Rain will come – always have your site prepared!

Although we are witnessing Townsville being lashed by constant rainfall (and we send all our thoughts to those currently affected by flooding), it has been an exceptionally dry start to the year in South-East Queensland, and the driest on record for some locations.

During dry periods we can become complacent (both civil contractors and consultants). We understand that when it is dry, things get done and projects move forward rapidly, and sometimes your Erosion and Sediment controls become redundant or removed. The best advice we can provide is be prepared and have a wet weather strategy!

Where do you need to form drainage? What areas can you close up with erosion control? Are your sediment controls still in place and adequate? If you can’t answer this then you will have little chance to get things sorted if (or when) rain does come. Although the best approach is to always have your controls in, if earthworks have progressed rapidly, you should always have an action plan and be ready to act. Rain will come – and although it might be a drier than typical wet season, sites are still likely to receive 100’s of millimetres of rainfall in the coming months.

Rainfall - Totals that have a 75% chance of occurring for February - April (photo: BoM)