Construction Management Plans are very necessary when it comes to erecting buildings/structures, during demolitions and undertaking excavation woks during road construction amongst other construction activities. Such plans are necessary because of disruptions such constructions cause.

It is through the plans that the disruptions are effectively managed. Under Australian construction legislations enforced by the national agency and individual agencies in different regions, all contractors are required to prepare management plans before commencing any construction work. The same must be submitted to the local regional agency for approval.

Although there are standard Construction Management Plans (CMPs) that constructors can use, the varied nature of construction sites makes it necessary for contractors to prepare unique plans that address specific sites. Under Australian construction legislations, it is upon contractors to identify specific requirements for a site and prepare a plan that makes it possible for construction work to be undertaken in a safe manner.

CMPs contain varied sections that address specific issues. The first element is that to do with public safety. Constructors are required to prepare CMPs with safety of the public in mind. Their construction work should not present safety risks to members of the public. Any identified safety issues must be properly addressed by putting in place necessary measures to curb the same. In doing so, contractors are required to stick to appropriate operating hours and arrest put in place noise and vibration control measures.

Other CMP elements include those that address such issues as air and dust, which contractors need to control so as not affect the public and immediate residents. Construction Management Plans also address issues relating to the overall environment and contractors are required to put in place adequate measures to manage stormwater and how to control sediments. Waste management is usually a very important element of all CMPs. Contractors are required to not only indicate in their plans how such will be handled but also put in place necessary measures of handling the same. In this regard, recycling is advocated for. Additionally, contractors are required to address the issue of traffic management in their CMPs. This is to ensure that movement of the public is not restricted or not adversely affected.

Both Australia’s national and regional authorities require contractors to prepare and complete Construction Management Plans while planning for construction works. Such plans are usually required after plans for construction have been approved by the relevant authorities. Apart from getting their plans approved, contractors are obligated to obtain specific permits depending on the nature of their planned construction works. Such include permits for road closure, to use mobile cranes, for temporary structures, for working beyond stipulated hours and for excavation amongst others.

Issues pertaining to the environment are presently taken seriously by government authorities throughout the world. Out of realization that destruction of the environment in one part of the world also affects other parts, various world bodies dealing with environmental issues have impressed upon government authorities to have mechanisms in place to ensure safe practices that help in the protection of environment.

One such mechanism is the Australian Environmental Planning And Assessment Act, which provides for various legislations relating to various practices that if not controlled can have a negative effect on the environment. Like other environmental acts in other countries, the Australian environmental planning act provides for a mechanism through which decisions are made on how to manage the relationships that exist between the environment and human activities.

The act strives to manage such relationships in an effective, orderly and equitably for the benefit of both humans and the environment. The act aims at ensuring sustainable use of available resources. The act addresses such issues as social and economic development, development of urban areas, natural resources management, infrastructure systems and governance frameworks. Other areas that the act addresses include issues relating to land use, transportation, housing, air pollution, noise pollution, protection of wetlands and protection of endangered species.

The Australian Environmental Planning And Assessment Act forms the basis of various environmental legislations in force in different territories within Australia. It is important to point out that the different territories in Australia have different environmental planning policies. Likewise, the different authorities have different agencies responsible for ensuring that the act is adhered to alongside the applicable legislation.

While the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts is the responsible agency in the Commonwealth territory, the Department of Planning and Local Government is responsible for South Australia. Other territories such as New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Tasmania and Western Australia have their own agencies as well. The different Australian territories have of late built on what the Australian Environmental Planning And Assessment Act provides for by enacting additional legislations to take care of emerging environmental issues.

In order to take care of disputes that may arise between different players, the Environmental Planning And Assessment Act makes provision for the establishment of a parallel legal system complete with the Land and Environment Court in different territories to arbitrate in disputes. Although the act gives the different territories the leeway to approve various economic plans relating to the environment, the act still gives the Minister responsible the powers to approve development projects with a national significance.

Environmental planning is what happens when a company or developer takes into account the natural, social, political, and economic environment of an area before beginning a development or construction project. When an individual or a company engages in environmental planning, that individual or company is trying to maintain the existing social, environmental, political, or economic balances within the area or community. In Australia, the Environmental Planning Act was enacted to give companies and individuals in Australia a framework to make decisions that affect the natural environment.

There are many different kinds of sites that are protected by the Environmental Planning Act. Australia has decided that certain places and things are fundamentally important to Australia on a national and international level, and that there needed to be legal frameworks in place to protect these things.  Among the things protected by Australia’s Environmental Planning Act are World Heritage Sites, Natural Heritage places, wetlands that are certified as protected under the Ramsar agreement, habitats that are home to protected, threatened, or endangered species, habitats that are home to national or international migratory animal agreements, the Commonwealth marine environment, and places home to nuclear actions, like uranium mining.

The reason why Australia needs to protect these different areas is clear: without protections, development and human activities could severely impact some of the natural habitats of species that are in danger of extinction. Legal protections, such as fines and even jail time, are put in place to help deter individuals from harming Australia’s wildlife.

The Environmental Protection Act in Australia covers a wide range of different types of flora, fauna, and activities that are protected from interference by individuals, companies, or corporations. If the Act is broken, the individual or company that interfered with the Act could face heavy legal penalties. In Australia, this law is enforced on both a state and national level, meaning that depending on the action that an individual takes, he or she could be fined twice under the Australian law.

Environmental protection is extremely important in Australia today. Because it is an island, Australia is home to some species and creatures that are unique to its shores. These creatures and plants must be protected, because once they die out, they will be gone forever. Protecting Australia’s wildlife can be a difficult job at times, but many different laws, like the Environmental Protection Act, have been enacted to ensure that Australia’s wildlife is protected for years to come.

Saving the environment is a good thing for everyone. In the time since the Industrial Revolution, humanity has used the world’s resources and polluted its waters and air with impunity. However, as a whole, humanity is starting to realize the folly of its actions in the past. One of the industries that causes the most harm is the construction industry. However, the construction industries in many industrialized nations have decided to try to make amends by introducing an Environmental Protection Plan.

Every construction company can write its own Environmental Protection Plan. The purpose of these plans is to outline the ways in which the company or corporation in question will participate in trying to make the world a cleaner place. Some companies are more willing to change their ways than others; for some companies, these plans are merely words on a page. However, many companies are genuinely devoted to making a change in the world.

Violation of environmental laws is a serious offense in many countries. This is one of the leading reasons companies choose to become more environmentally friendly. However, environmental laws in many nations are seriously lacking, so even if a company adheres to the letter of the law, it may still be causing harm to the environment. However, following environmental laws is a start, and it is often the first stage of a company’s Environmental Protection Plan.

Many of the materials that are used on a construction site are not completely consumed. These products can often be collected and reused on other construction sites. Certain products can even be turned into other, more useful products; it depends entirely on whether or not a company takes the time to find a use for the materials left on a construction site. Companies that help recycle and reuse materials may even be paid for the trouble of collecting the materials.

Protecting the environment is about more than just preserving the current state of the globe. A company’s Environmental Protection Plan should also take into account the materials that the company uses to build. Are these sustainable materials? If they are not, the materials used by a company can often be switched from non –renewable to renewable goods. In addition, the company should avoid using any kind of toxic materials whenever possible. This will help maintain the health of the environment as well as the people living in the environment.

There has been, in recent years, a great discovery in the importance of project managers in the construction industry having Construction Environmental Management Plans in place prior to even commencing their work. The primary reason for this is that society as a whole has taken a greater consciousness in regards to the impact any human activities can produce in a natural environment. In turn, governments in most countries that are already developed have put in place a legislation, which makes it a legal procedure for either companies or contractors to have on-hand a document detailing and assessing the impact of the project in question on the surrounding environment. They will be unable to commence any proceedings on their project until this has been received and approved.

In Australia, the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act of 1999 became the primary environmental legislation at the federal level. It is this legislation that requires Construction Environmental Management Plans (or otherwise known by the acronym CEMP) must be prepared, submitted and approved prior to the commencement of any type of construction work.

Addition, the legislation clearly specifies the various penalties you can find yourself receiving if you do not comply with the aforementioned laws. The penalty at the lower end of the spectrum is a financial penalty that varies in size, all depending on various aspects of each case. The penalty at the high end of the spectrum is prosecution for environmentally related negligence.

It is important to take note that the following is simply a guideline on which to base your own Environmental Management Plans. It is not a definitive list and it is highly recommend that you take the time to visit the website of your state government respectively to obtain more information. There are slight variances in legislation from state to state, and you need to be sure all aspects are covered for your individual location.

Following are a list of components, which should be included with all documents in your plans:

- Adequate description of the project

- Environmental plan objectives

- Contact numbers (in order of importance)

- Any and all requirements as per legislative documentation

- Estimated or actual working hours for this project

- Established procedures regarding any possible complaints and communication on the worksite

- Emergency procedures protocol

- Manners for control of non-conformance

- Any undertaken or future environmental training (prior to commencement of project)

- Measures of protection for the environment

Now it is important for you to remember this is just a guideline for you to follow. It should be used only as a guide for those who have never created any Environmental Management Plans before, or require a refresher on how to in fact prepare one. In order to get your project started in the briefest time frame possible, while following the law to the letter, you must have your CEMP for your project, and any subsequent projects thereafter.

Issues pertaining to the environment are taken seriously by almost all jurisdictions across the world, Australia included and various Environmental Management Program have been put in place. Pollution and damage to the environment are now taken more seriously than before and this can be seen in the various environmental legislations enacted by different jurisdictions.

In particular, the impact of construction projects to the environment is taken seriously and specific environmental laws have been enacted to regulate how construction companies undertake their construction projects. One of the very important program that you as a constructor are required to undertake is the environmental assessment study. This is very necessary before the commencement of any construction project.

An Environmental Management Program that excludes environmental impact assessment can seriously affect you as a constructor because you may be forced to pay for all the damages to the environment caused by your constructing activities that you had not planned properly. Amongst other issues, the environmental impact assessment study addresses the following:

• Pollution – Your environmental impact assessment study should evaluate and determine the kind of environmental pollution your construction equipments and materials are likely to cause. You will need to have proper systems in place to mitigate against such environmental pollution. Although having such a system may be an expensive undertaking, it can save you a lot.
• Waste – Your construction project is bound to yield a substantial amount of waste. Your Environmental Management Program should have a proper system of disposal. This may include having a recycling facility.
• Materials – It is certain that you will require construction materials for your construction project and this may mean sourcing the same from the immediate environment. Such is likely to change the area’s natural stability. Your program should have a mechanism through which the area’s stability is restored.

As part of your program, you should make education a priority. Your management program should involve the local community or inhabitants by educating them on the planned construction project and how it may affect them. In doing so, you should elaborate on the remedy measures you have put in place to minimize the negative effects. You will also need to educate your employees on the need to maintain and promote a safe working environment.

Some construction companies do experience rejection from local inhabitants of areas they plan to undertake construction projects. This is usually because they fail to engage the inhabitants in their plans. A well-planned and executed Environmental Management Program should see a construction project run smoothly.

We should all be aware of what we do on a daily basis, which in your case means Construction Environmental Impacts. There are many considerations to any building site, but amongst the most important should be the ecological cost. Recently there have been many changes to the way governments assess the damage a building site does to the environment, both local and global. This isn’t a secondary consideration any more, but an industry-changing one. There are many aspects to Construction Environmental Impacts. We’re going to go through the main ones here. Increasing awareness of this issue is of paramount importance to you, your family and the world.

Pollution

Pollution in terms of Construction Environmental Impacts used to be the only consideration taken into account by the powers that be. The construction industry accounts for anything up to 7 per cent of the CO2 emissions created globally. That’s quite a fair bit of pollution by any standards. Anyone will see that the Construction Environmental Impacts of CO2 is sizable. Expect many changes to legislation in this in the coming years, as it is well overdue for change, and the technologies available today may be expensive but will reduce emissions significantly.

Waste

Waste is another of the major Construction Environmental Impacts, and is an obvious one, given that our jobs involve creating and disposing of waste on a wholesale basis. Amazingly, the Construction Environemental Impacts may be greater than you think. In a particularly active year for construction, waste may reach over 3 times the weight of household disposal.

Resource use

As construction workers, we use almost all of the non-fuel resources in the world. That’s a significant Construction Environmental Impact by anyone’s standards. Even substances we consider as everyday are becoming increasingly difficult to dispose of. In fact, items like mineral wool and gypsum are require expert disposal. In resource use, the Construction Safety Impacts are being decreased reasonably swiftly compared to other industries. We should also consider unnecessary wastage as a factor of Construction Environmental Impact that we, ourselves can affect.

Habitat destruction

An obvious, and much publicised element of Construction Environmental Impact is habitat destruction. Obviously, if you are working on a site, you are unlikely to have any influence on the immediate destruction of habitats. However, we should all be aware of the way in which construction can work with nature to create space for the growth of humanity. It’s not simply the use of natural habitats, but the use of minerals and their sourcing that has Construction Environmental Impacts. Of ocurse, we will always need the resources to build, but we should look into more efficient ways and materials to achieve the same aims. The general rule of thumb is that building economically means creating structure that are simpler than they were previously. Also, using local materials is often deemed to be a better way of going about any construction work.

It’s not all doom and gloom though. As an industry, we are working toward a goal, and while we may lag a little behind many other industries, we are an essential part of any way of life. All we have to do is consider the Construction Environmental Impact.

Environment as defined in the dictionary as a noun in ecology, the air, water, minerals, organisms, and all other external factors surrounding and affecting a given organism at any time. It is the social and cultural forces that shape the life of a person or a population. Talking about environmental management plan has never been that so easy because there are so many things to consider and to be discussed. Construction industry based in Australia is one of those which are in need of construction environmental management plan (CEMP). In setting up all the plans, goals and objectives for your construction industry, the environmental properties must not be excluded. All aspects and tasks that will be done in the construction site will give impact to the environment; it may be the biggest or the least. Thus, construction environmental management plan must be considered.

Who are involved?
Humans are part of the environment. We are created by God to rule over and give dominion to His creation. Yet the duty is in our hands to protect the creation. I have written a blog post about construction health and safety plan which could also be related in our construction environmental management plan. Although we have to secure our individual health and safety when on the job, we must also consider the things that we do which could affect the environment, especially if we are in the construction site.  Nobody is excluded in this endeavor, but all who are involved in the construction industry, may it be from the top rank, to the lowest. Everyone must contribute and participate. Hence, the making of the construction environmental management plan exist.

Awareness and Responsibility
Consequent and effective execution of the construction management plan will guarantee that environmental concerns are fully dealt with and that environmental legislative requirements are met, if not gone beyond, during the job. In doing all construction projects, environmental legislation must be considered including also the environmental concepts and policies. Important factors in the construction site that could probably damage the environment must be controlled and mitigated where all the possible and favorable outcomes will be encouraged. The environmental plan must cover the construction activities showing how best environmental management is put into practice. It is anticipated to be functional and is supposed to show how they are going to lessen undesirable results to the surroundings, environment and the construction community.  Consequently, it is most important also to show the enhancing beneficial impacts towards the environment. The contractor is also supposed to incorporate in this plan a statement of commitment pertaining to the environmental concerns and issues.  The construction environmental management plan should also provide an outline of the environmental management controls that will be engaged at some point in the construction. Furthermore, because everyone is included in the scope of this plan, everyone is responsible of his/her action in the construction site. Hence, environmental responsibility must be practiced and initiated in the site. The construction environmental management plan shall cover all the aspects relating to the relationship between the construction workers and the environment.

One of the most important things for anyone involved in the Australian construction industry is Construction Environmental Compliance. You certainly do not want to get on the wrong side of the law when it comes to complying with environmental legislation in Australia. A couple of months back, I wrote a blog post about environmental legislation which I think you will find useful reading (if you haven’t yet done so).

There is certainly nothing funny in adequately and properly managing the environment when doing construction projects. At the end of the day, we are the ones that are going to suffer the consequences of mismanaging the environment. And if it’s not us, it will most certainly be our children or our grandchildren. I’m quite certain that’s not a legacy that most people want to leave to future generations.

As someone who has been involved in the construction industry for a considerable amount of time, it’s always tempting to find ways (or loopholes) around Construction Environmental Compliance mainly for the objective of reducing costs and/or minimising hassle. Unfortunately, minimising hassle today only prepares society for more environmental problems in the future. It’s time we all take a stand when it comes to this issue.

How To Comply Today

If you want to successfully comply with current environmental legislation and fulfill your obligation in doing your best to manage the environment, then your best option is to create a construction environmental management plan for your project. You can do this yourself, get someone else to do it, or find a good template to use.

It doesn’t matter how you choose to create one, as long as create one to play your role in Construction Environmental Compliance.

Environmental Responsibility is an important topic when it comes to the Australian construction industry. If you have been involved in the industry for a considerable amount of time, then you would be aware of the environmental destruction that construction activities can cause. Sometimes the extent to which the surrounding environment has been altered is underestimated. It is because of this that the issue of responsibility becomes important.

How To Create A Sense of Responsibility

Perhaps a sense of Environmental Responsibility already exists at your worksite. Perhaps it doesn’t. Whether it does or doesn’t is irrelevant. What is relevant is being able to create and maintain a strong spirit of responsibility that is permanent and has far reaching positive consequences. This can be created on 3 levels.

The first level is with regards to individuals and is about becoming environmentally conscious of the impact of human activities on the surrounding environment. The reason why it is beneficial to know the impact is so that you can start thinking about ways how to minimise the impact or even eliminate it. This leads to brand new ideas that can be shared on the worksite or elsewhere.

The second level is with regards to the company managing the worksite. The best way for a company to create a sense of responsibility for the natural environment is by educating its workers through videos or other materials about this important issue.

The third and final level is the government which enacts legislation whose objective to instill a sense of responsibility in its people. Environmental compliance becomes important for companies and/or contractors if they wish to avoid harsh penalties.

What You Can Do

One of the best ways to not just create a strong and lasting sense of responsibility among the people on a work project is through a construction environmental management plan. In addition, it’s worth knowing that having such a plan is now compulsory thanks to environmental legislation. It’s also like killing two birds with one stone.

At the end of the day, Environmental Responsibility is not something to be taken lightly if you hope to do your bit to protect the environment.