Newsletter #10 Date: 04 March 2025

Autumn outlook

The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has predicted March to May rainfall is likely to be in the typical range for the season. However, there is a greater likelihood of above average rainfall in March than in April or May.

BOM have also predicted warmer-than-average days are likely to very likely, with an increased chance of unusually high daytime temperatures. Warmer-than-average nights are also very likely, and there is an increased chance of unusually high overnight temperatures.

Autumn is still within the wet season, and with increased temperatures, storms may still occur with intense rainfall. However, especially towards the end of the season, periods of dry weather are also possible, making dust more prevalent on construction sites.

It is therefore important this Autumn to prepare for both dry and dusty periods as well as potential intense rainfall events. It is your responsibility to keep up to date with weather forecasts and take appropriate action where required to ensure that sites are prepared for severe weather.

Image: BOM Issued 20 February 2025

Now you have an Erosion and Sediment Control (ESC) plan, now what?

A comprehensive ESC plan is vital to comply with legislation and meet your environmental duty of care but so is reviewing that ESC plan! The ESC plan is NOT an approved document and instead, is a working plan of how the sites stormwater drainage is to be managed so that pollution of our waterways does not occur, and the stormwater system does not get blocked with silt and sediment leading to flooding. The ESC plan therefore needs to be reviewed on a regular basis as conditions change and at every stage of the development.

What do you need to do?

Ensure that ESC measures are in place before disturbance on site occurs at the very first stage of the development. This could include the clearing stage, if disturbance of the land is to occur or soils are to be exposed.
Once the ESC measures are in place conduct regular inspections (at least monthly) of erosion and sediment controls implemented on site. Remove built up sediment, fix all damaged controls and maintain all controls in good working order. These inspections should also take place prior, during and after rain events to ascertain if the measures are working or any maintenance is required.
Conduct an effective monitoring program that measures and records the quality of all releases to stormwater and waterways (i.e. total suspended solids 50 mg/L and pH 6.5 – 8.5)
Regularly review the ESC plan and adapt to changing site conditions. These may include, change in season, exposure of more dispersive soils or other changes in soil types etc.
If the controls on site are not working look at how the plan can be improved. Maintain and adapt measures as necessary.
Don’t forget your site access! Regularly ‘fluff up’ rock and clean out shaker grids. Ensure the gutter and roads are cleared and cleaned regularly if any mud or sediment goes off site.
Continue to seek expert advice from a suitably qualified professional when reviewing and updating ESC plans.
Where a site involves many contractors, pollution can occur between contractors. For example, between clearing and civil works, or between civil works and landscaping. You must ensure controls are established and maintained until the site is stabilised.

For examples of a variety of ESC measures on a development site watch this video by Healthy Land and Water. Further resources for Development Sites can be found on our website and also on Healthy Land and Waters website.

Call to building sites to ‘get their sites right’ in regard to litter and waste to protect our waterway health!

Figures by the Australian Bureau of Statistics show that in 2020 construction activities generated the second largest amount of solid waste in Australia, behind manufacturing.¹ Incorrectly contained waste can be blown or washed off sites, blocking stormwater infrastructure and impacting our waterways. Plastic litter, soil and other waste carried off building sites can cause harm to aquatic life, contribute to flooding and algal growth and increase human health risks. The construction industry can reduce the amount of litter and waste generated on sites and protect our waterways by adopting sustainable resources and building practices.

Effective waste management includes:

Minimising waste generation and sorting waste where possible.
Put all construction waste into on-site bins (skip bins, mesh cages, etc.). If using a mesh cage, wrap waste to prevent small items escaping.
Cover the waste bins when not in use, in high winds and at the end of each working day to prevent litter from blowing off-site.
Empty waste bins when they are at capacity.
Secure polystyrene construction products effectively. Manage them in a way that prevents dispersal to surrounding environment.

All waste produced on building sites must be contained entirely on the site. This includes materials that can be windblown. Not only can litter/waste going off-site into the gutter/drains or waterways be an offence under the Environmental Protection Act 1994, but under Local Law No 3 – Section 25E(1)(a) there is also a requirement to take all reasonable and practical measures to store general waste in waste containers.

¹https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/environment/environmental-management/waste-account-australia-experimental-estimates/latest-release

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