Officers from the Environment Protection Authority, Transport Canberra and City Services and the Suburban Land Agency have joined forces to enforce environmental regulations on construction sites across the Territory.
Chief Minister, Andrew Barr announced that officers had begun carrying out inspections on construction sites and would continue to do so throughout summer.
“[The] Officers will be joining forces to ensure construction work, whether domestic or commercial, does not impact on the environment or other property owners,” Mr Barr said.
He said that while the majority of Canberra’s construction sites were well managed, some builders continued to overlook their on-site waste management responsibilities.
“Builders have a responsibility to ensure none of their building materials can escape their sites or impact on surrounding areas, even in high winds,” Mr Barr said.
“This includes sediment and erosion control as well as building materials and waste escaping from work sites onto public land or other properties,” he said.
“Our officers will be jointly targeting construction sites and taking regulatory action where appropriate erosion and sediment controls are not in place or building materials and waste is not being appropriately contained or managed.”
Mr Barr said the inspections would complement ongoing work undertaken by each Agency targeting unauthorised public land use and damage to public assets, including grassed areas, street trees, storm water assets, signs, streetlights, roads and gutters.
He said fines of between $100 and $175 for individuals and $500 to $875 for corporations could be issued to those not meeting their environmental responsibilities under the Environment Protection Act 1997.
He said fines ranging from $150 to $1,500 for an individual and $750 to $7,500 for a corporation could be issued to workers and builders found not complying with their waste management or littering obligations.
