Construction sites across Wollongong and Shellharbour will be part of a new "blitz" on runoff and sediment containment next month.
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The two council areas have been included in the next phase of a taskforce called "Get the Site Right" which includes the Parramatta River Catchment Group, Environment Protection Authority (EPA) and Sydney council groups.
EPA operations director James Goodwin said the discoloration and pollution of many waterways following heavy rains this year highlights what can happen when significant amounts of soil, litter, and other waste enters our waterways.
"Studies by the EPA show a large building site can lose up to four truckloads of soil in a single storm," Mr Goodwin said.
"By ensuring proper controls are in place on their sites, builders and developers play an important role in protecting our waterways and marine life from the harmful effects of sediment runoff. They can also avoid costly building materials being washed away."
This comes as no surprise to many residents of the Illawarra, who have watched runoff from construction sites in numerous areas. Most recently a Menai Civil excavation site at Wombarra was responsible for large amounts of sediment washing across the road, through properties and onto the ocean ledge.
This drew fines from Wollongong City Council and attempts at fixing the problem but the runoff continued as the rain hung around, causing residents to issue a plea for help for someone to take effective action.
The EPA said this site wasn't its responsibility as it wasn't operating under an EPA pollution licence.
The EPA has announced the date for next month's one-day blitz on compliance, which will also be an education campaign. The last time such a blitz was conducted, along the Parramatta, Georges and Cooks rivers, and on the Central Coast, in 2019, more than $290,000 in fines was issued for construction sites failing to follow the rules on containing sediment on-site.
"When that sediment hits the waterways, it can destroy aquatic habitats and smother native plants and animals," EPA director Giselle Howard said at the time.
Wollongong's Lord Mayor has called for more vigilance from builders and contractors during periods of heavy rain.
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