Builders, developers and home renovators are more successfully implementing erosion and sediment controls on building sites to protect our local waterways, according to results from the recent Get the Site Right education and compliance campaign.
In June 2020, the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) and 14 local councils inspected more than 600 sites across Sydney and the Central Coast. Almost three quarters (73%) of the sites inspected were compliant. This is compared to the May 2019 campaign where only 63% of sites inspected were managing their sites adequately.
A total of $189,484 in fines was issued to non-compliant sites. Offences ranged from no controls in place at all and unprotected soil stockpiles in locations where they could be washed away, to minor offences such as ruptured sediment bags and inadequate sweeping of roads and driveways.
See the results below!
Sediment runoff fills our creeks, rivers and harbours with dirt, soil, sand and mud. This leads to poorer water quality, affecting swimming and leisure activities in and around waterways. It also degrades aquatic habitats by smothering marine plants and animals. Sediment runoff can also block stormwater drains leading to flooding and overflows and erosion of creeks and riverbanks.
The improvement in compliance rates is encouraging in light of the increase in home renovation and DIY projects stemming from COVID-19 restrictions and introduction of government stimulus packages for builders and renovators.
SCCG Chair, Cr Lindsay Shurey, said that he was pleased by the growing number of builders and developers who were contributing to improving waterway health by preventing sediment runoff from leaving their sites and being washed into stormwater drains and out to our creeks and rivers.
“Reducing sediment and stormwater runoff is a key factor is a key factor in improving water quality in our region,” Cr Shurey said.
“We’re securing resilient and healthy coastal and estuarine environments that supports places for recreation, thriving ecosystems for plants and animals, tourism and business opportunities, and a more liveable city in these times of changing climate and urban heat.”
Now in its fifth year, the Get the Site Right campaign is a joint program between the Cooks River Alliance, Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA), Georges Riverkeeper, Parramatta River Catchment Group (PRCG), Sydney Coastal Councils Group, local Sydney councils and Lake Macquarie Council.
Members of the public who may be out exercising near our waterways during these times, are encouraged to report pollution incidents, including poor sediment control, to their local council or the EPA’s 24/7 Environment Line on 131 555.
More information about the campaign and the importance of erosion and sediment control is available at:
www.sydneycoastalcouncils.com.au/get-the-site-right
Coast and Estuary Grant Program Opens
/in Uncategorised /by SCCG AdminThe 2020-21 funding round of the Coastal and Estuary Grants Program is NOW OPEN.
There have been a number of changes to the program following the outcomes of the independent review and agency response to the recommendations.
A copy of the guidelines can be found here.
The Planning stream is open all year round, and applications are welcome to be submitted when you are ready. They will be assessed on their merits and processed as they are submitted as opposed to waiting until the closing date
The Implementation stream closes at 5pm on 29 September 2020.
For further information visit the DPIE Grants Page.
New Planning Circular for Coastal Management SEPP and CVAs
/in Uncategorised /by SCCG AdminDPIE recently released a planning circular on coastal vulnerability area mapping and the process needed for updating Coastal Management SEPP maps.
Fact Sheet No 5 will help local councils preparing planning proposals to map coastal vulnerability areas (CVA) for the purposes of the Coastal Management Act 2016 and State Environmental
Planning Policy (Coastal Management) 2018 (the Coastal Management SEPP).
For more information, visit the DPIE’s Coastal Management webpage.
Release of the GSH CMP Education Video
/in Uncategorised /by SCCG AdminWe’re excited to share our Greater Sydney Harbour Coastal Management Program (GSHCMP) education video which highlights the need for a coordinated and dedicated approach to sustaining and improving catchment and waterway health for our iconic Harbour.
Click here to watch our video and find out more about the GSH CMP.
Guidelines for Stormwater Treatment Maintenance
/in Uncategorised /by SCCG AdminStormwater NSW has released its Guidelines for Stormwater Treatment Maintenance. The Guidelines are aimed at assisting owners and operators of stormwater treatment infrastructure to inspect, identify issues, and identify maintenance responses.
Training on how to apply the Guidelines is also available! Visit the Stormwater NSW page to register your interest. Updated copies of the Guidelines will be circulated annually to those who participate in these training workshops.
LGNSW Water Conference
/in Uncategorised /by SCCG AdminLGNSW invites you to a two-day online conference from 7 October 2020 to 8 October 2020. The program has been slightly revamped to fit an online format, but all the highly anticipated speakers will remain the same with Q&A sessions.
The conference promises many interesting, educational, and informative presentations including Water Services Association of Australia, Sydney Water, DPIE, research associates and local council representatives as well as several panel discussions. View the full program here.
Living Seawalls
/in Uncategorised /by SCCG AdminA joint collaborative initiative between the Sydney Institute of Marine Science and Macquarie and UNSW researchers appears promising in its aim to improve the ecological performance of seawalls and other marine build infrastructure. The Living Seawalls initiative partnered with Reef Design Lab, to develop habitat modules that can be attached to seawalls to increase habitat area and add missing microhabitats such as rockpools and crevices. So far in 2020, the team has installed new panels at several locations including Blues Point, Clontarf, Fairlight, and Rushcutters Bay complementing earlier installations at Milsons Point and McMahons Point.
Good news for local waterways as builders and renovators Get the Site Right
/in SCCG News /by SCCG AdminBuilders, developers and home renovators are more successfully implementing erosion and sediment controls on building sites to protect our local waterways, according to results from the recent Get the Site Right education and compliance campaign.
In June 2020, the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) and 14 local councils inspected more than 600 sites across Sydney and the Central Coast. Almost three quarters (73%) of the sites inspected were compliant. This is compared to the May 2019 campaign where only 63% of sites inspected were managing their sites adequately.
A total of $189,484 in fines was issued to non-compliant sites. Offences ranged from no controls in place at all and unprotected soil stockpiles in locations where they could be washed away, to minor offences such as ruptured sediment bags and inadequate sweeping of roads and driveways.
See the results below!
Sediment runoff fills our creeks, rivers and harbours with dirt, soil, sand and mud. This leads to poorer water quality, affecting swimming and leisure activities in and around waterways. It also degrades aquatic habitats by smothering marine plants and animals. Sediment runoff can also block stormwater drains leading to flooding and overflows and erosion of creeks and riverbanks.
The improvement in compliance rates is encouraging in light of the increase in home renovation and DIY projects stemming from COVID-19 restrictions and introduction of government stimulus packages for builders and renovators.
SCCG Chair, Cr Lindsay Shurey, said that he was pleased by the growing number of builders and developers who were contributing to improving waterway health by preventing sediment runoff from leaving their sites and being washed into stormwater drains and out to our creeks and rivers.
“Reducing sediment and stormwater runoff is a key factor is a key factor in improving water quality in our region,” Cr Shurey said.
“We’re securing resilient and healthy coastal and estuarine environments that supports places for recreation, thriving ecosystems for plants and animals, tourism and business opportunities, and a more liveable city in these times of changing climate and urban heat.”
Now in its fifth year, the Get the Site Right campaign is a joint program between the Cooks River Alliance, Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA), Georges Riverkeeper, Parramatta River Catchment Group (PRCG), Sydney Coastal Councils Group, local Sydney councils and Lake Macquarie Council.
Members of the public who may be out exercising near our waterways during these times, are encouraged to report pollution incidents, including poor sediment control, to their local council or the EPA’s 24/7 Environment Line on 131 555.
More information about the campaign and the importance of erosion and sediment control is available at:
www.sydneycoastalcouncils.com.au/get-the-site-right
Greening our City Grant Funding Opens!
/in Uncategorised /by SCCG AdminThe 2020 Greening our City grant program is now open!
This grant supports local councils and their partners to enhance urban tree canopy and green cover across Greater Sydney. Up to 12.5 million is available to fund new grants under two streams for tree planting projects and demonstration projects.
An information session is also being held on 22 July 2020 to provide details on eligibility and assessment criteria as well as provide guidance on how to use the online spatial tool. Click here to register.
See the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment page for further guidelines and supporting materials.
Please note that grant applications close on the 19 August 2020.
Postponement of 29th NSW Coastal Conference
/in Uncategorised /by SCCG AdminAt the start of this month, the NSW Coastal Conference Organising Committee announced that this year’s conference would be postponed to 2021. However, the Committee is looking into an alternative option involving an online practitioner forum later this year with more details to come.
In the mean time, make sure to save the date of the NSW Coastal Conference in 2021!
3rd – 5th November 20201, Mantra on Salt Beach, Kingscliff. Co hosted by Byron Shire Council & Tweed Shire Council
Renewed Management for Aquatic Reserves
/in Uncategorised /by SCCG AdminExisting rules at Sydney’s aquatic reserves will continue as announced in the Aquatic Reserve Notification published in the Government Gazette of 17 April 2020. No changes have been made to the boundaries or rules of these aquatic reserves. The Aquatic Reserve Notification can be found here.