Construction sediment management

Why is this project important?

Builders and developers must manage their construction sites to minimise erosion and sediment run off into surrounding waterways.

Without proper controls in place, earthworks on building sites can cause increased sediment and nutrient runoff into nearby waterways.

This can degrade the health of waterways and significantly impact aquatic environments and habitats.

What are we doing?

We are updating the guidelines for erosion and sediment control on building sites. The changes will help small-scale builders, certifiers, stormwater specialists and anyone working on construction sites that are less than 2,500m² understand how to prevent erosion and sediment pollution and protect our waterways.

View the draft updated guidelines and have your say via the NSW Planning Portal by 29 October 2023.

When finalised, these guidelines will be referred to in the standard conditions of development consent (which councils can also access in the planning portal).

Exhibition details

What have we achieved so far?

DPE has developed a set of standard conditions of development consent. Councils can also access these conditions in the planning portal.

Councils can use these conditions when issuing development consents to ensure development manages erosion and sediment while construction is underway.

The standard conditions bring greater consistency for controlling runoff on building sites in NSW.