NINE fines worth $72,000 in total have been handed out to builders within a Fern Bay housing estate where sediment and litter was allowed to enter the stormwater system.
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Port Stephens Council compliance officers made a series of inspections of the sites at Seaside before it handed down the fines worth $8000 each.
Rawson Homes, the estate’s developer, released a statement that said it took its environmental obligations seriously. Its contractors were among the builders fined at Seaside.
“The cost to council and ultimately the ratepayer to clean and maintain the stormwater system resulting from sediment and building waste, leaving poorly maintained building sites, has been estimated at approximately $50,000,” a council spokesman said.
“Sediment and building waste can also have a detrimental impact on water quality and the ecology of our waterways and stormwater detention ponds.”
Sediment and building waste can also have a detrimental impact on water quality and the ecology of our waterways
- Port Stephens Council
Despite the pollution the council said it had begun to make inroads with builders.
“Council is committed to ensuring Port Stephens' waterways are protected - part of achieving this is ensuring sediment and other pollution does not enter the storm water system from building sites,” the spokesman said.
“After a very active education campaign over recent years, we have seen improved sediment and erosion control measures around the local government area.
“However, we discovered that further work is required in the Fern Bay area.”
A series of inspections across 30 construction sites found that 13 had discharged pollution and 27 had inadequate pollution and litter controls. Water pollution fines for corporations are fixed at $8000.
“Nine Infringements have been issued to the worst of the sites and improvement notices issued to all sites outlining the work required to get them up to scratch,” the spokesman said.
“The majority of the sites were issued warnings with only a smaller percentage of the 'worst' sites issued a fine.
“Follow-up inspections will be continue to be conducted over the coming weeks.”
Rawson Homes CEO Matthew Ramalay said "with 40 years' experience in the market, Rawson Homes takes its environmental obligations seriously and is committed to delivering quality housing products at Seaside”.
