Hugh Leersnyder

Auckland Council published the Erosion and Sediment Control Guide for Land Disturbing Activities in the Auckland Region (GD05) in 2016. The guideline outlines best practices and processes to minimise the generation and discharge of sediment from land-disturbing activities, including residential, commercial and infrastructure developments. GD05 is primarily aimed at the Auckland region but has been adopted and adapted throughout New Zealand as a key reference document.

An underlying principle for GD05 is that it is updated as practices and processes evolve. The Council initiated a comprehensive review process in 2024 to update the technical content of the document. The scope extended beyond this to assess the way in which GD05 is being implemented and what could be done to improve its implementation to minimise the discharge of sediment from earthworks.

A holistic and collaborative approach has been used, drawing on the application of a suite of resource management "tools", grouped into four categories:

• Applied science

• Policy development

• Regulation (both consenting and compliance)

• Communication, engagement and training

Review work streams included:

• Updating the technical content of GD05 to reflect current best practice.

• Identifying research questions with Council and industry to identify research projects to improve practice.

• Mining existing data collected for compliance purposes to generate knowledge on the efficacy of control practices and areas where industry training can be better focused.

• Reviewing consent conditions with industry input to ensure they remain practical and implementable.

• Promoting industry training for designers, regulators and installers of controls.

• Creating communication pathways for Council, industry, professional bodies and communities.

This presentation describes the process and findings of the review of GD05. It highlights the need for a holistic and collaborative approach to minimising the generation and discharge of sediment from earthworks.

Learning objectives

1. Upon completion, participants will be able to understand and appreciate the importance of taking a holistic and collaborative approach to implementing best practice guidelines.

2. Upon completion, participants will be able to recognise the value in closing the "plan, do, study, act" loop by generating new and mining existing data to create knowledge and continual improvement.

3. Upon completion, participants will be able to understand and recognise the principal role that communication, engagement and training play in facilitating the implementation of best practice guidelines.