RHIANNON MORGAN-WILLIAMS 2013

INTERA
CT WITH
CLIENTS
IN A
REGULA
TED
NAME: RHIANNON MORGAN-WILLIAMS
ENVIRO
DATE OF COMPLETION: 28/08/2013
MENT
BCGSV5
010A
ASSIGN
MENT 2

RHIANNON MORGAN-WILLIAMS 2013

CONTENTS PAGE:
TITLE PAGE…PG1
CONTENTS PAGE…PG2
INTRODUCTION…PG3
FIRST PART OF THE PROPOSAL…PG3
SECOND PART OF THE PROPOSAL…PG3
THIRD PART OF THE PROPOSAL…PG4
FOURTH PART OF THE PROPOSAL…PG4
FIFTH PART OF THE PROPOSAL…PG4
SIXTH PART OF THE PROPOSAL…PG4
SEVENTH PART OF THE PROPOSAL…PG5
CONCLUSION…PG6
REFERENCE LIST...PG7

RHIANNON MORGAN-WILLIAMS 2013

The construction or demolition of any part of a building requires extensive planning and consultation
with various community groups and government bodies to ensure the construction is managed with
an awareness of the safety of workers, neighbouring properties and pedestrians. Components from
plumbing, sewage, main roads, telecommunications and electricity are all factors which must be
included in the planning stages of a construction. In this report the research will provide an
understanding of how various components are represented in the planning process before
construction begins. The report will also outline the local and state government departments that
must be consulted during the demolition and new construction of a property.

The first part of the proposal from the client talks about the property being situated on a main road
with little access for the purpose of construction and therefore a new driveway and layback must be
constructed before any other steps of the process is completed. Before construction of a new
driveway or layback can be done, local and state government agencies must be informed and
approval confirmed before construction can begin. In the Moreton Bay Region, permits and approval
are decided by the council in consultation with town planning regulations and the Main Roads
authority. It is possible to have a private certifier produce a permit but they must be properly
licenced under the Building Services Authority (BSA). Through compliance with the BSA and the
council it appears that this construction needs a driveway permit, a pathway permit (as it is on a
main road and could interrupt foot traffic), a layback permit and appropriate safety precautions
displayed. Safety procedures such as signs can be displayed. These permits and safety measures
must be met before continued construction of the property can begin. Local government and state
government agencies control and contain construction through careful planning permits and future
community growth. In relation to this aspect of the plan consultation with the state Main Roads
authority, the Building Services Authority and local council is the appropriate course of action.

The second aspect of the proposal suggests that there is a possibility of the current dwelling on the
property having some heritage significance. Consultation would be with local government
authorities such as the council’s town planning authority to determine if the building has any cultural
heritage value. Also interaction with the Brisbane City Council and consultation with the City Plan
Heritage Register could aid in ascertaining if the building has any cultural heritage significance. If the
property isn’t heritage listed there are three options; to renovate, demolish or relocate the current
building. In either situations a development engineer, the local council, the developer, the water
authority, electrical authority, gas, telecommunications and the surveyor must all be consulted as
permits and certificates are required before any moving, demolishing or renovation can begin.

RHIANNON MORGAN-WILLIAMS 2013

The third feature of the proposal states that the property backs onto bush land and there is a
potential risk to the property from fire. Before construction or demolition can be done the local fire
authority needs to be contacted to determine the level of fire risk for the area. The state department
of community safety is the best reference point to contact the rural fire services and determine this
risk. The bush land itself could be owned by a private land owner, the local council or be listed as
having a cultural historical significance in relation to the indigenous community. Therefore the
indigenous community as well as local council and various community groups such as neighbours
and possibly heritage consultants should also be notified. This could also affect the construction of
the property if a fire were to occur and if this current block is one of a few access points to that area
of bush could provide safety issues if a fire was to occur.

The fourth proposal states that the properties surrounding the block are mainly one storey buildings
and the construction of a two storey brick veneer could cause some privacy intrusion. Through
consultation with the development engineer, architect, resident neighbours and the developer,
alterations to the house can be created to reduce the amount of privacy intrusion on the
neighbouring properties. For example the property second story could have outside shades on the
window to reduce intrusion as well as the design could be constructed so that the larger windows be
placed at the front and back of property to reduce the intrusion.

The fifth aspect of the proposal expresses the significant number of large trees on the site and
therefore may require the removal of some for the new development. It is apparent that although
these trees may be of significant size and can impede the construction of the development, there
may be endangered species or other significant value. Therefore consultation with the local
community groups such as neighbours or the local indigenous cultures as the trees may be seen as
historical memorabilia. Also consultation with the developer and possibly a Tree Preservation Officer
as how to extract the trees if they do have some historical or cultural importance is necessary. This
would require permits and inspections from the council as well as certificate by a Tree Preservation
Officer to whether or not the trees hold significant value as they back onto natural bushland and
could be potentially growing over the council easement and the sewer main. In addition a certified
tree removalist needs to be contacted to isolate the trees that don’t need to be removed and the
ones that do.

The sixth proposal suggested that the property contains a council drainage easement across the rear
of the property and that council policy requires that any building on the block must have stormwater
pipes connected to the easement. For that reason adjustments will need to be integrated into the
plans to allow for this to occur. The local council must be notified that the house will be connected
to the drainage easement as well as the developer, development engineer and building designer.
Alternatives can be included such as rainwater tanks with prior approval from the council and
approved by the developer and the development engineer.

RHIANNON MORGAN-WILLIAMS 2013

The final part of the proposal states that there is a water authority sewer main buried approx. 3m
below the existing ground. The sewer main crosses the centre of the property and would therefore
be positioned under the proposed dwelling. This creates some difficulty and adjustment of the
footings of the property as under Moreton Bay Council policy no building can rest on existing ground
above a water or sewer main. This means if the property is still to go ahead the developer and the
development engineer will have to provide a solution for the footings as well as access points for the
council for the water mains accessibility. Council will also need to be notified and the client will have
to pay for an access point to go in. In addition to the footings an alternative footing could be piers
down either side of the pipe so the house rests on the piers and not the ground above the water
main. Town Plans also need to be consulted to see if the sewer main also crosses the easement at
the back of the property.

In conclusion construction of any kind from the smallest to biggest proposal needs careful prior
planning before anyone sets foot on the property. Planning also prevents workplace accidents
occurring and ensuring that the safety of the workers, the environment and other people’s property
is handled in the correct manner. It is also apparent that various organizations need to be consulted
in relation to the building of any structure especially the local council policies and procedures. This
report has clearly outlined how much consultation between various groups of the community is
paramount in the early planning stages of any construction. The Building Services Association (BSA)
and the local and state government make this information easily accessible to the public in
preparation for any future construction projects.

RHIANNON MORGAN-WILLIAMS 2013

References:

Moreton Bay Regional Council, 2012, accessed on the 24.08.13-28.08.13

http://www.moretonbay.qld.gov.au/general.aspx?id=109861

Qld Government Rural Fire Service, 2013, Department of Community Safety, accessed 24.08.13-
28.08.13

http://www.ruralfire.qld.gov.au/Fire%20Safety%20and%20You/Neighbourhood%20Safer
%20Places/LGAs/Moreton_Bay_Regional_Council.asp

Qld State Government Department of Transport and Main Roads, 2010-2013, accessed 24.08.13-
28.08.13

http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/

Brisbane City Council, 22 Feb 2012 10:34am, Heritage Register Database, accessed 24.08.13-
28.08.13

http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/planning-building/do-i-need-approval/restoring-and-researching-
heritage-properties/index.htm

RHIANNON MORGAN-WILLIAMS 2013