Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Feb 20, 2013 11:39 am Hi, I am after some advice on how to stop our block from getting damaged. We have purchased a largish corner block. The main roadside has a very steep hill the whole way along the street. However the other side of the block is relatively flat. We deliberatly purchased this block so we could have a better driveway gradient and better access during the build. The problem though is that every block along the street is using our block for access to theirs while they are building. The heavy excavators have caused considerable damage to the block and footpath. The land while annoying that we now have massive divets is not our major concern. It is fixable. Our concern is that we will get blamed for the damaged footpath and council will ask us to pay for it. Also because we are building in the middle of the block and there will still be space for them to get machinery past the build I am worried that the retaining wall we have to build before construction will get damaged by their machinery. We have council approval so our start date shouldn't be far off. I am just wondering if anyone has had experience with this before and has any advice on how to stop them using the block? Also do we contact council and ask them to inspect the damage to the footpath prior to our build? Thanks Re: Block Getting Damaged 3Feb 20, 2013 6:56 pm Can you get your builder to fence off the land now, to prevent anyone gaining access?? We built the Wisdom Majestic 40 - moved in! Our blog - http://ourwisdommajestic40.blogspot.com.au/ Our H1 thread - viewtopic.php?t=54156 Re: Block Getting Damaged 4Feb 20, 2013 7:01 pm Make sure you document and photograph everything you can. At least that way you have a reference. It might seem like a chore to do at the time but it's for your peace of mind really! Kenny & Kayla - Adelaide Follow our build on Instagram First build 2013 - Finished and sold Second build 2018 - Underway Re: Block Getting Damaged 5Feb 20, 2013 7:16 pm Yes I would take photo's clearly showing the damage and that you haven't started yet. Then see if the builder will put the temporary fencing up now to stop any further damage. Our first home... viewtopic.php?f=31&t=60460 Land Dep paid 26/2/12 Site cleared7/12/12 Slab 20/12/12 Frame 25/1/13 Bricks 19/2/13 Re: Block Getting Damaged 6Feb 22, 2013 7:48 am Thanks for the advice. A bollard probably won't work as the area they can get through is 30 metres wide. Plus we are hoping to start building soon so don't want to delay our builders at all and reduce their access. My Dad has suggested we email the council and have the issue noted in writing so we have documentation if they do try to charge us for repairs. Will be doing that today and going out to the block tomorrow to take some better pics. We have a few of the damage but not so that you can see that no building has actually started on our block yet. We are just waiting for the bank to sign the authority to commence construction so we can be given a start date and assigned a site supervisor. Once we have a site supervisor we will let him know of the issue and see if he can at least get the fencing up early enough to protect the retaining wall. Thanks again. Re: Block Getting Damaged 7Feb 22, 2013 7:35 pm All the best! Communication is key in all aspects so your certainly doing the best thing there. Let us know what the response is from council? Kenny & Kayla - Adelaide Follow our build on Instagram First build 2013 - Finished and sold Second build 2018 - Underway Re: Block Getting Damaged 8Mar 12, 2013 6:58 am Just giving an update. I have received an email from council stating that they have been out to the block and recorded the damage and we will not be held responsible for it. My husband has been out there a fair bit last week building the first half of the retaining wall. On the first day he couldn't get onto the block because there was so much earth moving equipment on it from neighbours further down. As soon as he showed up they apologised and admitted they knew they shouldn't be there. Him being there for 3 days seems to have scared them off though. We now have a retaining wall taking up half of their access and a pile of materials in the other half, so hopefully that is enough to deter them. Our block is being cut on the 21st and the other half of the retaining wall will go up as soon as that is done, for slab pour on the 25th. So in a week and a bit they won't be able to use our block at all and all problems are solved. 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