PO1

Development avoids disturbing acid sulfate soils or is managed to prevent the mobilisation and release of acid and metal contaminants.

Note—The presence or absence of acid sulfate soils is required to be determined prior to the lodgement of a development application. The assessment must be undertaken in accordance with the Guidelines for Sampling and Analysis of lowland acid sulphate soils in Queensland 1998 that forms a part of the Queensland Acid Sulfate Soil Technical Manual.

Note—Applicants proposing to disturb acid sulfate soils will be required to engage specialists to provide detailed investigations into the above matters and provide an Acid sulphate soil management plan in order to demonstrate compliance with this performance criterion.

AO1.1

The disturbance of acid sulfate soils is avoided by:

1. not excavating or otherwise removing soil or sediment identified as containing acid sulfate soils
2. not permanently or temporarily extracting groundwater that results in the oxygenation of previously saturated acid sulfate soils
3. not undertaking filling that results in:
   1. actual acid sulfate soils being moved below the water table
   2. previously saturated acid sulfate soils being aerated.

OR

The disturbance of acid sulfate soils prevents the mobilisation and release of acid and metal contaminants by:

1. neutralising existing acidity and preventing the generation of acid and metal contaminants using strategies documented in the Queensland Acid Sulfate Soil Technical Manual, and
2. preventing the release of surface or groundwater flows containing acid and metal contaminants into the environment, and
3. preventing the in situ oxidation of acid sulfate soils through groundwater level management, and
4. documenting management strategies and reporting requirements in an acid sulfate soils environmental management plan.

AO1.2

Acid sulfate soils undergo appropriate treatment before disposal whether or not that disposal occurs offsite.