Victoria has had an unusually warm start to winter, but the rain is still falling and bringing with it the risk of exposed soil being washed off farms and construction sites and into waterways, EPA Victoria has warned.
Particularly after dry spells, rainfall picks up areas of bare soil and carries it off site as sediment. It can also be tracked out by vehicles. Construction site managers in particular should prepare, and take preventative measures to stop sediment escaping, says EPA Executive Director Operations Rachel Gualano.
“We all have a duty to prevent harm to the environment, and sediment run off creates a pollution risk,” said Ms Gualano.
“Erosion and sediment can pollute our waterways, impact water quality and harm the animals and plants that live there.
“When sediment gets into our waterways, the fine particles make them cloudy. That can cut the amount of sunlight that gets through, as well as clogging fish gills and smothering plants, fish eggs and insect larvae.”
Heavy rain causing erosion and sediment run-off year is a known risk at this time of year, and site managers should be prepared for it, she says.
“It’s not good enough to say that heavy rain wasn’t expected; it’s predictable and should be planned for. There are many steps you can take to minimise the risk of erosion and run-off. EPA has guidance on these, and we won’t hesitate to issue notices and fines to those who haven’t done everything practicable to manage the risk of pollution.”
For more information on erosion, sediment and the law, EPA has information on its Erosion and Sediment web page and its Civil Construction guide web page.
To report sediment or other types of pollution, contact the EPA’s 24/7 pollution hotline on1300 372 842 or visit pollution-reporting portal.
