Site blitz shores up clean waterways
Water quality is a key concern for the environment and the community. With higher than average rainfall predicted for Sydney and surrounding regions over the next months, the EPA is urging builders and home renovators to get their building sites right to avoid needless runoff polluting local waterways.
The EPA was onsite during the latest blitz in October
To prepare for the predicted spring and summer rainfall surge, the EPA along with councils and the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment conducted a one-day inspection blitz of building sites across Sydney and the Hunter Coast on 21 October, as part of the Get the Site Right campaign.
The campaign encourages developers, builders and home renovators to implement erosion and sediment controls to prevent sediment runoff from being washed or blown off their sites into stormwater drains and out to local creeks and rivers.
The one-day blitz builds on the results of the month-long Get the Site Right campaign in May 2020 which showed a 10 per cent improvement in compliance rates from the previous year.
EPA Director for Regulatory Operations Giselle Howard said sediment runoff had a significant impact on the environment and could be costly for builders and developers.
Speaking at the Camellia remediation site on the Parramatta River Catchment in Western Sydney, Giselle said that large building sites can lose up to four truckloads of soil in one storm if not properly contained.
“I’m pleased to say the Camellia site does have it right with erosion controls including hay bales, water spray pipelines and water carts all in operation,” Giselle said.
“It’s all about keeping our waterways clean and protecting aquatic life.”
Now in its fifth year, Get the Site Right is a joint program between the EPA, Cooks River Alliance, Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, Georges Riverkeeper, Parramatta River Catchment Group, Sydney Coastal Councils Group, Sydney councils and Lake Macquarie Council.
Good enough to swim in
Parramatta River Catchment Group Chair Councillor Mark Drury, said the recent announcement of four new swimming sites planned for the Parramatta River is dependent on being able to provide the community with clean, healthy water.
“A critical part of our plan to make the Parramatta River swimmable again is to ensure that the water in the river is safe and clean enough to swim in,” Cr Drury said. Read more