Erosion and sediment control
Understand the erosion and sediment control requirements you must comply with for your development project.
About erosion and sediment control
Erosion and sediment control (ESC) measures reduce the degradation of land and water as a result of land development. You must show you have ESC measures in place if your development project involves soil-disturbing works.
This is in line with the Environmental Protection Act 1994, which states that a person must not cause environmental harm. This includes:
- depositing prescribed water contaminants (earth, concrete, building waste) in roadside gutters, stormwater drains and waterways
- placing prescribed contaminants where it could reasonably be expected to erode from the site and enter any of the above.
What is an erosion and sediment control plan?
An erosion and sediment control plan is a strategy to identify and manage erosion risks associated with your project. Your plan will show how you will reduce erosion and stop soils and other sediments from entering our city’s waterways.
You may need to have your ESC plan reviewed by a suitably qualified professional and provide an inspection or design certificate.
Failure to implement appropriate ESC measures can result in fines, prosecution and court penalties.
Determine your ESC requirements
Assess your project’s hazard risk. This will determine whether the project falls under the 'low', 'medium', or 'high' category. Based on the assessment results, you must obtain the appropriate certificates for your project.
You must complete an Erosion Hazard Assessment (EHA) form if your works will cause land disturbance or exposure of soil.
Lodge a form with Council for any of the following applications:
- development application (i.e. MCU or ROL) that will result in soil disturbance
- Operational Works or Compliance Assessment Application for filling or excavation.
An EHA determines the risk of soil erosion and sediment pollution to the environment. This may be categorised as ‘low’, ‘medium’ or ‘high’.
It relates to:
- a material change of use
- reconfiguration of a lot
- operational work (where not previously addressed).
Certify your EHA
Your EHA form must be certified by a person with suitable qualifications and/or experience in soil erosion and sediment control.
To learn more about who can certify your EHA form, read the EHA Supporting Technical Notes document.
Based on the assessment results, your project will be categorised as 'low', 'medium' or 'high' risk.
Erosion and sediment control (ESC) design certificate
An ESC design certificate is evidence that a qualified professional has reviewed the erosion and sediment control program and plans for a project. It verifies the plans meet current industry best practice techniques and will effectively mitigate sediment migration from the project site.
For medium-risk sites, an ESC plan and design certificate must be certified by a:
-
Certified Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control (CPESC), or
-
Registered Professional Engineer Queensland (RPEQ), with suitable qualifications and experience in erosion and sediment control.
For high-risk sites, an ESC plan and program must be prepared by a CPESC or RPEQ with suitable qualifications and experience in erosion and sediment control. A design certificate for a high-risk site must be certified by a CPESC.
Submit an ESC design certificate
Submit the ESC design certificate to Council at least 10 days before the pre-start meeting or commencement of site works.
Download and complete the certificate.
Erosion and sediment control (ESC) inspection certificate
An ESC inspection certificate is evidence that a qualified professional has reviewed the erosion and sediment control construction and implementation for a project. It’s also evidence that they’ve verified the construction:
- is in accordance with the certified design
- meets current industry best practice techniques
- will effectively mitigate sediment migration from the project site.
Complete an ESC inspection certificate
For high-risk projects, you don't need to submit the ESC inspection certificate. You must have it ready on-site for Council officers' inspection until all exposed soil areas are permanently stabilised against erosion.
Download and complete the certificate.
Fees and charges
You have the option to pay the relevant development application fees during or after lodgement.
If you want to pay using a Mastercard or Visa, you’ll receive a fee quote when you lodge your application.
If you want to pay another way, you’ll receive a fee quote 2 business days after you lodge your application.
Before starting works
Check you have the correct forms. For medium-risk and high-risk sites, you must have a pre-start meeting before commencing any earth-distributing activity.
The meeting is with an Officer from Council's ESC Team in Compliance and Regulatory Services (CARS).
To request a pre-start meeting, email CARS-ESC@brisbane.qld.gov.au
Attach all relevant documents to your email.
Include your:
- certified ESC plan
- certified ESC design certificate.
Allow up to 10 business days for your request to be processed.
You are required to implement the certified erosion and sediment control plan and maintain all ESC measures in accordance with:
- best industry practice for sediment and erosion control as per the International Erosion Control Association (IECA)
- Best Practice Erosion and Sediment Control document (2008 or later version)
- to the extent of any inconsistency, any relevant Brisbane City Plan 2014 codes and policies (7.11 Erosion sediment control).
The erosion and sediment control plan and design certificate must be available on site at all times for inspection by Council officers.