Stronger site controls key to protecting waterways for recreation and wildlife
With increasing residential building activity and a wetter-than-usual spring forecast, the upcoming ‘Get the Site Right’ Blitz Week (25-29 August 2025) serves as an urgent reminder for builders to focus on proper site management to protect our rivers, beaches, and harbours from construction and demolition waste.
Get the Site Right is a joint effort by catchment groups, local councils, and the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) to strengthen erosion and sediment controls on building sites across NSW, preventing waste and sediment runoff from polluting local waterways.
The campaign’s urgency is underscored by findings from the March 2025 blitz, which revealed that compliance on construction sites was only 48.3 per cent. Regulatory staff across 20 councils and the EPA inspected 867 sites and issued more than 70 penalty notices totalling $404,780 for breaches including sediment run-off and poor stockpile controls.
With harsher penalties now in place, including on-the-spot fines starting at $15,000 for individuals and $30,000 for corporations, the August blitz is a critical reminder for builders and developers to get their sites right.
NSW EPA Executive Director Operations Jason Gordon emphasised the importance of effective site management.
“Proper erosion and sediment control is not just a regulatory requirement – it’s essential for protecting our waterways and the communities that rely on them,” Mr Gordon said.
“During heavy rain, even minor compliance breaches on construction sites can potentially cause major pollution incidents in our rivers and creeks,” he added.
Georges Riverkeeper Program Manager, Nell Graham, said well-managed building sites play a vital role in creating places where people want to live.
“In a growing city, the construction industry shapes not just our built environment but the natural spaces around it,” Ms Graham said.
“When our waterways are clean and healthy, neighbourhoods become more attractive, vibrant, and enjoyable for everyone. Simple actions like covering soil stockpiles, installing sediment fencing and maintaining stormwater controls can make a huge difference in keeping our waterways clean and safe for people and wildlife.”
A range of educational material, including a site maintenance checklist and information leaflets for builders and home renovators, can be accessed here: georgesriver.org.au/get-the-site-right
Members of the public are encouraged to report pollution incidents, including poor sediment control, to
their local council or the NSW EPA by emailing info@epa.nsw.gov.au or phoning the Environment Line on 131 555.
