Australia has an undeniable obsession with property, development and expanding the way in which we live. It’s not surprising that most Australian states have hundreds of large developments in the pipeline, with construction works found in all bustling and growing areas. This kind of activity requires Dial Before You Dig clearance from a number of bodies so that there are no issues or environments disturbed, above or below ground. Calling a non-destructive excavation company will give you total peace of mind knowing that you are operating with all the information, and it might even save you a huge bill if you accidentally disturb or damage unseen utilities below your renovation site.
If you have asked is dial before you dig mandatory in Melbourne, then keep reading!
How does Dial Before You Dig work in Melbourne?
Before any work commences, the principal contractor or the contractor engaged to carry out the specific works will call or use the Australian Dial Before You Dig app to alert the members of plans to dig. This ensures that no subsurface utility is hit in the process and either disturbed or damaged. If this does occur, neighbourhoods and businesses can lose power, water, gas and the utilities themselves might need to be significantly repaired if necessary. Internet cables are another utility at risk if Dial Before You Dig is not engaged, and can leave large areas without a connection and unable to do work.
Dial Before Your Dig essentially has a blueprint to the city and can communicate with the relevant asset managers about which areas will require careful digging or none at all. It is best to think of this service, not as a chore, but as an insurance line and the ultimate peace of mind.
How do I lodge a Dial Before You Dig request?
As technology has advanced, it is no longer necessary to ‘dial’ in your request. You can lodge your dig request online, and then that referral will be communicated with the relevant members who own or manage the utilities underground in the area you are intending to dig. When the request is received, a plan will be issued from these members with information about the utilities and any instructions. If there are no subsurface utilities then the process is straightforward, but if you are unsure how to read Dial Before You Dig plans, then you can reach out directly to Dial Before You Dig.
It is critical that you read the safety information after you receive your plans. If you are working with a construction adjacent partner, then they will likely know how to read these plans.
This is an easy flowchart depiction of how it works.
The history of Dial Before You Dig in Melbourne
Dial Before You Dig is a not-for-profit organization that has been around since 1989. With each stage operating under their own rules and partners services, Dial Before You Dig is the service you call when you are about to start works and significant digging. Victoria and Tasmania belong to the same Dial Before You Dig Association and was once named Melbourne One Call Service (MOCS).
Initially, MOCS included four members; Melbourne Metropolitan Board of Works, Gas and Fuel, Telecom Australia and the State Electricity Commission. This Australian Dial Before You Dig phone number was manned by Telcom Australia and would service requests around the region, which started to include municipal councils, other telecommunication companies and water authorities as the years went on.
Who contacts Dial Before You Dig?
It depends on who you are and your role in the project, but typically a consumer will not be the person to contact Dial Before You Dig. Often the party who chooses the worksite and assigns the builder will be tasked with this role, which is usually the principal contractor or the contractor engaged to carry out the specific works. If there are many stakeholders working on the project, then likely the request is put in early before more interest is bought in.
What projects do you know happening around Melbourne? It’s certainly a city of skyscrapers and there is always a new restaurant, bar or hotel in the pipeline. Read more about the new Ritz Carlton Melbourne which is set to open in 2022!