Richmond Valley Council Depot has come up trumps in a recent assessment of its daily business activities.
The assessment was conducted as part of the Stormwater Education and Assessment (SEA) Project. The work carried out at the Depot was first class and the staff are to be congratulated. The $962,000 Stormwater Trust funded project is an initiative of six New South Wales far north coast Councils all working together. They comprise Ballina, Byron, Kyogle, Lismore, Richmond Valley and Tweed Shire Councils.
The SEA Project is working in partnership with Councils, local business owners and the general community to help prevent stormwater pollution. As part of the SEA Project all Council depot staff across all six Local Government areas have recently undertaken stormwater pollution prevention training to update their skills in keeping with current requirements of the Protection of the Environment Operations Act (1997).
“Council is at the forefront of the project and should set an example for other businesses and the community,” said Richmond Valley Council Acting General Manager, Bill McMahon.
Trainer, Chris Gray, agrees and after assessing Richmond Valley Council’s depot stated that Richmond Valley Council has set an excellent standard for many other Councils both in the area and across the State.
“It is one of the best organised depots I have seen,” he said. “The interest and commitment of the employees in maintaining the depot is to be commended.”
Some of the daily activities undertaken at the depot, such as the immediate clean up of spills, regular servicing of the oily water separator and other pollution control equipment, are important routines adopted by the depot staff. Also, the practice of reusing water in the wash down bay, bunding liquid storage areas and having on hand spill response kits all contribute to helping reduce the impact of potential stormwater pollution on the local Richmond River.
“It’s up to us to protect our waterways for our future and our kids,” Bill McMahon said.
For further information contact the SEA Project Coordinator, Judith Mason, at Byron Shire Council on (02) 6626 7077.
