Building site blitz sees compliance taskforce crack down on harmful construction practices

Maitland City Council has joined with the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) and 20 councils across the state to roll out the Get the Site Right initiative in recent weeks, with a view to limit harmful and hazardous construction waste working its way into our waterways.

Get the Site Right is a joint effort to strengthen erosion and sediment controls on building sites across New South Wales, preventing waste and sediment runoff from polluting local waterways.

Maitland Council compliance staff recently visited 33 building sites across four suburbs (Thornton, Chisholm, Lochinvar and Farley), issuing 13 improvement notices and recording a non-compliance rate of 76 per cent.

This marks an improvement from Maitland Council’s first Get the Site Right blitz in March 2025, in which 83 per cent of sites were found to be non-compliant.

The most common non-compliant practices found on both occasions were very few or poor sediment and erosions controls; as well as litter and construction material debris.

Maitland City Council Acting Manager Environment and Sustainability Michelle Lindsay said in addition to being a safety hazard, non-compliant building sites had an impact on the local environment too.

“Proper erosion and sediment control is not just a regulatory requirement – it’s essential for protecting our waterways and the communities that rely on them,” Ms Lindsay said.

“All that sediment, litter and debris that building sites generate has to go somewhere, and without the correct controls or right education materials in place, they could – accidentally or otherwise – find their way down the drain and into our waterways.

“With all the residential growth that Maitland has seen and will continue to see in the coming years, it’s imperative that we take action to work collaboratively with the local construction industry on best practices, to protect and improve our waterway health.”

A range of educational material, including a site maintenance checklist and information leaflets for builders and home renovators, can be accessed here: ourlivingriver.com.au/getthesiteright

Maitland residents are encouraged to report pollution incidents, including poor sediment control, to Maitland City Council – 02 4934 9700 – or the NSW EPA by emailing info@epa.nsw.gov.au or calling the Environment Line on 131 555.