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Department of Transport and Main Roads

Erosion and sediment control

When we build or maintain roads, we don’t just think about the road itself – we think about the surrounding environment too. Rain and wind can wash soil away, damaging road infrastructure and harming waterways. That’s why we work hard to prevent erosion and stop sediment from entering creeks and rivers.

What we do

Every construction and maintenance project uses best-practice environmental management. Before work begins, we prepare erosion and sediment control plans as part of the project’s environmental management plan. These plans help us:

  • keep soil where it belongs
  • protect water quality
  • reduce costly repairs and environmental damage.

    • Why it matters

    When soil washes off a site, it doesn’t just disappear – it ends up in waterways. Sediment can:

  • reduce water quality
  • harm fish and other aquatic life
  • increase flooding risks.

    • Types of controls we use

    • Permanent controls – built into the road design, like diversion drains, batter chutes and sediment basins
    • Temporary controls – installed during construction, like check dams and sediment fences, and updated as work progresses.
     Gatton Bypass
    Hydro mulched batter, sand-bag check dams in the table drain with seeded grass in jute matting for reinforcement were installed on the Gatton Bypass.
     Rock mattress
    Coir logs were used on the South East Transit to act as an obstruction across the flow path, slowing the flow and reducing erosion.
     Beaudesert Nerang Road
    Rock mattresses were used to protect embankments on the Gatton Bypass. Even though precautions were taken to reduce erosion, the highly dispersive soils eroded on the sides showing the design and installation needed to be improved.
    Landscaping and a sediment basin are helping to manage sediment leaving this area on the Gateway Upgrade Project.

    Want to learn more?

    We follow detailed design guides and technical notes to manage drainage and soil risks, including:

    • Road Planning and Design Manual (Volume 3 – Drainage)
    • Technical Note 208 – Managing slaking and dispersive soils

    Our goal is simple: build safe roads while protecting Queensland’s land and water.

    Last updated
    5 February 2026