The new cluster will focus on developing clean-up techniques and technologies. It follows a survey of 400 industrial executives that showed companies are hungry for new approaches to remediation and more uniform regulations across Australia.

Membership will include environmental and engineering companies involved in site remediation, firms from the mining, energy and manufacturing sectors looking for better ways to prevent or remove contamination, and regulators keen to ensure Australia's regulations are up to date.

The survey by CRC CARE of 400 respondents, who came from 15 different sectors ranging from chemical companies to consultants to mainstream manufacturers, found 82% thought there were "good" or "very good" market opportunities for the export of Australian risk assessment and remediation technologies.

CRC head Ravi Naidu said industry also wanted more cost effective ways to assess the risks of contamination and clean up. He added the new cluster would play a key role in delivering the science and technology developed by the CRC.

"Often in science it can take years, even decades, for a new technology to be widely adopted. The aim of the cluster is to short-circuit that process and ensure as many Australian companies have access to leading edge technologies in the quickest possible time," he said.

"Nearly half of the industry leaders we surveyed said they would sign up as members of the cluster on the spot, which gives us great encouragement the concept is delivering an unmet need in industry."

The survey also showed most industry figures wanted more uniform regulations between the states for clean-up requirements.