Maintenance and Sediment Management

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Home » Resources » Maintenance and Sediment Management Erosion and Sediment Control – WA Local Government Case Studies of best practice management in ESC

Local Government plays a key role in managing urban development. Poor industry practices have resulted in sedimentation and declining water quality and biodiversity, and in considerable unbudgeted expenditure being incurred by Local Government for street sweeping, pipe cleaning and maintaining drainage infrastructure and Water Sensitive Urban Design technologies.

Learn why, what and find out how and about the:

  • City of Bayswater is facilitating cooperation from builders and developers.
  • City of Swan’s Development Design Specifications for subdivision.
  • Shire of Augusta-Margaret River’s strategic approach to managing development to protect local waterways.
  • Town of Cambridge is addressing sediment loss at its source.
  • City of Subiaco is remediating environmental degradation caused by sedimentation.
  • City of Kalamunda’s comprehensive regulatory framework to decrease sedimentation.
  • City of Cockburn’s “multi-pronged approach” for sand drift and dust.
  • How gazetting a Local Law to mitigate ESC is advantageous.

Local Government Case Studies Sediment Task Force

The ‘Why and How To’ of Preventing Sediment Pollution

Minimising the potential for sediment pollution during urban development is a shared responsibility. All parties have a role to play and need to take actions collectively by ensuring best practice erosion and sediment control measures are in place that safeguard river, wetland, estuary and marine ecosystem health and the recreational, aesthetic and cultural values we associate with a healthy environment.

The Sediment Task Force’s Keeping Soil on Site Information Sheet series has now been completed. This series consists of 17 InfoSheets, with categories for Western Australian builders, land developers, Local Government Officers, homeowners and residents, covering a range of issues including:

  • Legal liability and risk management
  • Erosion and Sediment Control (ESC) measures
  • The benefits of effective on-site management of sediment and water, and
  • What to do when sediment escapes.

You can also discover the success factors of Local Governments who are doing it well, how to build staff capacity and how important sustained monitoring for compliance is.

Visit www.perthnrm.com/resource/sediment-management or contact Bronwyn at bronwyn.scallan@perthnrm.com

Sediment Checklist

The Sediment Task Force has developed an easy-to-use field-based checklist to assist Local Government Officers (LGOs) to inspect incidences of soil erosion, sediment runoff, sand drift and dust from building, subdivision and construction sites. The On-Site Checklist will enable LGO’s to quickly identify erosion and sediment loss; record and follow up on actions to resolve a breach; provide best practice recommendations; and offer useful tips to facilitate a positive and timely solution. The checklist has been endorsed by WALGA as a necessary tool in the drive for delivering a Waterwise community and to reduce the environmental impact of urban development. You can use the checklist as an “in-house” publication or for internal reporting purposes.

Add your logo – customise the checklist with your logo.

More information here.

Economic Cost of Erosion and Sediment Loss from Construction Sites

The Sediment Task Force has published it’s its Economic Cost of Erosion and Sediment Loss from Construction Sites report and summary report. This report compiles current data and case studies illustrating the economic costs of erosion and sediment loss during urban development. Examples of costs expended on sediment management by governments in WA are up to $1,663,400 annually. This report also outlines economic benefits of implementing best practice erosion and sediment controls, and likely costs to the land development and building industry. Ten recommendations are offered, the most important being that the sustained and consistent erosion and sediment control compliance and enforcement activities result in high levels of effective onsite erosion and sediment control performance.

Summary of Key Findings – Economic Sot of Erosion and Sediment Loss Report

Full Report – Economic Sot of Erosion and Sediment Loss Report WSUD Asset Maintenance

Western Australia
Although the significant environmental and social benefits from vegetated WSUD infrastructure are widely recognised, the maintenance of these systems is perceived to be more expensive than that of traditional stormwater or park assets. This is further exacerbated by the wide range of WSUD solutions that can be implemented in new development and through retrofitting which result in significant variability of outcome, and a lack of awareness of the different maintenance requirements of each system. A greater understanding of the life cycle costs associated with the different treatment systems will help Local Government and the development industry, including hydrologists, engineers, landscape architects, and asset and parks managers to make informed decisions regarding the appropriate application of WSUD technology.

Maintenance Guidelines for other States

Melbourne Water, Vic

Healthy Land and Water, QLD