City of Coffs Harbour Council has issued a reminder to developers, builders and earthmovers to prioritise installation and maintenance of effective sediment and erosion control measures on all construction sites.
After a wet first half of the year and with more heavy rain forecast this week, the Council is working to emphasise the importance of preventing sediment and soil run-off from contaminating waterways and impacting the stormwater systems and local environment.
The Council says it has observed an increase in instances of sediment and soil run-off from development sites entering waterways, posing a threat to aquatic ecosystems and water quality. This is a direct result of inadequate or non-existent sediment and erosion controls being in place, says Council Planning and Communities Acting Director, Ian Fitzgibbon.
“We are committed to protecting our environment and infrastructure and ensuring the sustainable development of our city,” Mr Fitzgibbon said.
“We urge all developers and contractors to take immediate action to implement and maintain effective sediment and erosion controls on all sites. The safety of our waterways and the well-being of our community depend on it.”
The Council actively informs stakeholders of their obligations and conducts regular compliance checks.
Further, compliance with relevant regulations and best practice guidelines for sediment and erosion control is mandatory and there are penalties for non-compliance.
Failure to implement and maintain adequate controls may result in enforcement action, including fines, clean-up notices, and suspension of works, the Council warned.
Contractors can refer to the NSW Government’s recently published ‘Guidelines for Erosion and Sediment Control on Building Sites’, and ‘Managing Urban Stormwater: Soils & Construction’.
“The Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 prohibits allowing sediment or sediment-laden water to enter waterways or stormwater drains,” Mr Fitzgibbon said.
“Penalties can apply with fines for water pollution starting at $30,000 for companies and $15,000 for individuals.”
For further information or clarification, contact Coffs Harbour Council’s Compliance and Regulatory Enforcement Section on phone 6648-4000 or email coffs.council@chcc.nsw.gov.au.
