Sediment Task Force

The Sediment Task Force

The Sediment Task Force is coordinated by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions which supports catchment management in the Swan Canning Catchment.

The Sediment Task Force brings together the knowledge of both the private and public sectors (government, land developers, the construction industry and the community) to share information and learnings and create resources, which focus on preventing sediment from leaving subdivision, building and roadworks sites and entering our stormwater drains, waterways and wetlands.

Did you know?
Residential construction is among the most intensive land disturbance activities in cities, increasing runoff and sediment export (University of Melbourne, 2021).

The Sediment Task Force is coordinated by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions as part of their Healthy Catchments Program which supports catchment management in the Swan Canning Catchment.  These activities in turn support the health of the Swan Canning Riverpark.

The Sediment Task Force is a multi-partisan group, with representatives and input from:

Leading Industry Groups

Leading industry and other key stakeholder groups: Housing Industry Association (WA), Master Builders Association (WA), StormwaterWA, Urban Development Institute of Australia (WA)

Government Agencies

Government Environment Managers, enforcement and support agencies: Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Department of Health, Main Roads WA, Water Corporation, the WA Local Government Association (WALGA) and the Cities of Cockburn, Kwinana, and Subiaco

Community Environmental Groups

Ellen Brockman Integrated Catchment Group, North Swan Land Conservation District Committee, Perth NRM, South East Regional Centre for Urban Landcare

Our appreciation goes to: Perth NRM for hosting the Sediment Task Force from July 2014 to June 2024; current Sediment Task Force members and member organisations (listed below); previous Sediment Task Force members and member organisations (Cities of Armadale, Canning and Gosnells, WESROC and the Departments of Water, Environment Regulation and Housing); and New WAter Ways and Stormwater WA for their support, valuable input and commitment to improving sediment management.

Please direct enquiries related to the Sediment Task Force and ‘all things sediment’ to the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions at rivers.systems@dbca.wa.gov.au

Did you know?
Sedimentation of waterways, including tributaries, wetlands, estuaries and marine environments is a clear early warning sign that more action and investment is needed to effectively manage pollution and urban run-off, including sediment surface run-off (Healthy Land Water, 2019).

Members of the Sediment Task Force

State Government

Debbie Besch representing the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions

Debbie is the Healthy Catchments Program Manager of the Swan Canning Waterways Branch.

Debbie has been a member of the Sediment Task Force since 2014 and has been working on sediment management related projects since 2009. Debbie is involved in the Sediment Task Force as sediment is having adverse effects on the health of waterways throughout the Swan Canning Catchment and thinks that with increasing urbanisation there will be greater pressure on our waterways, so we need to work collaboratively to address this issue. She believes that the most important issue for the Sediment Task Force to address is to ensure there is a standard approach by all local and state authorities to manage sand drift through the stages of development.

Vic Andrich representing the Department of Health WA

Vic is the Department of Health WA’s Senior Policy Officer for their Science and Policy Unit and has been a member of the Sediment Task Force since 2018.

Ian Mitchell representing Main Roads WA

Ian is Main Roads WA’s Environment Officer and joined the Sediment Task Force in 2021.

Jason Mackay representing Water Corporation

Jason Mackay, Principal for Drainage & Liveable Communities. Jason was the Water Corporation representative on the Sediment Task Force from 2020-2023 and re-joined the Sediment Task Force in 2024.

Local Government

Sarah Coles representing the WA Local Government Association (WALGA)

Sarah is WALGA’s Policy Advisor, Environment and joined the Sediment Task Force in 2023.

Lisa Brideson representing the City of Cockburn

Lisa is the City of Cockburn’s Sustainability and Water Projects Officer and joined the Sediment Task Force in March 2023.

Ruban Ganesha representing the City of Kwinana

Ruban is the City of Kwinana’s Engineering Developments Coordinator and joined the Sediment Task Force in 2022.

Belinda Stobie representing the City of Subiaco

Belinda is the City of Subiaco’s Environmental Projects Officer and joined the Sediment Task Force in 2021.

Industry

Urban Development Institute of Australia WA

New representative being sought.

Aaron Sice representing the Housing Industry Association WA (HIAWA)

Aaron is the Assistant Director of Building and Planning for HIA (WA) and joined the Sediment Task Force in 2019.

Jason Robertson representing the Masters Builders Association of Western Australia (MBAWA)

Jason is MBA’s Housing Director and was involved in MBA’s Smart waste program. Jason joined the Sediment Task Force in 2020.

Sumari Veal representing StormwaterWA

Sumari Veal (Sumi) is a civil engineer and architectural designer who specialises in Catchment Action Planning. Sumi is the Vice-President of the StormwaterWA Committee, Treasurer of Stormwater Victoria and Water Resources Lead in Western Australia for Stantec. Sumi was one of StormwaterWA’s 2024 Excellence in Strategic or Master Planning award recipients for Stantec’s project 1909 Subi East Precinct. Sumi joined the Sediment Task Force in December 2024.

Community

Sam Grigsby representing the Ellen Brockman Integrated Catchment Group (EBICG)

Sam is EBICG’s Natural Resource Management Officer, based at the Chittering Landcare Centre. Sam joined the Sediment Task Force in 2023.

Alan Heptinstall representing North Swan Land Conservation District Committee

Alan is the Chairperson of the North Swan Land Conservation District Committee. Alan joined the Sediment Task Force in February 2025.

Luke McMillan representing Perth NRM

Luke is Perth NRM’s Senior Manager, RDP and MERI. Luke joined the Sediment Task Force in 2023.

Amy Krupa representing the South East Regional Centre for Urban Landcare (SERCUL)

Amy is the CEO of South East Regional Centre for Urban Landcare and joined the Sediment Task Force in 2020. Amy has extensive experience in environmental education and community involvement and more recently in strategic project management.

Why was the Sediment Task Force established?

In Western Australia, the main water quality issues in waterways are salinisation, acidification and eutrophication (nutrient enrichment), low oxygen and erosion and sedimentation (DWER, 2020).

Uncontrolled sediment laden runoff and sand drift from land development is a significant source of water pollution, can erode creeks and riverbanks and fill up riverbeds.

Did you know?
Silt and suspended solids washed into the stormwater system have negative consequences for creeks and waterways, smothering aquatic habitats and depositing toxic sediment that can remain in the environment for a lifetime (Belinda Dohring, Program Manager, Water Sensitive SA, 2023).

How and when was the Sediment Task Force established?

In 2014, 65 representatives from various state and local governments, the building industry and the community attended Perth NRM’s Shifting Sands forum. Participants concluded sediment runoff from urban development was a significant contributor to water pollution in WA and due to:

  • Legislative requirements often not complied with or enforced;
  • Fines for non-compliance with legislative requirements not being a disincentive; and
  • Limited voluntary industry adoption of best practice measures from subdivision, construction and roadwork sites.

The Sediment Task Force was established as an action of this forum, recognising that preventing sediment loss during land development is a shared responsibility.

The establishment of the Sediment Task Force is a significant step to preventing and managing sedimentation and restoring Perth’s receiving water bodies. Members work together to:

  • provide leadership and coordination for sediment management;
  • raise awareness, educate and build capacity;
  • advocate for sediment control solutions; instigate organisational change to develop best practice; and
  • support research, knowledge and monitoring to enhance our understanding of the issue.

Did you know?
Whenever vegetation is removed, soil is disturbed, or the overland flow of stormwater runoff is altered, there is a risk of soil erosion and sediment runoff. On subdivision, construction, roadworks and other construction sites this risk is directly proportional to the intensity of rainfall and storm events; the amount of soil exposed to water and the slope of the exposed land.

Poor site sediment control practice. Photo credit: Sediment Task Force

Poor site sediment management practice. Photo credit: Sediment Task Force

Sand drift - poor site sediment control. Photo credit: R Janes.

*Header photo credit: Poor sediment management practices at the Cygnia Cove Housing Estate resulted in sedimentation of the Cygnia Cove Wetland, which flows into the Canning River. (Photo credit: DBCA)