diff --git a/pom.xml b/pom.xml
index 4173c668..a2880ecb 100644
--- a/pom.xml
+++ b/pom.xml
@@ -57,6 +57,12 @@
             <groupId>au.org.ala</groupId>
             <artifactId>ala-name-matching</artifactId>
             <version>3.5</version>
+            <exclusions>
+                <exclusion>
+                    <groupId>ch.qos.logback</groupId>
+                    <artifactId>logback-classic</artifactId>
+                </exclusion>
+            </exclusions>
             <scope>compile</scope>
         </dependency>
         <dependency>
diff --git a/src/test/java/au/org/ala/sds/ExoticBiologicalControlTest.java b/src/test/java/au/org/ala/sds/ExoticBiologicalControlTest.java
index f47abf10..326cf8ad 100644
--- a/src/test/java/au/org/ala/sds/ExoticBiologicalControlTest.java
+++ b/src/test/java/au/org/ala/sds/ExoticBiologicalControlTest.java
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 import au.org.ala.names.search.ALANameSearcher;
 import au.org.ala.sds.model.SensitiveTaxon;
 import au.org.ala.sds.util.Configuration;
+import au.org.ala.sds.util.TestUtils;
 import au.org.ala.sds.validation.*;
 import org.junit.BeforeClass;
 import org.junit.Test;
@@ -34,8 +35,7 @@ public class ExoticBiologicalControlTest {
 
     @BeforeClass
     public static void runOnce() throws Exception {
-
-        System.setProperty("sds.config.file", "/sds-test.properties");
+        TestUtils.initConfig();
         System.out.println(Configuration.getInstance().getNameMatchingIndex());
         nameSearcher = new ALANameSearcher(Configuration.getInstance().getNameMatchingIndex());
         //The URI to the test list - only contains entries that are used in one or more the the tests
diff --git a/src/test/java/au/org/ala/sds/GeneraliseTest.java b/src/test/java/au/org/ala/sds/GeneraliseTest.java
index e0c7f2de..5ba18c88 100644
--- a/src/test/java/au/org/ala/sds/GeneraliseTest.java
+++ b/src/test/java/au/org/ala/sds/GeneraliseTest.java
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 import java.util.HashMap;
 import java.util.Map;
 
+import au.org.ala.sds.util.TestUtils;
 import org.junit.BeforeClass;
 import org.junit.Test;
 
@@ -51,7 +52,7 @@ public static void runOnce() throws Exception {
 //        ((BasicDataSource) dataSource).setUsername("root");
 //        ((BasicDataSource) dataSource).setPassword("password");
 
-        System.setProperty("sds.config.file", "/sds-test.properties");
+        TestUtils.initConfig();
         nameSearcher = new ALANameSearcher(Configuration.getInstance().getNameMatchingIndex());
         //finder = SensitiveSpeciesFinderFactory.getSensitiveSpeciesFinder(cbIndexSearch);
         String uri = nameSearcher.getClass().getClassLoader().getResource("sensitive-species.xml").toURI().toString();
diff --git a/src/test/java/au/org/ala/sds/PlantPestCategory5Test.java b/src/test/java/au/org/ala/sds/PlantPestCategory5Test.java
index 413ec951..a5095d38 100644
--- a/src/test/java/au/org/ala/sds/PlantPestCategory5Test.java
+++ b/src/test/java/au/org/ala/sds/PlantPestCategory5Test.java
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 import au.org.ala.sds.model.SensitiveTaxon;
 import au.org.ala.sds.util.Configuration;
 import au.org.ala.sds.util.PlantPestUtils;
+import au.org.ala.sds.util.TestUtils;
 import au.org.ala.sds.validation.MessageFactory;
 import au.org.ala.sds.validation.ServiceFactory;
 import au.org.ala.sds.validation.ValidationOutcome;
@@ -46,7 +47,7 @@ public class PlantPestCategory5Test {
     @BeforeClass
     public static void runOnce() throws Exception {
 
-        System.setProperty("sds.config.file", "/sds-test.properties");
+        TestUtils.initConfig();
         System.out.println(Configuration.getInstance().getNameMatchingIndex());
         nameSearcher = new ALANameSearcher(Configuration.getInstance().getNameMatchingIndex());
         //The URI to the test list - only contains entries that are used in one or more the the tests
diff --git a/src/test/java/au/org/ala/sds/PlantPestEradicatedTest.java b/src/test/java/au/org/ala/sds/PlantPestEradicatedTest.java
index 277b3e8b..71a0a41f 100644
--- a/src/test/java/au/org/ala/sds/PlantPestEradicatedTest.java
+++ b/src/test/java/au/org/ala/sds/PlantPestEradicatedTest.java
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 import au.org.ala.sds.model.Message;
 import au.org.ala.sds.util.AUWorkarounds;
 import au.org.ala.sds.util.GeoLocationHelper;
+import au.org.ala.sds.util.TestUtils;
 import au.org.ala.sds.validation.*;
 import org.junit.BeforeClass;
 import org.junit.Ignore;
@@ -50,7 +51,9 @@ public static void runOnce() throws Exception {
 //        ((BasicDataSource) dataSource).setUsername("root");
 //        ((BasicDataSource) dataSource).setPassword("password");
 
-        System.setProperty("sds.config.file", "/sds-test.properties");
+        TestUtils.initConfig();
+        Configuration.getInstance().setZoneUrl(PlantPestEradicatedTest.class.getResource("/sensitivity-zones.xml").toExternalForm());
+        Configuration.getInstance().setCategoriesUrl(PlantPestEradicatedTest.class.getResource("/sensitivity-categories.xml").toExternalForm());
         nameSearcher = new ALANameSearcher(Configuration.getInstance().getNameMatchingIndex());
         //finder = SensitiveSpeciesFinderFactory.getSensitiveSpeciesFinder("file:///data/sds/sensitive-species-new.xml", cbIndexSearch);
         String uri = nameSearcher.getClass().getClassLoader().getResource("sensitive-species.xml").toURI().toString();
diff --git a/src/test/java/au/org/ala/sds/PlantPestIdentifiedToHigherTaxonTest.java b/src/test/java/au/org/ala/sds/PlantPestIdentifiedToHigherTaxonTest.java
index 035f86bd..d71d83bf 100644
--- a/src/test/java/au/org/ala/sds/PlantPestIdentifiedToHigherTaxonTest.java
+++ b/src/test/java/au/org/ala/sds/PlantPestIdentifiedToHigherTaxonTest.java
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 import au.org.ala.sds.model.SensitiveTaxon;
 import au.org.ala.sds.util.Configuration;
 import au.org.ala.sds.util.PlantPestUtils;
+import au.org.ala.sds.util.TestUtils;
 import au.org.ala.sds.validation.*;
 import org.junit.BeforeClass;
 import org.junit.Test;
@@ -39,7 +40,7 @@ public class PlantPestIdentifiedToHigherTaxonTest {
     @BeforeClass
     public static void runOnce() throws Exception {
 
-        System.setProperty("sds.config.file", "/sds-test.properties");
+        TestUtils.initConfig();
         System.out.println(Configuration.getInstance().getNameMatchingIndex());
         nameSearcher = new ALANameSearcher(Configuration.getInstance().getNameMatchingIndex());
         //The URI to the test list - only contains entries that are used in one or more the the tests
diff --git a/src/test/java/au/org/ala/sds/PlantPestNotKnownInAustraliaTest.java b/src/test/java/au/org/ala/sds/PlantPestNotKnownInAustraliaTest.java
index c8f8a672..5430b03f 100644
--- a/src/test/java/au/org/ala/sds/PlantPestNotKnownInAustraliaTest.java
+++ b/src/test/java/au/org/ala/sds/PlantPestNotKnownInAustraliaTest.java
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 import java.util.Map;
 
 import au.org.ala.sds.model.Message;
+import au.org.ala.sds.util.TestUtils;
 import au.org.ala.sds.validation.*;
 import org.junit.BeforeClass;
 import org.junit.Ignore;
@@ -45,7 +46,7 @@ public class PlantPestNotKnownInAustraliaTest {
     @BeforeClass
     public static void runOnce() throws Exception {
 
-        System.setProperty("sds.config.file", "/sds-test.properties");
+        TestUtils.initConfig();
         nameSearcher = new ALANameSearcher(Configuration.getInstance().getNameMatchingIndex());
         //use test versions
 //        Configuration.getInstance().setZoneUrl(nameSearcher.getClass().getClassLoader().getResource("sensitivity-zones.xml").toURI().toString());
diff --git a/src/test/java/au/org/ala/sds/PlantPestSubjectToOfficialControlTest.java b/src/test/java/au/org/ala/sds/PlantPestSubjectToOfficialControlTest.java
index 4ecbf0cc..4706efe6 100644
--- a/src/test/java/au/org/ala/sds/PlantPestSubjectToOfficialControlTest.java
+++ b/src/test/java/au/org/ala/sds/PlantPestSubjectToOfficialControlTest.java
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 import au.org.ala.sds.model.Message;
 import au.org.ala.sds.util.AUWorkarounds;
 import au.org.ala.sds.util.GeoLocationHelper;
+import au.org.ala.sds.util.TestUtils;
 import au.org.ala.sds.validation.*;
 import org.junit.BeforeClass;
 import org.junit.Ignore;
@@ -51,7 +52,7 @@ public static void runOnce() throws Exception {
 //        ((BasicDataSource) dataSource).setUsername("root");
 //        ((BasicDataSource) dataSource).setPassword("password");
 
-        System.setProperty("sds.config.file", "/sds-test.properties");
+        TestUtils.initConfig();
         nameSearcher = new ALANameSearcher(Configuration.getInstance().getNameMatchingIndex());
         //finder = SensitiveSpeciesFinderFactory.getSensitiveSpeciesFinder("file:///data/sds/sensitive-species-test.xml", cbIndexSearch);
         String uri = nameSearcher.getClass().getClassLoader().getResource("sensitive-species.xml").toURI().toString();
diff --git a/src/test/java/au/org/ala/sds/PlantPestUnderEradicationTest.java b/src/test/java/au/org/ala/sds/PlantPestUnderEradicationTest.java
index c64d709d..72392cc6 100644
--- a/src/test/java/au/org/ala/sds/PlantPestUnderEradicationTest.java
+++ b/src/test/java/au/org/ala/sds/PlantPestUnderEradicationTest.java
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 import au.org.ala.sds.model.SensitiveTaxon;
 import au.org.ala.sds.util.AUWorkarounds;
 import au.org.ala.sds.util.GeoLocationHelper;
+import au.org.ala.sds.util.TestUtils;
 import au.org.ala.sds.validation.*;
 import org.junit.BeforeClass;
 import org.junit.Test;
@@ -51,7 +52,7 @@ public static void runOnce() throws Exception {
 //        ((BasicDataSource) dataSource).setUsername("root");
 //        ((BasicDataSource) dataSource).setPassword("password");
 
-        System.setProperty("sds.config.file", "/sds-test.properties");
+        TestUtils.initConfig();
         nameSearcher = new ALANameSearcher(Configuration.getInstance().getNameMatchingIndex());
         //finder = SensitiveSpeciesFinderFactory.getSensitiveSpeciesFinder("file:///data/sds/sensitive-species-new.xml", cbIndexSearch);
         String uri = nameSearcher.getClass().getClassLoader().getResource("sensitive-species.xml").toURI().toString();
diff --git a/src/test/java/au/org/ala/sds/ProblematicFileInputTest.java b/src/test/java/au/org/ala/sds/ProblematicFileInputTest.java
index 321abf8e..938fae3c 100644
--- a/src/test/java/au/org/ala/sds/ProblematicFileInputTest.java
+++ b/src/test/java/au/org/ala/sds/ProblematicFileInputTest.java
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 import java.util.Map;
 
+import au.org.ala.sds.util.TestUtils;
 import org.apache.commons.lang.StringUtils;
 import org.junit.BeforeClass;
 import org.junit.Test;
@@ -26,7 +27,7 @@ public class ProblematicFileInputTest {
 
     //@BeforeClass
     public static void runOnce() throws Exception {
-        System.setProperty("sds.config.file", "/sds-test.properties");
+        TestUtils.initConfig();
         nameSearcher = new ALANameSearcher(Configuration.getInstance().getNameMatchingIndex());
         finder = SensitiveSpeciesFinderFactory.getSensitiveSpeciesFinder("file:///data/sds/sensitive-species.xml", nameSearcher);
     }
diff --git a/src/test/java/au/org/ala/sds/ScotlandTests.java b/src/test/java/au/org/ala/sds/ScotlandTests.java
index 1c52da18..a7da9d8f 100644
--- a/src/test/java/au/org/ala/sds/ScotlandTests.java
+++ b/src/test/java/au/org/ala/sds/ScotlandTests.java
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 import au.org.ala.sds.model.SensitiveTaxon;
 import au.org.ala.sds.model.SensitivityZoneFactory;
 import au.org.ala.sds.util.Configuration;
+import au.org.ala.sds.util.TestUtils;
 import au.org.ala.sds.validation.ValidationOutcome;
 import org.junit.AfterClass;
 import org.junit.BeforeClass;
@@ -25,7 +26,7 @@ public class ScotlandTests {
     @BeforeClass
     public static void runOnce() throws Exception {
 
-        System.setProperty("sds.config.file", "/sds-test.properties");
+        TestUtils.initConfig();
         SensitivityZoneFactory.reset(); //FIXME this isnt pleasant
         nameSearcher = new ALANameSearcher(Configuration.getInstance().getNameMatchingIndex());
         String uri = nameSearcher.getClass().getClassLoader().getResource("sensitive-species-scotland.xml").toURI().toString();
diff --git a/src/test/java/au/org/ala/sds/SearchTest.java b/src/test/java/au/org/ala/sds/SearchTest.java
index 46e2dda8..30c3ea84 100644
--- a/src/test/java/au/org/ala/sds/SearchTest.java
+++ b/src/test/java/au/org/ala/sds/SearchTest.java
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 import au.org.ala.names.search.ALANameSearcher;
 import au.org.ala.sds.model.SensitiveTaxon;
 import au.org.ala.sds.util.Configuration;
+import au.org.ala.sds.util.TestUtils;
 import org.junit.BeforeClass;
 import org.junit.Test;
 
@@ -33,7 +34,7 @@ public class SearchTest {
 
     @BeforeClass
     public static void runOnce() throws Exception {
-        System.setProperty("sds.config.file", "/sds-test.properties");
+        TestUtils.initConfig();
         nameSearcher = new ALANameSearcher(Configuration.getInstance().getNameMatchingIndex());
         String uri = nameSearcher.getClass().getClassLoader().getResource("sensitive-species.xml").toURI().toString();
         finder = SensitiveSpeciesFinderFactory.getSensitiveSpeciesFinder(uri, nameSearcher, true);
diff --git a/src/test/java/au/org/ala/sds/SensitiveDataServiceTest.java b/src/test/java/au/org/ala/sds/SensitiveDataServiceTest.java
index 58736567..ccb3b32a 100644
--- a/src/test/java/au/org/ala/sds/SensitiveDataServiceTest.java
+++ b/src/test/java/au/org/ala/sds/SensitiveDataServiceTest.java
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 
 import au.org.ala.names.search.ALANameSearcher;
 import au.org.ala.sds.util.Configuration;
+import au.org.ala.sds.util.TestUtils;
 import au.org.ala.sds.validation.FactCollection;
 import au.org.ala.sds.validation.MessageFactory;
 import au.org.ala.sds.validation.ValidationOutcome;
@@ -41,7 +42,7 @@ public class SensitiveDataServiceTest {
     @BeforeClass
     public static void runOnce() throws Exception {
 
-        System.setProperty("sds.config.file", "/sds-test.properties");
+        TestUtils.initConfig();
         System.out.println(Configuration.getInstance().getNameMatchingIndex());
         nameSearcher = new ALANameSearcher(Configuration.getInstance().getNameMatchingIndex());
         //The URI to the test list - only contains entries that are used in one or more the the tests
diff --git a/src/test/java/au/org/ala/sds/model/SensitiveSpeciesStoreTest.java b/src/test/java/au/org/ala/sds/model/SensitiveSpeciesStoreTest.java
index 51774e68..adff13c2 100644
--- a/src/test/java/au/org/ala/sds/model/SensitiveSpeciesStoreTest.java
+++ b/src/test/java/au/org/ala/sds/model/SensitiveSpeciesStoreTest.java
@@ -18,15 +18,13 @@
 import au.org.ala.sds.SensitiveSpeciesFinder;
 import au.org.ala.sds.SensitiveSpeciesFinderFactory;
 import au.org.ala.sds.util.Configuration;
+import au.org.ala.sds.util.TestUtils;
 import org.junit.Test;
 
 public class SensitiveSpeciesStoreTest {
     @Test
     public void testCreate() throws Exception {
-        System.setProperty("sds.config.file", "/sds-test.properties");
-        Configuration.getInstance().setSpeciesUrl(SensitiveSpeciesStoreTest.class.getResource("/sensitive-species.xml").toExternalForm());
-        Configuration.getInstance().setZoneUrl(SensitiveSpeciesStoreTest.class.getResource("/sensitivity-zones.xml").toExternalForm());
-        Configuration.getInstance().setCategoriesUrl(SensitiveSpeciesStoreTest.class.getResource("/sensitivity-categories.xml").toExternalForm());
+        TestUtils.initConfig();
         SensitiveSpeciesFinder finder = SensitiveSpeciesFinderFactory.getSensitiveSpeciesFinder(new ALANameSearcher(Configuration.getInstance().getNameMatchingIndex()));
         SensitiveTaxon taxon = finder.findSensitiveSpecies("Acacia dealbata");
     }
diff --git a/src/test/java/au/org/ala/sds/model/SensitivityZoneTest.java b/src/test/java/au/org/ala/sds/model/SensitivityZoneTest.java
index 9e01916a..a3ddfb5b 100644
--- a/src/test/java/au/org/ala/sds/model/SensitivityZoneTest.java
+++ b/src/test/java/au/org/ala/sds/model/SensitivityZoneTest.java
@@ -14,12 +14,18 @@
  ***************************************************************************/
 package au.org.ala.sds.model;
 
+import au.org.ala.sds.util.TestUtils;
+import org.junit.BeforeClass;
+import org.junit.Test;
+
 import static org.junit.Assert.assertFalse;
 import static org.junit.Assert.assertTrue;
 
-import org.junit.Test;
-
 public class SensitivityZoneTest {
+    @BeforeClass
+    public static void runOnce() throws Exception {
+        TestUtils.initConfig();
+    }
 
     @Test
     public void isInAustralia() {
diff --git a/src/test/java/au/org/ala/sds/util/GeoLocationTest.java b/src/test/java/au/org/ala/sds/util/GeoLocationTest.java
index 6f3bcc59..c5baf738 100644
--- a/src/test/java/au/org/ala/sds/util/GeoLocationTest.java
+++ b/src/test/java/au/org/ala/sds/util/GeoLocationTest.java
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ public class GeoLocationTest {
 
     @BeforeClass
     public static void runOnce() throws Exception {
-        System.setProperty("sds.config.file", "/sds-test.properties");
+        TestUtils.initConfig();
     }
 
 
diff --git a/src/test/java/au/org/ala/sds/util/TestUtils.java b/src/test/java/au/org/ala/sds/util/TestUtils.java
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c53b05d8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/test/java/au/org/ala/sds/util/TestUtils.java
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+package au.org.ala.sds.util;
+
+import au.org.ala.names.search.ALANameSearcher;
+import au.org.ala.sds.PlantPestEradicatedTest;
+import au.org.ala.sds.SensitiveSpeciesFinderFactory;
+
+public class TestUtils {
+    /**
+     * Set up a common configuration
+     *
+     * @throws Exception
+     */
+    public static void initConfig() throws Exception {
+        System.setProperty("sds.config.file", "/sds-test.properties");
+        Configuration.getInstance().setSpeciesUrl(TestUtils.class.getResource("/sensitive-species.xml").toExternalForm());
+        Configuration.getInstance().setZoneUrl(TestUtils.class.getResource("/sensitivity-zones.xml").toExternalForm());
+        Configuration.getInstance().setCategoriesUrl(TestUtils.class.getResource("/sensitivity-categories.xml").toExternalForm());
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/src/test/resources/log4j.xml b/src/test/resources/log4j.xml
index 600b1ad9..cd42d1d2 100644
--- a/src/test/resources/log4j.xml
+++ b/src/test/resources/log4j.xml
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 
     <!-- Appenders -->
     <appender name="console" class="org.apache.log4j.ConsoleAppender">
-        <param name="Threshold" value="warn"/>
+        <param name="Threshold" value="info"/>
         <param name="Target" value="System.out" />
         <layout class="org.apache.log4j.PatternLayout">
             <param name="ConversionPattern" value="%d %-5p: [%c{5}] %m%n" />
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@
 
     <!-- Root Logger -->
     <root>
-        <level value="warn" />
+        <level value="info" />
         <appender-ref ref="console" />
     </root>