Protecting the Public
The Australian Government has approved policy for managing land affected by UXO. The Department of Defence implements this policy.
The Department of Defence maintains a record of sites confirmed as or suspected of being, contaminated with UXO. Extracts of this register can be made available upon request to planning authorities to assist in local land use planning.
The Commonwealth assists land planning and management authorities in protecting the public from the hazards associated
with the development of land, and zoning proposals involving such land, for UXO contaminated areas.
In order to warn prospective purchasers of land believed to be contaminated with UXO, the Commonwealth will seek to inform the public where it knows of dangers considered to have arisen from particular UXO Contamination. This is generally achieved through the provision of UXO assessments and advice to State and Local government land management and planning authorities.
The Commonwealth cannot however provide an assurance to all prospective purchasers that, in the absence of warning with respect to their land it will be free of UXO.
Control of public access
The Department of Defence will take all reasonable measures to prevent unauthorised access to land which it controls and which it knows or suspects to be contaminated with UXO. In addition, where the Department of Defence does not control such land, it will seek to influence decisions concerning public access through consultation with the appropriate controlling authority.