Nepali Place of Worship — Preliminary Site Investigation (PSI), North Western Sydney, NSW

Project summary

iEnvi was retained to deliver a Preliminary Site Investigation (PSI) and soil sampling program for a property in north‑western Sydney, NSW, proposed for redevelopment as a Nepali place of worship (temple). The site’s recent land use was agricultural.

What we did

• Completed a desk‑based historical review (aerial photography, land titles, council and government records, street directories).
• Performed a site inspection and targeted soil sampling program.
• Compiled a detailed technical report (216 pages) documenting methods, field observations, laboratory results and a site conceptual model.

Key finding

Based on the site history, inspection and the soil sampling results, the PSI concluded the property is suitable for the proposed place‑of‑worship use in its current condition. The report presents the evidence and rationale that informed this conclusion.

Why this matters for a Development Application (DA)

• NSW planning authorities commonly require a PSI where there is potential for past contamination or when land‑use sensitivity increases (for example, where agricultural land is proposed for public assembly, residential or educational uses).
• A clear PSI that documents the site history, a conceptual site model, and representative analytical data helps councils determine whether the land is suitable for the proposed use or whether further work (a Detailed Site Investigation, DSI) is needed.

Practical takeaways for developers and project managers

• Provide a full PSI when changing from agricultural to a sensitive public use to reduce the risk of DA delays.
• Ensure the PSI includes a clear statement about suitability for the proposed use and a description of any limitations or recommended follow‑up actions.
• If the PSI identifies potential contamination or data gaps, the consent authority may require a DSI or site remediation prior to consent. Be prepared to scope and price follow‑up works.

Report quality and compliance

The delivered 216‑page report documented the records review, site inspection, sampling methods and analytical results. For planning and regulatory review, best practice is to ensure PSI and any subsequent DSI reporting align with NSW EPA reporting checklists and the contaminated land planning guidance.

Next steps we recommend

1. Provide the PSI to the consent authority with your DA to show the site has been assessed and found suitable for the proposed use.
2. If council or the regulator requests further information, engage a contaminated‑land consultant to scope any DSI or remediation work and obtain cost and timing estimates.
3. Retain evidence of laboratory accreditation and reporting checklists used in the PSI to simplify assessment by council or a site auditor if required.

Need a fast, DA‑ready PSI?

iEnvi prepares PSIs that address council and NSW EPA expectations. For a confidential discussion about your project call 13000 43684 or visit /contact/.