A Willoughby City Council compliance blitz has cracked down on rogue builders and developers with eight orders and notices issued in relation to construction sites which failed to uphold environmental standards in May.
The Council’s rangers targeted building sites which failed to implement and adequately maintain a comprehensive soil erosion and sediment control plan and also caused stormwater pollution.
Uncontrolled sediment run-off can block stormwater drains and contribute to local flooding. Furthermore, sediment can enter natural waterways and cause devastating consequences for aquatic life.
One site in Willoughby attracted two separate maximum penalty fines of $8,000 (the maximum prescribed fine an enforcement officer may issue for a pollute waters offence under the Protection of the Environmental Operations Act, 1997).
The first fine was issued because there was a significant flow of sediment laden water onto the public roadway and stormwater drain. The second fine was issued because the site failed to maintain sediment control, including poor fencing and failing to secure sediment stockpiles.
All up, during May, the Council’s rangers issued six fines to five development sites, ranging from $578 to $8,000.
A further two clean-up notices were issued along with one verbal warning.
One of the fined businesses was also verbally warned with a direction to sweep and clean their footpath and gutter.
Willoughby City Council’s blitz was undertaken in partnership with the ‘Get the Site Right’ campaign – a joint taskforce of more than 20 local council and community groups, the NSW Environment Protection Authority and the Department of Planning and Environment.
The campaign targets erosion and sediment control on commercial and residential building sites around Sydney.
Willoughby City Mayor Tanya Taylor said it was in everyone’s best interest for building owners to comply with a soil erosion and sediment control plan.
“It will save money and time trying to prevent sand, soil and other building material from running off the building site, down stormwater drains, and into our local waterways,” Mayor Taylor said.
“Willoughby City Council is working with builders, developers and the community to highlight the role they play to improve our water quality and protect our environment.
“And with modelling showing La Nina conditions may return in the southern hemisphere later this year – the message is clear – get your site right to make our waterways clean and safe.”
Members of the public are encouraged to report pollution incidents, including poor sediment control, to Willoughby City Council on 02 9777 1000 or the EPA’s 24/7 Environment Line on 131 555.
Caption: Sediment flowing from a poorly-maintained building site at Willoughby, which attracted a $8,000 fine in May.
