Who remembers these TV ads from way back?
If you remember these ads, you probably remember the message behind them as well: namely, to Dial Before You Dig.
But when do you need to Dial Before You Dig? Should you ring every time you want to dig, or only once you dig past a certain depth?
Are there certain types of work that are exempted?
What is a DBYD report, anyway?
That’s what we’re here to answer today!
Dial Before You Dig, 101: a crash course on DBYD reports
How many utilities do you have installed underneath your property? How deep are they? Where are they buried?
Each of these are important questions to ask before excavation work can commence.
And they’re exactly what a Dial Before You Dig report answers for you.
Each of these are important questions to ask before excavation work can commence.
And they’re exactly what a Dial Before You Dig report answers for you.
It’s all about protecting you
You don’t need us to tell you what’s likely to happen if you dig down and accidentally hit an electrical cable.
However, that isn’t the only type of danger digging without doing your research can pose.
In addition to electrocution, certain other utilities can also pose a hazard.
For example, accidentally break a gas line, and the area will be flooded with natural gas. And as we all know, prolonged exposure has several nasty side-effects.
However, that isn’t the only type of danger digging without doing your research can pose.
In addition to electrocution, certain other utilities can also pose a hazard.
For example, accidentally break a gas line, and the area will be flooded with natural gas. And as we all know, prolonged exposure has several nasty side-effects.
Protect your hip pocket
Some utilities won’t present any physical danger when they’re damaged. However, they can be extremely expensive to fix!
Say you’ve shelled out for fibre to the premises (FTTP).
You’ve got the fastest upload and download speed on the block - just what you need to work from home, or power your Netflix addiction.
Damage the all-important cables, and you’ll have to pay out-of-pocket for a replacement - as you no doubt recall, it wasn’t cheap.
That’s just one example of how failing to obtain a Dial Before You Dig report beforehand can cost you in the long-run!
Say you’ve shelled out for fibre to the premises (FTTP).
You’ve got the fastest upload and download speed on the block - just what you need to work from home, or power your Netflix addiction.
Damage the all-important cables, and you’ll have to pay out-of-pocket for a replacement - as you no doubt recall, it wasn’t cheap.
That’s just one example of how failing to obtain a Dial Before You Dig report beforehand can cost you in the long-run!
Who needs a Dial Before You Dig report?
The answer: anyone who’s planning on doing any digging in the near future!
We’re talking about:
- Builders and contractors
- Farmers
- Excavation companies
- Councils
- Landscapers
- Network maintenance workers
- Plumbers
- Homeowners
- Cable and pipe installation companies
Each of these occupations involves a degree of digging. Before you embark on said digging however, it’s important to ensure your work doesn’t end up causing unintended damage.
That’s because a great deal of utilities are buried underground. We’re talking about pipes, electric cables, phone lines, sewers, gas pipes and more.
In other words, things that you don’t want to accidentally break.
In the best case scenario, you’re left with an expensive repair bill and a mess on your property - worst case scenario… well, we all remember how the ads ended.
In the best case scenario, you’re left with an expensive repair bill and a mess on your property - worst case scenario… well, we all remember how the ads ended.
We’re talking about:
- Builders and contractors
- Farmers
- Excavation companies
- Councils
- Landscapers
- Network maintenance workers
- Plumbers
- Homeowners
- Cable and pipe installation companies
Each of these occupations involves a degree of digging. Before you embark on said digging however, it’s important to ensure your work doesn’t end up causing unintended damage.
That’s because a great deal of utilities are buried underground. We’re talking about pipes, electric cables, phone lines, sewers, gas pipes and more.
In other words, things that you don’t want to accidentally break.
In the best case scenario, you’re left with an expensive repair bill and a mess on your property - worst case scenario… well, we all remember how the ads ended.
In the best case scenario, you’re left with an expensive repair bill and a mess on your property - worst case scenario… well, we all remember how the ads ended.
Tradies
Your work often sees you having to dig up parts of a property as part of a job.
For plumbers, that can mean repairing an underground pipe; for sparkies, that can mean replacing an underground electrical cable.
Of course, to work on these underground utilities, you need to know where they are first!
For plumbers, that can mean repairing an underground pipe; for sparkies, that can mean replacing an underground electrical cable.
Of course, to work on these underground utilities, you need to know where they are first!
Farmers
There may be all manner of underground pipes and cables running underneath your property. You may already have an easement on your property to allow utility workers to access them.
If you’re planning on digging out a farm dam, a new septic tank or as part of an expansion, you’ll need to know which areas to avoid before you dig down.
If you’re planning on digging out a farm dam, a new septic tank or as part of an expansion, you’ll need to know which areas to avoid before you dig down.
Landscapers and builders
Many building jobs involve landscaping to prepare the lot for construction.
As part of the prep process, it’s important that the locations of existing cables and pipes are known - fail to do so, and your reputation can take a serious hit.
As part of the prep process, it’s important that the locations of existing cables and pipes are known - fail to do so, and your reputation can take a serious hit.
Homeowners
If you’ve got a greenthumb or a DIY hobby, we suggest reading on!
While most utilities are buried deeper than you’ll ever dig, it’s still worth requesting a Dial Before You Dig report anyway.
DBYD enquiries are completely free, and it can tell you a lot of useful information, helping you avoid a costly mistake.
While most utilities are buried deeper than you’ll ever dig, it’s still worth requesting a Dial Before You Dig report anyway.
DBYD enquiries are completely free, and it can tell you a lot of useful information, helping you avoid a costly mistake.
What a Dial Before You Dig report is NOT
When you make a Dial Before You Dig enquiry, you’ll receive a report detailing:
- What types of utilities are located underneath your block of land
- The authority that owns said utility, as well as their contact details
- Your responsibilities, as well as your next course of action
And while some maps, drawings and diagrams are included, these don’t come directly from DBYD but from the utility operator itself.
That’s because Dial Before You Dig Victoria doesn’t hold onto any maps itself - rather, it’s the utility operators that have that information.
Every time an enquiry is issued, a request is sent to the utilities operators listed in the report. They’ll be required to provide details regarding location and depth by the following working day - if they don’t, you’ll need to get in contact with them directly.
Even then, you may have to arrange an on-site inspection with the utility owner in some circumstances.
- What types of utilities are located underneath your block of land
- The authority that owns said utility, as well as their contact details
- Your responsibilities, as well as your next course of action
And while some maps, drawings and diagrams are included, these don’t come directly from DBYD but from the utility operator itself.
That’s because Dial Before You Dig Victoria doesn’t hold onto any maps itself - rather, it’s the utility operators that have that information.
Every time an enquiry is issued, a request is sent to the utilities operators listed in the report. They’ll be required to provide details regarding location and depth by the following working day - if they don’t, you’ll need to get in contact with them directly.
Even then, you may have to arrange an on-site inspection with the utility owner in some circumstances.
It doesn’t cover renovations and additions
Here’s something you should also know - the information that comes with your Dial Before You Dig report only concerns utilities. That means things like water mains, sewers and mains electricity.
You may have noticed that your previous renovation isn’t included on that list.
What about the pipe that supplies water to your garden tap? The wiring for your backyard pool pump? The gas line that goes to your barbeque? These won’t be included in your DBYD report.
That’s why it’s so important to hold onto the drawings and documents following any work. Failing that, contact your builder, plumber or electrician.
You may have noticed that your previous renovation isn’t included on that list.
What about the pipe that supplies water to your garden tap? The wiring for your backyard pool pump? The gas line that goes to your barbeque? These won’t be included in your DBYD report.
That’s why it’s so important to hold onto the drawings and documents following any work. Failing that, contact your builder, plumber or electrician.
Dial before you dig in Victoria!
Making it easier than ever to find out what’s underneath your property
If you ask us, anytime you plan on doing any digging should be preceded by requesting a Dial Before You Dig report.
Never assume - thanks to obstacles in the vicinity such as tree roots, rocks and hard clay, there’s no way to guarantee the paths of cables and pipes, nor the depth that they’re buried.
The only way to be sure is to call Dial Before You Dig and apply for your DBYD report.
Thanks to our connections with councils and utilities owners and operators, we’re able to speed up the process of obtaining all the information you need to obtain before digging.
We’re able to get diagrams from utilities owners and operators for you.
Instead of waiting for providers to get back to you (or worse, having to get in touch with them yourselves if they fail to get back to you in time), our team will get in touch with all parties listed in your DBYD report.
And that means less time before you can start digging!
Need a DBYD report? Order online now with just an address!
Got questions or need to get in touch? Reach out to our friendly team here or call us on (03) 8527 6300
Never assume - thanks to obstacles in the vicinity such as tree roots, rocks and hard clay, there’s no way to guarantee the paths of cables and pipes, nor the depth that they’re buried.
The only way to be sure is to call Dial Before You Dig and apply for your DBYD report.
Thanks to our connections with councils and utilities owners and operators, we’re able to speed up the process of obtaining all the information you need to obtain before digging.
We’re able to get diagrams from utilities owners and operators for you.
Instead of waiting for providers to get back to you (or worse, having to get in touch with them yourselves if they fail to get back to you in time), our team will get in touch with all parties listed in your DBYD report.
And that means less time before you can start digging!
Need a DBYD report? Order online now with just an address!
Got questions or need to get in touch? Reach out to our friendly team here or call us on (03) 8527 6300
The information in this article is general in nature and does not constitute legal advice. As with all things property, we strongly recommend consulting a professional to ensure that all stages of your building project (including the Title search) go smoothly.