Sediment Resources

WA Local Government Sediment Forum 2024

Local examples and learnings from across the country will help improve sediment management practices and outcomes in WA.

Download presentations from the forum:

Bronwyn Scallan – The scope and scale of the problem

Merryn Delaney – Our Erosion and Sediment Control Local Law and other sediment actions

Matt Stovold – Scour Design for WA Transport Infrastructure Projects

Ruban Ganeshamoorthy – Infrastructure Protections Bond Implementation & Progress

Pia Hackshaw – Sediment Snapshot

City of Wanneroo – Sand Drift Compliance Officer – Why, how & what drives change in Local Government

Shelley Shepherd – It takes all disciplines to improve sedimend management

Leon Rowlands – Implementing a Successful ESC Program

Sediment Forum Rolling Slideshow

Download WALGA’s new ESC guidelines Read more on the sediment forum

‘Sediment Snapshot’ Pilot Trial – Summary Report

A pilot trial in the Perth South West region in 2023 brought together stakeholders interested in maintaining drainage assets and water quality to undertake a ‘Sediment Snapshot’. This involved developing new tools and undertaking multiple site inspections over one week in early winter to gauge the scale of sediment pollution occurring in the region. Results demonstrated significant movement of sand and sediment across urban development areas, and little compliance with legislative requirements for sediment control. The findings point to a need for changed and improved practices, greater awareness, clearer and more consistent regulations, and increased compliance inspections. Improving three key industry practices, namely, effectively covering soil and sand stockpiles, minimising vehicular tracking of sand from site to road and improving poor sand delivery practices, will provide the most rapid change with the least effort.

Local Governments are invited to consider using or adapting the ‘Sediment Snapshot’ tool to help understand the magnitude of poor sediment management practices in their jurisdiction and to identify potential solutions.

Download the summary report here

Sediment Snapshot Success at WA Stormwater Awards

The Sediment Task Force/Perth South West Metropolitan Alliance’s ‘Sediment Snapshot’ Pilot Trial has won the 2024 Stormwater WA Award for Excellence in Research and Innovation. This Award recognises excellence in research and innovation that fills knowledge gaps and/or addresses information or technology needs which lead to improvements in the sustainable use and management of stormwater.

Sediment Control at Cygnia Cove, Waterford – Stakeholder Summary Report

This report outlines observations of a housing developments’ sediment control during 2020-2023 at Cygnia Cove in Waterford (Perth). Free erosion and sediment control products were offered to prevent sediment pollution, however, concerns about additional building delays, taking on new or changing building practices, and potential increased labour costs resulted in nil uptake.

Project redirection included installing silt sausages at stormwater inlets to quantify sediment prior to entering the drainage network, quantifying sand drift from allotments, developing on-site signage and awareness raising initiatives. This study confirmed that frequent ‘minor non-compliance’ of legislative requirements for sediment control can result in considerable cumulative sediment pollution and subsequent sedimentation.

Download the Stakeholder Summary Report here Read more here

Keep Soil and Sand on Site signs

To make it easier for builders, building companies, land developers and their contractors to prevent sediment pollution, Perth NRM and DBCA have developed ‘Keep Soil and Sand on Site’ signs, ready to print.

Also consider making displaying signage of this nature a condition of building approval.

Further info at: https://www.perthnrm.com/blog/2023/06/22/stopping-site-sediment-pollution/

Keep Sand and Soil on Site A3 Sign Keep Sand and Soil on Site A1 Sign

Erosion and Sediment Control Information Sheets

Erosion and Sediment Control Information Sheets published

A new series of information sheets has been developed by the Sediment Task Force to help Western Australian builders, land developers, Local Government Officers, homeowners and residents prevent water pollution by keeping soil on site.

The economic cost of erosion and sediment loss

The economic cost of erosion and sediment loss from construction sites.

A summary of current data and case studies from 2019-2022 illustrating the economic costs of unmitigated erosion and sediment loss during subdivision, residential and commercial building construction and roadworks.

Download this STF report here Download the Summary of Key Findings from the STF Report

UWA/CRC-WSC Heron Park Sediment Research Report

This report Quantifying sediment export from an urban development site: Heron Park, WA summarises findings from a research project commissioned by the Sediment Task Force and undertaken by the University of Western Australia and the Cooperative Research Centre for Water Sensitive Cities. The research aimed to gain insights into the mechanisms that may exacerbate or ameliorate the discharge of sediment from subdivision, building and construction sites, and to understand the issues behind the problem. This included the monitoring of three sites during 2017 and 2019 and seeking clarification as to how sand and other particulate materials entering the stormwater management network contribute to the issue and the quantity and quality of water-borne sediment generated under different hydrological conditions.

This project was established to provide field data that identifies activities producing water-borne sediment, and the conditions under which that sediment is discharged from an urban development site, where land is being subdivided, landscaped, and roads and houses constructed. This project specifically aimed to:

Explore approaches and test methodologies for quantifying sediment export in urban drains;
Quantify sediment export from an exemplar urban development site, across both storm event and baseflow (non-storm) conditions; and
Recommend appropriate measures for reducing sediment export in future development activities.

Download the report here Read more here

Local Government Tool for Sediment Management

Soil erosion from building, subdivision and construction sites is a major source of stormwater pollution in urban areas of WA. When it enters our waterways or wetlands, sediment (soil, sand, silt and mud) washed from urban areas can cause short and long-term environmental problems.

Sediment can block drains, leading to localised flooding, and obstruct and/or damage stormwater drainage infrastructure and Water Sensitive Urban Design technologies; often resulting in Local Governments having to pay to fix the damage.

Local Government Officers (LGOs) are often charged with the task of monitoring for compliance with State legislation and their own local laws, policies, plans and/or guidelines for erosion and sediment control.

To help LGOs in this important work, the Sediment Task Force has developed an On-Site Checklist for Inspecting Soil Erosion and Sediment Loss from Building, Subdivision and Construction Sites which aims to assist LGOs to quickly identify and inspect incidences of soil erosion, sediment runoff, sand drift and dust from building, subdivision and construction sites; 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.

This 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.

Local Governments are encouraged to use this checklist as their own “in-house” publication. The Checklist could be included in a manual or as part of your internal reporting processes. It’s simple to do: choose the web-based version of the checklist below and add your own logo.

An interactive pdf version of the checklist can be downloaded for use in the field; simply ‘save as’ with the name of the site visit to maintain your records.

A complementary on-site checklist has also been developed for West Australian builders in partnership with the Housing Industry Association of WA.

On-Site Checklist for Inspecting Soil Erosion and Sediment Loss from Building, Subdivision and Construction Sites:

LGA On-Site Checklist

LGA On-Site Checklist – editable pdf

LGA On-Site Checklist – Add your own logo document

On-Site Builders Checklist for Preventing Sediment

Free On-Site Builders Checklist for Preventing Sediment Loss now available – a handy new tool for your toolbox!

All builders (including sub-contractors, tradespersons & suppliers) must take responsibility for controlling sediment loss from building sites.

The Sediment Task Force’s Builders Checklist can be used as a guide to prevent soil erosion, sediment runoff, sand drift and dust from building sites. This is good news for builders as it will result in:

A reduction in the cost of supplying sand and stockpile losses.
A reduction in clean-up costs and reduction in the risk of fines/loss of bond.
A better public image and fewer public complaints.
More marketable sites and earlier sales.
Earlier completion and reduced downtime; and
All weather site access and improved wet weather conditions.

Builders can use the checklist when arriving at and leaving site, for regular checks of sites and vacant blocks, and before and after a rain, wind or storm event.

The checklist can help builders identify tasks to do immediately to avoid an infringement and/or possible prosecution. It also contains information on why covering soil and soil stockpiles is the best way to stop erosion and save money and time, and erosion and soil control tips and recommendations.

Building companies can add their own logo to the checklist for inclusion in a work schedule, guideline, manual and/or for reporting purposes. There’s also an editable pdf format so builders can fill out the checklist in the field. Download interactive version here using ‘Save As’.

Builders on-site checklist

Builders on-site checklist – editable pdf

Builders on-site checklist – add your own logo document

Local Government Case Studies

Preventing and controlling soil erosion, sediment runoff and sand drift from building, subdivision and construction sites is a significant issue for Local Governments (LGs). The environmental and financial impacts are considerable, and these are managed by Local Governments across Western Australia in diverse ways to varying levels of success.

In order to raise awareness, educate and inspire LGs to trial and/or embrace new tools and mechanisms to more effectively manage soil erosion, sediment runoff and sand drift, the Sediment Task Force compiled a case study series in 2017 titled Examples of Local Government’s response to erosion resulting from urban development in Perth, WA.

Click the links below to access PDFs of each case study.

Shire of Augusta-Margaret River’s strategic approach to managing development protects local waterways

City of Bayswater is facilitating cooperation from builders and developers

Town of Cambridge is addressing sediment loss at its source

City of Cockburn has adopted a “multi-pronged approach” for sand drift and dust management

City of Kalamunda’s comprehensive regulatory framework to decrease sedimentation

City of Subiaco is remediating environmental degradation caused by sedimentation

City of Swan’s Development Design Specifications work with subdivisions