Product Overview

Summary: This Waterway Protection and Management SOP sets out clear, practical steps to prevent pollution, sediment run-off and ecological harm to creeks, rivers, stormwater systems and coastal environments impacted by your operations. It helps Australian businesses meet their WHS and environmental duties by controlling on-site activities that can contaminate waterways, while providing a defensible framework for regulators, clients and the community.

Uncontrolled sediment, chemicals, fuels and waste from work sites can quickly find their way into stormwater systems, creeks, rivers and coastal environments, causing environmental damage and exposing businesses to significant legal and reputational risk. This Waterway Protection and Management Safe Operating Procedure provides a structured, step-by-step approach to planning, implementing and monitoring controls that prevent pollution and physical harm to waterways associated with your operations. It translates legislative requirements and best-practice environmental management into clear, workable instructions for supervisors and frontline workers across construction, civil works, local government, utilities, mining and industrial sites.

The SOP covers the full lifecycle of waterway risk management – from pre-start environmental assessments and erosion and sediment control planning, through to site set-up, daily inspections, incident response and demobilisation. It details how to select and maintain controls such as sediment fences, diversion drains, spill kits, bunding, washdown areas and stockpile management, while integrating WHS considerations such as safe access, manual handling, hazardous chemicals and working near water. By implementing this SOP, organisations can reduce the likelihood of pollution events, protect sensitive aquatic habitats, demonstrate due diligence to regulators, and embed waterway protection into everyday work practices rather than treating it as an afterthought.

This document is designed for the Australian regulatory context and supports compliance with state and territory environmental protection laws, WHS legislation and local council requirements. It acts as a practical bridge between high-level environmental management plans and what actually happens on site, providing consistent instructions for employees, contractors and subcontractors. The result is a safer, cleaner and more compliant work environment that supports long-term sustainability goals and maintains your licence to operate.

Key Benefits

• Ensure consistent protection of creeks, rivers, wetlands and stormwater systems across all worksites.
• Reduce the risk of pollution incidents, penalties, stop-work notices and costly remediation requirements.
• Demonstrate due diligence and compliance with Australian WHS and environmental legislation and approvals.
• Embed clear roles, responsibilities and step-by-step controls for frontline workers, contractors and supervisors.
• Improve community confidence and stakeholder relationships by visibly managing waterway impacts.
• Streamline training and onboarding with a single, standardised procedure for waterway protection and management.

Who is this for?

• Environmental Managers
• WHS Managers
• Site Supervisors
• Construction Project Managers
• Civil Engineers
• Operations Managers
• Maintenance Supervisors
• Local Government Works Managers
• Facilities Managers
• Mining and Quarrying Supervisors
• Stormwater and Drainage Coordinators
• Agricultural and Land Management Coordinators

Hazards Addressed

• Contamination of waterways from fuel, oil and chemical spills
• Sediment run-off and erosion impacting creeks, rivers and stormwater systems
• Discharge of untreated or inadequately treated wastewater
• Blockage or damage to stormwater infrastructure leading to flooding and safety risks
• Exposure of workers to contaminated water and associated biological hazards
• Manual handling and trip hazards associated with installing erosion and sediment controls
• Drowning and fall hazards when working near open water bodies, channels or culverts
• Environmental harm to aquatic flora and fauna due to poor site water management
• Uncontrolled washdown activities leading to spread of pollutants and invasive species

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Key Terms
• 3.0 Applicable Legislation, Standards and Codes of Practice
• 4.0 Roles, Responsibilities and Competency Requirements
• 5.0 Pre-Start Environmental Assessment and Planning
• 6.0 Waterway Risk Identification and Impact Assessment
• 7.0 Erosion and Sediment Control Measures
• 8.0 Pollution Prevention and Spill Management
• 9.0 Stormwater Management and Drainage Protection
• 10.0 Working Near Water – WHS and Access Controls
• 11.0 Installation, Inspection and Maintenance of Controls
• 12.0 Wastewater, Washdown and Dewatering Procedures
• 13.0 Incident Response, Reporting and Notification
• 14.0 Monitoring, Recordkeeping and Environmental Reporting
• 15.0 Training, Communication and Toolbox Talks
• 16.0 Audit, Review and Continuous Improvement
• 17.0 Site Demobilisation and Rehabilitation Requirements
• 18.0 Appendices – Checklists, Forms and Inspection Templates

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) and equivalent state and territory WHS Acts and Regulations
• Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth)
• State and Territory Environment Protection legislation and policies (e.g. POEO Act 1997 (NSW), EP Act 1994 (QLD), EP Act 2017 (VIC))
• AS/NZS ISO 14001:2016 Environmental management systems – Requirements with guidance for use
• AS 1940:2017 The storage and handling of flammable and combustible liquids
• Safe Work Australia – Managing risks of hazardous chemicals in the workplace Code of Practice
• State and Territory Erosion and Sediment Control Guidelines and Water Sensitive Urban Design guidelines
• Local Government stormwater and waterway protection requirements and permits