With higher-than-average rainfall predicted for Sydney, developers and builders are urged to install and maintain best-practice erosion and sediment controls on their sites to prevent runoff from polluting local waterways for the follow-up ‘Get The Site Right’ inspection blitz held 17-21 October.
Georges River Council Mayor Nick Katris said, “Developers’ and builders’ actions can have huge impacts on the health of our local rivers and creeks. ‘Get the Site Right’ is an important part of managing the environmental impacts of construction to improve the health of Sydney’s waterways. It can also save money.”
The call for improved site controls comes following the results of the May 2022 ‘Get the Site Right’ inspection blitz that showed a nine per cent reduction in compliance rates compared to the November 2021 campaign.
NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) officers once again arranged joint inspections with council regulatory staff to observe and provide advice on compliance issues.
NSW EPA Director Operations, James Goodwin, “While we understand it can be difficult to contain runoff caused by the unprecedented amount of rainfall, developers and builders should not become complacent. We are encouraging all workers to follow best-practice erosion and sediment controls on-site.
“Keeping a well-maintained site not only prevents sediment runoff from polluting our waterways and harming marine life, but it can also save builders thousands of dollars by preventing building materials from being washed away during rainfall.”
Members of the public are encouraged to report pollution incidents, including poor sediment control, to their local council or the EPA’s 24/7 Environment Line on 131 555.
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