Sediment runoff from building and development sites is a major source of pollution in waterways. To reduce sediment pollution, builders and developers are legally required to plan and implement appropriate and effective Erosion and Sediment Control (ESC) measures in accordance with the Queensland State Planning Policy 2017 (The State of Queensland, 2017), follow development application conditions, and comply with section 440ZG of the Environmental Protection Act 1994 (Qld) regarding prescribed water contaminants.

Adopting best practice ESC not only helps keep sediment pollution out of our waterways, but also benefits builders and developers by:

• Saving time and money by avoiding the need to clean up sediment or replace lost materials after rain.
• Reducing the likelihood of a fine or prosecution for polluting the environment.
• Reducing complaints related to dust and stormwater pollution.
• Improving relationships and trust with the local council and the community.
• Demonstrating your commitment to protecting the environment.

Despite strong regulatory mechanisms and economic and social incentives, historic and recent assessments of Queensland building and land development sites by Water by Design have found ESC compliance to be low, resulting in the preventable pollution to our waterways.

To address this, we have been working closely with our government and industry stakeholders to deliver supporting resources and activities aimed at driving uptake of best practice ESC.

The resources on this site provide tools and guidance to implement best practice Erosion and Sediment Control have been developed by Water by Design with the support of Department of Environment, Science and Innovation (DESI) and the Reef Urban Stormwater Management Group (RUSMG) to improve and protect our waterways and the reef. For further information regarding legislative requirements please visit the Queensland Government website.