Stormwater

Did you know that it is an offence to place material in the gutter? Rainwater that falls and collects in the gutter, otherwise known as stormwater, is protected under the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997, Sect 120. In this section it is prohibited for a person to pollute ‘any waters’.

Any ‘prescribed matter’ as identified in schedule 5 of the Protection of the Environment Operations (General) Regulation 2022 (which includes any leaves, grass, sawdust, soil, sand, dog poo, oil and paints) that is “placing or on, or otherwise introducing into or onto the waters (whether through an act or omission) any matter, whether solid, liquid or gaseous” into any drain, channel or gutter used or designed to receive or pass rainwater is classed as an offence.

A person who is guilty of such an offence may receive a penalty notice for the offence consisting of a fine of $4,000 for individuals or $8,000 for corporations.

It is not acceptable to sweep material in the gutter for the street sweeper to collect. Operating on a fortnightly basis, the street sweeper cannot mitigate the environmental impact polluted stormwater can have on our natural waterways.

The following actions can be used as an alternative to sweeping material into the gutter:

It is not illegal to sweep up leaves off the footpath but it is illegal to place them in the gutter once they have been swept up.

If you witness any one committing such an offence please report it to Council by email to info@customerservice.nsw.gov.au or on 02 9879 9400.

Did you know that up to four truckloads of soil from a building site can be washed away in a single storm if not properly contained? If sediment such as soil, sand, dirt and mud are not properly managed on building sites they can directly pollute our river and cause severe environmental problems, making it less safe for people to use.

If you are building or renovating a home, submission of an Erosion and Sediment Control Plan is required before works begin and the plan must be adhered to. There are rules that developers need to follow to contain and manage sediment on their work site in a responsible manner. It is against the law to breach these rules. Local councils and the NSW Environment Protection Authority have the power to issue penalties from $8000 to $15,000 for each incident.

Non-compliance by your builders can result in fines being levied against the property owner for each incident.

Get the Site Right is a joint taskforce between the Parramatta River Catchment Group of which Hunters Hill Council is a member, Cooks River Alliance, Georges River Combined Councils Committee, Sydney Coastal Councils Group, Lake Macquarie Council, NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA), and Department of Planning and Environment, and more than 20 Sydney councils. We are working together to target developers and enforce best practice on commercial and residential building sites, as well as major infrastructure projects, to protect our waterways and surrounding environments.

• Directly pollutes our creeks, river and harbours by filling them with dirt, soil, sand and mud. This leads to poorer water quality, affecting swimming or leisure activities in and around our waterways.
• Destroys aquatic habitats and smothers native plants and animals that live our waterways.
• Blocks stormwater drains leading to flooding and overflows.
• Erodes creek and river banks.
• Causes health and safety risks such as slippery roads and tripping hazards.