Building Site Management
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This an important but often overlooked part of your building project.
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The main objective of good site management is to prevent the work on the site from having an impact on the environment off-site.
When you are beginning a building project it is very important to consider how you are going to manage things such as:
- The risk of heavy rain which can cause erosion and sediment runoff
- Discharges of contaminants (pollution) from concreting, plastering and painting operations
- The management of construction waste (litter and waste reduction)
- Movement to and from the site by heavy vehicles (which can cause problems on the site and on roadways, footpaths and road berms)
- Any other effects on the environment and neighbouring properties and public places.
Councils have regulatory responsibility for ensuring compliance with all these matters. Councils provide guidance and information about all aspects of site management for home owners, developers and builders.
Also as part of its building consent requirements the Councils require all sites where 50m2 or more of earthworks are proposed to have an approved site management plan and “signoff” (certification) by an engineer that the controls have been implemented before any inspections can be booked.
Council building inspectors will also check to see if erosion and sediment control measures are implemented in accordance with the approved site management plan. These measures are all designed to encourage and support best site management practices to reduce the cumulative environmental and social impacts of building activities on small sites.
