A new accreditation in Erosion and Sediment Control—the Registered Soil Practitioner – Erosion and Sediment Control (RSP-ESC) accreditation—is providing assurance to practitioners and industry in Australia and in New Zealand.
The accreditation has been developed in partnership between the Australasian International Erosion Control Association (IECA Australasia) and Soil Science Australia (SSA) and was launched today at the IECA Australasia Conference at Queenstown, New Zealand.
“Erosion and sedimentation are critical issues that impact ecosystems, waterways, and infrastructure. Poorly managed construction sites and land disturbances can result in the loss of valuable soil, contamination of water sources, and damage to surrounding environments,” said Shonelle Gleeson-Willey, Chair of the Certification Taskforce.
“The new accreditation tackles these issues head-on by establishing a qualification process that promotes environmentally responsible practices, and ensures representatives from all levels of governments in both Australia and New Zealand have confidence that a Registered Soil Practitioner has the appropriate qualifications and experience to develop and apply erosion and sediment control standards in line with contemporary best practice,” she said.
Development of the RSP-ESC was guided by a Task Force that includes representation from Australia and New Zealand. Members first came together in December 2023.
“In less than a year, we worked with Task Force members to develop robust accreditation standards which establish the agreed level of quality or attainment required for people to hold the accreditation,” said CEO Michael Walker.
“Environmental managers, engineers, soil scientists, natural resource managers, regulators and other soil professionals who develop and implement erosion and sediment control plans can now apply for the RSP-ESC accreditation.
“This accreditation is a vital step in ensuring that industry professionals are equipped to mitigate erosion and sediment issues, which are key to protecting our environment and natural resources for future generations,” Mr Walker said.
The accreditation is a part of Soil Science Australia’s Registered Soil Practitioner program which is the result of a project supported by the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry as part of the National Soil Strategy.
For more information and to apply for RSP-ESC accreditation, visit www.soilscienceaustralia.org.au/rsp/erosion-and-sediment-control-accreditation