I have two charges in my tender that I believe the builder's pricing team has made an incorrect assessment for my site. This equates to be about $10k.
1. As per the overhead power lines OH & S report, a permit and protection measures applied to the power lines are required. Due to works to be performed during the construction of this dwelling being assessed as being too close in proximity to the power lines adjacent to the clients lot.
2. Provide Crane Truck, Dogman and Spotter due to overhead power lines to the front of the building site, for safe delivery of materials to the building area.
The reason why I believe these charge are incorrect is because:
- There are no overhead power cables adjacent to my property
- The pole & cables are on the other side of the street which is 12m away from the kerbside of my house and almost 18m away from the construction site.
- Energysafe Victoria, Worksafe Victoria & Power company have all confirmed that there is no requirement for a permit or any spotters for the level of clearance my property has
- Even the builder has acknowledged that it is not a mandatory requirement but their internal policy to charge this for all KDRB projects for OH&S reasons and/or "just in case scenario".
I have offered to talk to their pricing or management team but no luck. I have offered to pay if they incur these charges but again no luck and I keep getting referred back to "it is a standard policy for all KDRB projects"
There are further charges again that I believe is over the top like traffic management (I'm on a no through road street!), rubbish containment on site, limited site access surcharge etc all equating to further $20k.
Now I would like to know what do you guys think and if I should just give up on it and go ahead with it thinking this is just "normal" and how they make money?