Changes to legislation mean local government is now responsible for underground petroleum storage systems, including the commissioning and decommissioning of underground storage systems, the installation of groundwater monitoring wells, the use of underground storage systems and record-keeping.

Environmental services director Ron Van Katwyk said the pilot program was aimed at investigating storage systems that had long been out of use and any possible environmental impacts they may still have.

Field work is under way on the New England Highway at Willow Tree, two locations in Wallabadah’s main street, Hawker Street in Quirindi and Single Street in Werris Creek.

“This is not an easy task for council to determine where old storage systems are in place,” Mr Van Katwyk said.

“Years ago, some service stations had their bowsers on the kerbside and there may still be tanks underground.”

“In other cases, outlets may have been closed for many years but tanks are still in place.

“In some cases, records of these locations are scant, so council has quite a task to get all this information together and sites inspected.”

Mr Van Katwyk said that if any members of the public knew of decommissioned tanks that might be in place, they should provide the information to Liverpool Plains Shire Council.