The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has launched an inspection program of construction sites around Canberra before the building industry’s Christmas closedown to ensure that erosion and sediment controls are in place.
The EPA’s Narelle Sargent said that with the industry closing for the festive season, it was critical to have the mandatory controls in place.
“As I informed industry in August this year, a key focus for the EPA is ensuring that builders have sediment controls in place at construction sites to prevent anything other than rainwater entering the stormwater system,” Mrs Sargent said.
“On-the-spot fines between $100 and $175 for individuals and $500 to $875 for corporations apply to those not meeting their environmental responsibilities under the Environment Protection Act 1997.”
She said stormwater was not filtered before it entered creeks, rivers and lakes so it was important to ensure sediment did not leave building sites.
“Polluted waterways make our aquatic animals sick and contribute to an increase in algae growth which makes our waterways unsafe for recreational use,” Mrs Sargent said.
She said EPA officers would be checking green-field and brown-field sites for a stabilised access point onto the site; a sediment fence installed along the lower side of the block; a waste enclosure erected to prevent waste blowing off the site; and building material placed behind the sediment fence on the site.
