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Erosion and sediment control (ESC) is the system of physical measures and management practices that prevents soil and sediment from leaving your site during earthworks and construction. It is documented in an Erosion and Sediment Control Plan (ESCP) - a consent requirement that councils need to see before earthworks begin. It covers drainage diversions, silt fences, decanting earth bunds (DEBs), treatment devices, and staging plans that reflect how the site will actually be built.
Sediment-laden runoff from construction sites is one of the most common causes of council enforcement action and consent breach. It clogs streams, damages aquatic habitats, and can halt a project at any stage. Getting ESC right from the start - designed to the site’s actual catchment, staged to reflect the construction sequence - is far less costly than managing a sediment event after it happens. And when site conditions change mid-build, as they often do, a well-structured ESCP can be adapted without derailing the programme.
We design ESC plans grounded in the site’s terrain, catchment characteristics, and construction programme, following GWRC’s Erosion and Sediment Control Guide for Land Disturbance 2021 and local council requirements. There are no generic templates here: every ESCP reflects how the site will actually be built, with device sizing calculations, staging diagrams, and specifications contractors can follow. When site conditions change mid-construction, we adapt the plan quickly, re-lodge with council, and keep your consent compliant without disrupting the programme.
