Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Jun 28, 2014 11:26 am Hi all, we are new contributors to the home one forum, but have been visiting on and off for a few months. In November last year we settled on 2.47 acres in West Pinjarra WA. Our block is a rectangle shape, front is slightly angled. We are in the process of applying to have our building envelope altered - has anyone in the area or WA in general had experience with this?
I've attached some pics - our existing BE, our proposed BE and even the draft layout of shed, house, driveway and pool. We need to research septic systems before we submit our varied BE plans - anyone have any advice for this? And then of course we need to start deciding on house plans!! We plan to build the shed first, reside in the shed whilst building the house etc etc. Any advice, guidance, do's dont's would be greatly appreciated! Re: New acerage owners - West Pinjarra WA 3Jun 28, 2014 11:43 am Welcome Heyzy, Sounds like you've got an exciting challenge ahead!! Sorry no help on the BE situation. I know a few friends who have done it under the Harvey shire but not sure how much hassel it was. I know one of them had to prove they had a rare plant in the existing BE so that they could move it elsewhere! What sort of septic system are you looking at? Eg do you have covenants that stipulate which sort of system you need?? Re: New acerage owners - West Pinjarra WA 4Jun 29, 2014 9:11 am Thanks Asha! We are starting to get really excited about it all now. We had some legal dramas with the block that dragged our settlement out for 6 months, but we are finally there now and can actually start to make plans! I've checked out special conditions and there is no specific mention of the type of septic we have to have, the base of the system must just sit 500mm above the water table line - is that a normal condition? We are absolutely clueless about types of septic, so we'll be spending the next few weeks researching that. We think we will also have our house plans drawn up by a draftsman or building designer. Whilst we love a lot of elements of a lot of different plans, there isn't anything that is quite right. So will need to start looking at costs of that and who is recommended. We don't live anywhere near our block, so we'll be doing the majority of planning from a major distance for the next 3 years or so. Our timeline so far: O&A on block: 13/03/2013 1st Settlement set for : 29/05/2013 Settlement finally occurred: 01/11/2013 Block got it first mow and tree trimming: 31/12/2013 (hehe, we were pretty excited to do this!) Water application to put meter on approved: 26/06/2014 Next we need to: Research septic systems Research building designer/draftsman Prepare draft plans of the block for Shire Formal application to vary BE Dig water pipe trenches and install tap wear around boundary of block (Oct 2014) Plant some established trees Mark out BE on block Okay, think that's it for now! Re: New acerage owners - West Pinjarra WA 5Jun 29, 2014 9:49 am Heyzy Next we need to: Research septic systems We went with an A & A Worm farm treatment system on our one acres block up here, and whilst we haven't finished building yet, we're more than happy with how it is set up. As we are on a sloping block, our system uses zero electricity to operate, and that's something you'll have to research when you look at the various options available to you. If your block is flat, then the pump they use is a 400w pump that only runs for about 10 minutes per day. I think you will find most if not all councils will not let you install a plain old septic tank and sullage pit system any more, and will require a Home Sewerage Treatment Plant (HSTP). Most HSTP's have one or more electric pumping/aeration systems in them that run for many hours per day, and with the price of electricity constantly rising, it is something you need to consider. Owner Building at Jimboomba Woods in Logan City Qld. Blog : http://bandlnewhomebuild.blogspot.com H1 thread : viewtopic.php?f=38&t=68283 . Re: New acerage owners - West Pinjarra WA 6Jun 29, 2014 10:20 am We are installing (and have previously also had) tanks and leach drain system. As said by bpratt try to avoid a pump - much better to rely on gravity fed system. Best bet would be to have a chat to your shire in the first instance. On another note most builders are happy to draw up and quote on custom plans (or at the very least concept plans) - this may save on draftsman fees. I sketched up what I wanted and took it directly to a couple of builders first - then they drew it up properly and costed it without any outlay to us. Re: New acerage owners - West Pinjarra WA 7Jun 29, 2014 10:52 am asha We are installing (and have previously also had) tanks and leach drain system. As said by bpratt try to avoid a pump - much better to rely on gravity fed system. Best bet would be to have a chat to your shire in the first instance. On another note most builders are happy to draw up and quote on custom plans (or at the very least concept plans) - this may save on draftsman fees. I sketched up what I wanted and took it directly to a couple of builders first - then they drew it up properly and costed it without any outlay to us. Asha, having your plans drawn up by a builder - does that mean they then own those plans and you are obliged to build with them? We thought if we had our plans drawn by a draftsman (we pretty must have done them ourselves now anyway), then we'd own the plans and we could have them costed up by a range of builders? Re: New acerage owners - West Pinjarra WA 8Jun 29, 2014 11:15 am Hi HZ welcome to the forum:-) We are OB an extension and renovation on 5 acres in Carramar. My understanding was that whoever drew up the plans obtained the copyright unless there was an employer/employee relationship so I think you would be correct builder or your draftsman obtains copyright. Happy to be wrong though and there are a couple of threads on this if you do a search. Have you also considered a building broker - I haven't used one but I think Butterbing and Perth Euro did just a thought Ps are you able to live in your shed? Just I know some councils are cracking down on this now Anyway can't wait to follow Cheers Akb <!-- l --><a class="postlink-local" href="https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?t=62083">viewtopic.php?t=62083</a><!-- l --> Re: New acerage owners - West Pinjarra WA 9Jun 29, 2014 11:59 am Yes your are right AKB. We probably didn't go about the process correctly and I am sorry if I have confused the situation. We had two companies who we had dealt with previously - they were both fully aware of the other and were both happy to quote on "their" version on my sketch. Perhaps not the correct process so just disregard my earlier post. Once again sorry! Re: New acerage owners - West Pinjarra WA 10Jun 29, 2014 2:52 pm AKB Ps are you able to live in your shed? Just I know some councils are cracking down on this now Anyway can't wait to follow Cheers Akb Our special conditions state that the Shire can approve an "Ancillary Accommodation" on our lot and the actual Ancillary accommodation policy for the Shire states: General 1) A single house must have already been established on the land or be intended to be established on the land concurrent with the construction of the ancillary dwelling. 2) No more than one ancillary dwelling is to be constructed on a lot. Shire of Murray Local Planning Policy – Ancillary Dwellings – 29/8/2013 Page 3 of 4 3) The ancillary dwelling may be attached to, integrated with or detached from the main dwelling. 4) If the Shire approves an ancillary dwelling that approval is not to be taken to be support in any way the future subdivision or strata subdivision of the lot or provision of separate certificates of title in respect of the two dwellings on the lot. Size 5) Ancillary dwellings may have a plot ratio area of up to 70 square metres or up to 50% of the plot ratio area of main dwelling, to a maximum of 100 square metres whichever is the larger. 6) The ancillary dwelling is to be self contained including a kitchen, bathroom, toilet and laundry, with no more than one living room and two bedrooms. Location 7) The ancillary dwelling is to be sited to minimise impact on the landscape, environment and streetscape and be located no further than 20 metres from the main dwelling. Isolated or visually prominent locations should be avoided. Special consideration should be given for the relationship between the ancillary dwelling and existing buildings, trees and other landscape features. Where a building envelope exists for a property, the ancillary dwelling is to be located entirely within the building envelope. If no building envelope exists, the setbacks stipulated in the Shire’s Town Planning Scheme or relevant local planning policy for the particular area are to be met. 9) In the rural zone, the ancillary dwellings are to be sited in a manner that minimises the impact on the use of the land for rural purposes and so that it is separated from potentially conflicting land uses, such as stables, intensive livestock operations or livestock yards, either on the subject land or adjacent land. Access and Carparking 10) The ancillary dwelling is to share the same driveway access as the main dwelling. 11) One additional car parking space is to be provided for the ancillary dwelling, whether in the form of a garage, carport or uncovered space. Servicing 12) If a reticulated water service is available, the ancillary dwelling must be connected to the same service point/meter to the main dwelling. If a reticulated water service is not available, provision is to be made for a supply of potable water separate to the main dwelling from either an underground bore or a Shire of Murray Local Planning Policy – Ancillary Dwellings – 29/8/2013 Page 4 of 4 rainwater storage system with a minimum capacity of 90,000 litres, or a combination of these methods. 13) The on site effluent disposal system for the main dwelling is to be upgraded to cater for the ancillary dwelling. Where a new system is to be installed it is to be in the form of an alternative nutrient attenuating effluent disposal system, unless it can be established that this is impractical in a particular instance. 14) Gas and electricity for the ancillary dwelling must be connected to the same supply/meter as the main dwelling. 15) The ancillary dwelling AND nearly every property around us is living or has lived in their shed. So I think we are safe here. Plus we have the trusty old caravan if not! Re: New acerage owners - West Pinjarra WA 13Jun 29, 2014 5:24 pm I got to point 1 where it said you could - I thought it was funny that's all - apologies I meant no offense <!-- l --><a class="postlink-local" href="https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?t=62083">viewtopic.php?t=62083</a><!-- l --> Re: New acerage owners - West Pinjarra WA 15Jun 29, 2014 10:06 pm I completely understand as I'm on 5 acres in inner suburbia I'm quite restricted but my sister is on 5 acres in Bindoon and when she was looking around ie Bullsbrook etc they were really cracking down as people had been living in their sheds for years. Anyway best of luck with your build and looking forward to following <!-- l --><a class="postlink-local" href="https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?t=62083">viewtopic.php?t=62083</a><!-- l --> Re: New acerage owners - West Pinjarra WA - SO MANY QTS! 16Jul 01, 2014 1:01 pm So we can work backwards from our end budget, can anyone please give me an idea of what the cost could be per square meter to build a custom house? For a general guide, we are looking at a 4/5 bedroom, 2/3 bathroom 2/3 toilet, single story house, very open plan, high ceilings, good quality finishes. Our FIL is a registered electrician so we hope to save a bit there, but the rest will be all done by a builder. I know its a very broad questions, but any guide would help. Thanks! Re: Acerage owners - Cachet Homes reviews? 17Jul 15, 2014 7:11 pm Hi All Does anyone have any experience or comments with Cachet Homes, based in Mandurah WA? We've had a friend build through them, but would like some other comments if there are any? Thanks! Re: New acerage owners - West Pinjarra WA - SO MANY QTS! 18Jul 16, 2014 4:27 pm Heyzy So we can work backwards from our end budget, can anyone please give me an idea of what the cost could be per square meter to build a custom house? For a general guide, we are looking at a 4/5 bedroom, 2/3 bathroom 2/3 toilet, single story house, very open plan, high ceilings, good quality finishes. Our FIL is a registered electrician so we hope to save a bit there, but the rest will be all done by a builder. I know its a very broad questions, but any guide would help. Thanks! I'd budget on around about $1400-$1500 per square metre excluding site works, landscaping, flooring and window treatments. Re: New acerage owners - West Pinjarra WA - SO MANY QTS! 19Jul 19, 2014 2:43 pm So a little bit exciting for us, we've just had our water connected into our block and this week my wonderfully talented Father in Law built our electricity meter box and set it up at the block. Just need to contact Western Power now and get it all connected! Living so far away from our block is so hard, but we are so lucky to have the in laws around the corner who help out with anything we need. They've done this rural block thing a couple of times now, so its great to have experience people to help!
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