Released 17/08/2018
The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) is reminding builders of their legal requirements to install and maintain erosion and sediment controls following recent inspections of small building sites which found significant deficiencies.
Narelle Sargent, the EPA, said erosion and sediment controls are designed to reduce the potential for soil and other building materials entering stormwater.
Penalties between $100 and $175 for individuals and $500 to $875 for corporations apply for those not undertaking their environmental responsibilities on construction sites, through the Environment Protection Act 1997.
“In the last 12 months, eight written warning letters have been issued to builders for offences related to environmental pollution at building sites,” Mrs Sargent said.
“I was therefore disappointed to see at a recent visit to a greenfield building development that some builders are still not putting the mandatory sediment controls in place.
“My message to industry is clear: this will be a key area of focus of the EPA over the next 12 months and you can expect to see officers out checking sites - get your sites in order now or risk fines.”
Development and construction activities can contribute significant pollution to Canberra’s lakes and rivers, impact on our water quality and potentially make our waterways unsafe for recreational use.
“This includes increasing the risk of algae blooms as well as impacting our aquatic plants and animals through nutrients entering the waterways,” Mrs Sargent said.
“Builders must ensure they have the following sediment controls in place at construction sites to prevent anything other than rainwater entering the stormwater system:
- a stabilised access point onto the construction site
- a sediment fence installed along the lower side of the block
- a waste enclosure erected to prevent waste blowing off the site
- building material placed behind the sediment fence on the site.”
Information about preventing pollution from residential building sites is available at https://www.accesscanberra.act.gov.au/app/answers/detail/a_id/3267
For more information contact the EPA on 13 22 81 or email environment.protection@act.gov.au
Example of construction site without environmental protection measures attached.
- Statement ends -
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