At Barr Planning, we place a strong emphasis on continuous learning and professional development. We believe that supporting our team to expand their skills and technical knowledge enables them to deliver better outcomes for clients and achieve more in their careers.
This month, our Planning Team welcomed Paul Wright from DRB Consulting Engineers for an engaging Lunch & Learn training session, focused on one of the more complex aspects of the planning process – contaminated land.
Paul led an interactive discussion titled “Contaminated Land in Planning – Why the PSI Makes or Breaks Your Budget”, providing a practical overview of how contamination risk is identified, assessed, and managed through the planning approvals process. The session stepped through the full contamination assessment pathway, including:
- Preliminary Site Investigation (PSI)
- Detailed Site Investigation (DSI)
- Remedial Action Plan (RAP)
- Validation
A key focus of the session was how early-stage decisions, particularly around the scope and quality of a PSI, can significantly influence project cost, timelines, and approval risk later on. Rather than a traditional presentation, Paul facilitated an open discussion using real-world examples to explore common challenges and highlight what “good” looks like from a planning perspective.
The session also prompted valuable reflection around questions many planners face, such as confidence in PSI scopes, project delays caused by contamination issues, and reliance on reports that later become problematic.
We thank Paul Wright for generously sharing his expertise, and our Planning Team for their active participation and insightful discussion. Sessions like these reinforce our commitment to ongoing learning and collaboration across disciplines.
