Air quality assessments are a key component of many environmental approvals for new developments, expansions, and operational changes. Engaging an air quality consultant early can save time and cost by helping identify potential issues before they affect project design or schedules.
The success of an assessment depends not only on technical expertise but also on careful planning and coordination. The following practical tips can help you prepare for a smooth, efficient assessment process.
1. Define the Purpose and Scope Clearly
Clear objectives at the start make the assessment process more efficient and reduce the chance of rework later. In most cases, this involves confirming what parts of the project are relevant, which pollutants or activities need to be assessed, and what level of detail is appropriate for the intended outcome. For example, it is useful to understand whether a project requires baseline monitoring to avoid schedule delays later on. Early discussions help keep the assessment aligned with project goals and regulatory expectations.
Defining the scope together also helps set realistic timeframes and costs. When both parties understand what is included and what is not, the work can be planned more accurately and carried out without significant changes along the way.
2. Gather and Share Information Early
Delays often occur when key project information arrives late. To keep the project moving, it helps to provide your consultant with the most up-to-date:
- Site layout plans
- Process descriptions and equipment lists
- Emission data (if available)
- Proposed operating hours and throughputs
- Proposed control measures
Even if some details are still being finalised, sharing preliminary information allows the consultant to begin building the assessment framework and identify any data gaps early.
It is also useful to plan for other technical inputs that the assessment may rely on, such as traffic information, process design data, or sampling results. Coordinating these supporting studies early helps prevent hold-ups once the assessment is underway.
Additionally, an experienced consultant could provide reasonable assumptions where data gaps exist.
3. Confirm Regulatory and Technical Requirements
The level of assessment needed can vary depending on the project’s scale, location, and type of approval being sought. Some projects may only require a simple screening or qualitative review, while others need detailed dispersion modelling or a comprehensive impact assessment.
Your consultant can help confirm these requirements, but identifying them early reduces the risk of needing to revise work later. In some cases, early communication with the regulator or council can also clarify expectations and ensure the approach is appropriate for the project.
4. Understand the Timeframes Involved
Air quality assessments take time to complete properly. Each stage, from reviewing data to setting up and validating models, preparing figures, and completing internal quality checks, contributes to the overall schedule. Allocating sufficient time for each step helps maintain accuracy and deliver high-quality results.
Discuss project timelines with your consultant early and make them aware of any project schedule concerns. They can outline realistic turnaround times that include internal review and stakeholder feedback. If the assessment is tied to a broader project deadline such as a development application submission, make sure those dates are clearly communicated from the start.
5. Maintain Open Communication
Good communication between you and your consultant helps keep the assessment aligned with the latest project information and minimizes chances of delays and the need for revisions later. A short project kick-off call early in the process can often prevent the need for more extensive rework later. Responding promptly to requests for clarification or data also helps avoid unnecessary delays.
Once the work is underway, it is helpful to share any updates that could influence the assessment scope or assumptions as soon as they arise. Even small project changes can affect how the assessment progresses or the conclusions drawn from it. If uncertain, your consultant can help determine whether the changes would have any impact on the assessment.
6. Think Beyond Compliance
Meeting regulatory requirements is an essential part of any air quality assessment, but the process can also provide useful insights for improving project design and operation. A well-prepared assessment can highlight where impacts are most likely to occur and identify opportunities to reduce them early in the planning or design stage.
Looking beyond minimum compliance often leads to better long-term outcomes. For example, understanding how emissions vary across different scenarios can help refine operational practices, improve community outcomes, and support future project changes with less effort.
By treating the assessment as a tool instead of a compliance obligation, you can use the results to guide decisions, demonstrate good environmental stewardship, and build confidence with regulators and stakeholders.
Final Thoughts
A successful air quality assessment is the result of clear objectives, good communication, and collaboration between the client and consultant. Early planning, timely information sharing, and an understanding of project requirements, along with use of an experience consultant help create a smoother process and more meaningful outcomes.
At Trinity Consultants Australia, we combine technical expertise, our relationship with regulators, and our local experience to deliver high-quality air quality, odour, and greenhouse gas assessments. If you are planning a project that may require an air quality assessment, contact our Brisbane team at [email protected] to discuss how we can assist. You can view our project examples here.
