelines.
Documents are in PDF format.
Index (5kb)
Introduction (108kb)
Planning Guidelines (697kb)
Assessment Guidelines (730kb)
Management Guidelines (414kb)
Laboratory Methods (689kb)
Drainage Guidelines (379kb)
Groundwater Guidelines (244kb)
Management Plans (268kb)
Fish Kills Protocol (112kb)
Grazing and Dairy Industries (123kb)
Acid Sulfate Soils Policy
Eurobodalla Shire Council adopted its Acid Sulfate Soils Policy in October 2002.
The policy applies to all land within the Eurobodalla Shire Council local government area classified as Class 1 to Class 5 on the maps marked "Acid Sulphate Soil Planning Map" deposited in the office of Eurobodalla Shire Council. The objectives of this policy are to:
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Manage the disturbance of potential and/or actual acid sulphate soils in the Eurobodalla Shire Council local government area to minimise impacts on natural waterbodies and wetlands and on agricultural, fishing, aquaculture, urban and infrastructure activities;
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Require special assessment of certain development requiring consent on land identified as being subject to risks associated with the disturbance of potential and/or actual acid sulphate soils.
