ABSTRACT
Brownfields present a continuing and evolving problem for land use planners, developers, public health authorities and for the public. Legislative frameworks and fears over liability combined with an inconsistent and sometimes ad hoc approach across national and international borders are key contributors to poor outcomes. In a world hungry for more development, brownfields present an alluring opportunity to improve land value, improve environmental and human health outcomes and to limit the expansion of the anthropogenic footprint by reusing this ‘poor value’ land. The absence of a systematic approach to the understanding of brownfields contamination, their remediation and the associated risks will significantly impact on whole-of-population health outcomes in the next century.
