How can you prevent pollution from the site?
Last modified: August 9, 2007 - 10:59 AM
Step 1: Planning
Prepare a soil and water management plan, also known as a sediment and erosion control plan. This will be required prior to Council issuing you a Construction Certificate (either at DA stage or as a condition of consent). The Soil and Water Management Plan should outline the methods you will use to prevent pollution of the stormwater system throughout the life of the construction period. There may be different controls needed as the site develops due to changes in drainage patterns and location of building materials. These stages and their controls must be shown on your Soil and Water Management Plan. Sample Soil and Water Management Plans are available from Council, however you must develop a plan specific to your site.
Step 2: Installation of soil and water controls
(See fact sheets for more detail)
- Establish a single stabilised entry/exit point. (Use appropriate aggregate!, Recommend to install geotextile fabric beneath aggregate)
- Install sediment fence(s) along the low side of the site.
- Divert up slope water around the work site and stabilise channels.
- Clear only the areas necessary - fence off no go areas where vegetation is to be kept - and plan the staging of work to minimise the amount of soil exposed at any time. Revegetate any areas that will be left exposed for more than 14 days.
- Store stockpiles on site and place sediment controls around them. If storage room is not available on site, seek Council approval for an offsite storage area with pedestrian access and appropriate soil and water controls.
- Stabilise exposed earth banks (use vegetation or erosion control mats, put sediment fence down slope).
- Install onsite waste receptacles (mini-skips, bins, wind proof litter receptors).
- Commence building activities.
- Install roof downpipes prior to frame inspection.
Step 3: Maintenance of soil and water controls
Soil and water controls should be checked daily to ensure that they are operating effectively. Maintenance that will be required includes:
- Removing sediment collected by sediment fences and catch drains
- Topping up the gravel on the stabilised entrance way
- Repairing erosion in drainage channels
- Inspecting roadways and gutters and sweeping up any sediment
Remember that the soil and water controls may need to be modified if the slope and drainage paths are changed as the site develops. Best practice includes anticipation of risks as well as being prepared for abnormal circumstances and emergencies eg: storage of clean up materials and extra sediment fence on site just in case.
Step 4: Finalisation of site
Ensure the site is stabilised and that no exposed soil remains, before removing the sediment and erosion controls. If landscaping is not completed prior to handover ensure that the new owners are aware of their responsibility to prevent pollution from entering the stormwater system, by maintaining existing sediment and erosion controls until the site is stabilised.
Contact details
Wingecarribee Shire Council
02 4868 0888 (ph)
wscmail@wsc.nsw.gov.au
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