Foreword

Editor's note

The first Building Site Kit was published in March 2003 and appears on this website in full. A second edition was published in March 2004 which included revised education materials and comprehensive audit and enforcement guidelines designed for immediate implementation at the local level. Kit #2 is available for sale with limited copies of the educational materials for $78 (including P&H). Search for the Doing It Right On Site Order Form on the Clearwater website.

During the past decade our understanding of the value of stormwater as a resource has increased significantly. Long gone are the days when waste was routinely washed down residential stormwater drains and councils flushed the streets clean, sending all of the waste down the drains and into our waterways.

Traditionally, there has been a focus on end of pipe solutions, such as gross pollutant traps, which are costly to install and maintain, but we are now working towards preventative solutions to stop pollution at the source. This is far more effective and less resource intensive in the long run but requires a major cultural change throughout all sectors of the community.

Urban stormwater carries about 230,000 cubic metres or two billion items of litter to Port Phillip Bay each year, equal to a two storey high pile of rubbish covering the whole MCG playing surface.

Local government stormwater management plans have consistently identified building sites as a significant source of stormwater pollutants. Sediment, soil, sand and litter escaping building and construction have been identified as key threats to stormwater and waterway quality, originating from both work practices and worker activities.

These pollutants impact on waterway systems at both a local and catchment-wide level with the potential to cause both short and long term ecological, hydraulic, social and economic impacts on the environment.

In response to these concerns a body of knowledge as well as a range of tools and resources has been developed to protect stormwater quality from building and construction sites.

This stormwater management kit for building sites draws existing best practice tools and knowledge together into one comprehensive kit for use by local authorities and industry.

This kit encapsulates the partnership approach to tackle this problem showcasing the materials developed by Melbourne Water, Environment Protection Authority Victoria, Housing Industry Association Victoria, Building Commission, local governments, interstate projects and many more.

It aims to promote programs for both education and enforcement best practice standards to ensure better management of stormwater pollutants and a reduction in environmental impact.

This kit is an important resource that can be adapted to suit the differing needs of local areas. It also provides a program that will enable the development of a financially self-sustaining enforcement model that can be used by local authorities to ensure consistent management of building site practices.

In responding to the needs of local government, communities and industry groups, this kit has been prepared by the Stormwater Capacity Building Program (Municipal Association of Victoria & Stormwater Industry Association of Victoria) and the Litter Champion Project for the Victorian Litter Action Alliance.

We trust you will find it useful in the ongoing management of stormwater and minimisation of pollutants from building and construction sites.