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Article: How building a new home can affect the environment
Why building a new house can damage marine life
Over the past 20 years, numerous residential developments and redevelopments involving demolition, building and construction works have sprung up across South Australia.
These developments have provided social and economic benefits but have also come at substantial cost to the environment. Most dramatic has been the amount of soil disturbed and washed into the stormwater system.
This soil suffocates plants and animals in our creeks, rivers and along our coastal waters. Extensive seagrass beds along our South Australian coastline have been lost following the influx of soil carried by stormwater. The seagrass beds provide breeding habitats for fish and other marine life.
Constructed wetlands do not function efficiently to remove pollutants in stormwater if they become choked with soil. The solution is to prevent the loss of soil in the first place.
It is illegal to allow soil to enter the stormwater system under the Environment Protection (Water Quality) Policy 2003. Polluters are liable for a $300 on-the-spot fine.
If you are demolishing and/or building a new house please ensure your builder installs soil and erosion controls. A number of building companies charge an environmental levy. Consumers are advised to make sure that this levy is used to fund on site pollution prevention strategies and not the payment of fines when incurred.
Councils can provide a Handbook for Pollution Avoidance on Commercial and Residential Building Sites free of charge. Please call XXXX XXXX for your copy.
Visit www.epa.sa.gov.au for more information on preventing pollution.
Last modified: 15/12/2010 11:50 am
