Construction sites under the spotlight as Get the Site Right marks 10 years
Construction sites across NSW will come under the spotlight this August as councils take part in the Get the Site Right ‘Blitz Week’ – marking 10 years of one of Australia’s leading erosion and sediment control programs.
The statewide campaign will see participating councils inspect construction sites to ensure effective erosion and sediment controls are in place to prevent sediment runoff and building waste from entering stormwater drains, creeks, and rivers.
Coordinated by the Parramatta River Catchment Group (PRCG), in partnership with the Cooks River Alliance, Georges Riverkeeper, Sydney Coastal Councils Group, and the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA), Get the Site Right combines education, inspections, and enforcement to improve environmental compliance across the building and construction industry.
The campaign coincides with the recent release of the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure’s Erosion and Sediment Control on Building Sites factsheets in multiple languages. The resources are designed to help everyone working on construction sites understand their responsibilities and implement best-practice erosion and sediment controls to protect local waterways.
Sediment runoff from construction sites remains one of the largest sources of stormwater pollution in urban areas. Without effective controls, it washes into drains, rivers, and creeks, smothering aquatic habitats, reducing water quality, and increasing maintenance costs for councils and government.
The August campaign follows the month-long March blitz, during which 784 construction sites were inspected across seven metropolitan and regional local government areas. While overall compliance reached 79%, compliance across Sydney metropolitan councils was just 44%, demonstrating that more work is needed to improve erosion and sediment control on construction sites in rapidly growing urban areas. Across all participating councils, inspections resulted in $157,500 in fines.
To mark the program’s 10th anniversary, project partners will also host the Get the Site Right Erosion and Sediment Control Forum in October. The forum will bring together representatives from local and state government, industry, and environmental organisations to explore emerging challenges and identify practical actions to strengthen erosion and sediment control across NSW. The forum will also be informed by a new discussion paper advocating for stronger and more consistent policy and governance to reduce construction sediment pollution.
Georges Riverkeeper Program Manager said: “As development across NSW accelerates, the need for robust erosion and sediment control measures has never been greater. Preventing pollution is a shared responsibility, and every construction site can contribute to protecting the waterways that support our communities and environment.”
Members of the community are encouraged to report pollution incidents to their local council or the NSW Environment Protection Authority's Environment Line on 131 555.
