Ipswich City Council

Erosion and Sediment Control

Erosion and Sediment Control on Building Sites

Erosion is the movement of soil from one location to another by wind or water.

Large amounts of soil can be lost through erosion. A layer of soil one centimetre deep which is lost from an average house block is equivalent to approximately 5 trailer loads of soil! Localised losses of 5 to 10 cm of soil are fairly common during a summer storm.

Erosion is worse when there is no grass, plant or mulch cover and soil is left bare. Areas of uncovered soil while houses are being built is a major contributor to this problem in urban areas.

Sediment

Soil which is washed away in a storm goes down the stormwater drain and usually ends up as sediment in local creeks and rivers. The amount of sediment entering our stormwater system has increased as a result of land clearing and development. Sediment builds up in the stormwater system, which has to be cleaned out by Council on a regular basis. This costs Council and ultimately the community a significant amount every year.

The main sources of sediment in the Bremer River are:

erosion from cleared or poorly managed agricultural land
erosion from building/construction sites

Stirred up sediment in rivers and creeks can smother aquatic plants and impact on fish health. Other chemicals in stormwater attach themselves to sediment particles, which means that large amounts of sediment result in more chemicals in the creeks and rivers. Follow this link for more information about waterways in Ipswich.

Management of Erosion and Sediment in Urban Areas

Construction sites are very prone to erosion problems and contribute large amounts of sediment to waterways. Council is responsible for making sure that developers and builders don't pollute waterways, however the Environmental Protection Agency is responsible for enforcement of stormwater pollution laws if the project is State Government or Council administered (eg construction of roads).

Council officers patrol the Ipswich area distributing education materials to builders explaining what they can do to stop soil from leaving their site. Anyone (not just builders) who allows dirt, paint, cement or other chemicals to wash into a stormwater drain can be fined. The on-the-spot fine amounts are $1,000 for individuals and $2,000 for businesses. The State Government sets these fine amounts.

Further Information

Managing Erosion and Sediment on Building Sites (PDF, 525 kb)
HealthyWaterways information on erosion and sediment control
State Government information regarding erosion

Last Updated 9 Nov 2009 |

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