Education helps get the site right

Eight fines, totaling more than $35,000, have been imposed for building site breaches in Canterbury-Bankstown, as part of an ongoing state-wide education campaign called Get the Site Right.

Last month, Council officers inspected 51 local building sites, targeting erosion and sediment controls, as well as the impact of runoff on waterways, including rivers and creeks.

During the first visit, only 17 sites were compliant, with the developers and builders at the other 34 sites being educated on proper controls. Upon the second visit, 26 of those had made their sites compliant. The remaining eight were heavily fined.

"This is all about education, to ensure builders and developers have the appropriate measures in place to protect our waterways," Mayor Khal Asfour said.

"That’s why it was important we gave them the knowledge and the chance to get their site right. I’m pleased to see that, of the sites which were initially non-compliant, 76 per cent of them brought their controls into line after we spoke to them.

"For those who didn’t, we had no choice but to issue fines and I make no apologies for putting measures in place to protect our local rivers and creeks."

Mayor Asfour encouraged residents to report any information regarding non-compliance at building sites to Council by calling 9707 9000.

"While our officers regularly patrol building sites, they can’t be everywhere all the time," he said.

"Residents are our eyes and ears, and can provide information which we can act on to make builders and developers responsible for their actions."

Pollution incidents can also be reported to the Environment Protection Authority on 131 555.

Council partners with the following groups as part of the Get the Site Right campaign:

Council officers conducted a similar blitz late last year, with 27 sites inspected and 19 found non-compliant. Fines totaling more than $15,000 in fines were issued.