Construction sediment management

Why is this project important?

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 have we achieved so far?

The Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure has updated the guidelines for erosion and sediment control on building sites.

The updated guidelines 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 which is a key initiative under the Marine Estate Management Strategy.

We published a short video outlining the Guidelines and importance of effective erosion and sediment control.

We have developed an easy-to-use factsheet based on the guidelines to help people working on construction sites understand their obligations for managing erosion and sediment to protect our waterways. The factsheet is available in English, Arabic, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese, and can be accessed on the NSW Planning Portal.

We have also updated the standard conditions of development consent, which are available to councils through the NSW Planning Portal. Councils can apply these conditions to development approvals to ensure the approved development complies while construction is underway.

The standard conditions include a requirement for an Erosion and Sediment Control Plan (ESCP) to be prepared by a suitably qualified person.

Before works can commence, the certifier must be satisfied that the erosion and sediment controls in place are consistent with the ESCP.  This brings greater consistency in erosion and sediment control on building sites across the state.

We presented alongside Shoalhaven Council at an Environmental Health Australia (EHA) webinar in September 2025. The session supported environmental practitioners and councils to strengthen their understanding of the importance of erosion and sediment control.