Monday 31 March 2014

We're on the Construction List!

Monday 31 March 2014

This morning McDonald Jones Homes confirmed that we have now been placed on their Construction List.  Construction of our Douglas 10M is now due to commence within 20 working days.

Holroyd Council is due to conduct their required Post Demolition Inspection today (fingers crossed all will go well with that inspection).


Thursday 27 March 2014

In remembrance of the passengers and crew of MH370 and their families





In remembrance of the missing Malaysian Airlines Flight MH370, which disappeared and apparently crashed into the wild Southern Indian Ocean, some 2,500 km South-West of Perth, Western Australia, on Saturday 8 March 2014, killing all 239 people on board, including 2 infants, 12 crew members and 6 Australian passengers.  May they rest in eternal peace.

Clearance Certificate now received from the demolition company



Thursday 27 March 2014

We’ve had a week of widespread heavy rain and storms which have thankfully extended far into the drought-stricken regions along the eastern states.  It’s a good thing all the demolition work was completed last week.

The All Weather Access gravel/crushed rock was delivered and installed on Monday 24 March 2014.  Sydney West Excavations did a fantastic job for us.  On the same day, Digger Dunlop, erected and installed the silt barrier fencing.  We really appreciate their help with installing those anti-erosion measures for us, particularly at such short notice.  Luckily, the inclement weather and heavy rain has not adversely affected the demolition site this week, and there’s been no evidence of any sedimentary run-off to pollute our environment.

The long term weather forecast for Sydney and Australia-wide appears to be favourable for our forthcoming construction work, which should be in full swing throughout the remainder of our Autumn and the coming Winter and Spring.  A dry Winter is forecast along with the return of the El Nino causing a long, hot, dry Spring and Summer ahead.  This current rain might be the last heavy falls that we’ll be blessed with until the end of that El Nino.  Thank God we decided to upgrade all the wall and ceiling insulations to the maximum possible sizes/ratings and for the decision to install the local Aussie-made big Actron reverse-cycled, zoned and ducted air conditioning system in the new home.
 
We received the Clearance Certificate and copies of the relevant weighbridge receipts today from our demolition company.  Copies have been duly sent to McDonald Jones Homes and Holroyd Council.  We anticipate McDonald Jones Homes will be notifying us shortly about when we’ll be placed on their Construction List – hope it’s soon, it feels like it’s taking forever to get to Construction (it’s now 10 months since we first started this project with real earnest).    

We arranged a booking today with Council for their inspector to conduct their required Post Demolition Inspection.  The first available time for that inspection will be on Monday morning 31 March 2014.  Fingers crossed that all will go well with that inspection and that nothing else will delay things any further.

Friday 21 March 2014

The latest Catch 22 situation - Sediment Erosion Control Measures

Friday 21 March 2014

Just when we thought we'd got through all the hassles with the Council we now find ourselves dealing with another Catch 22 situation.

The Council's inspector will be conducting the Post Demolition Inspection early next week.  McDonald Jones Homes is awaiting the outcome of that inspection before they can commence the construction.

When I spoke with Council yesterday, they said they will also want to inspect the sediment erosion control measures that have been installed on our property when they come out next week.  This includes the Silt Sediment Control Barrier/Fencing and the All Weather Access (gravel, crushed rock etc.) that needs to be laid where our driveway used to be to avoid any run-off pollution from our block of land.

I told Council that McDonald Jones Homes has made provisions for those erosion control measures in their building plans and that McDonald Jones Homes will install those erosion control measures after Council's inspection next week.  Council is not happy with that and they insist the erosion control measures have to be actioned ASAP before their Post Demolition Inspection.  Another Catch 22 situation.

After a lot of frantic running around, and with the help of McDonald Jones Homes, I have contacted the subcontractors recommended by McDonald Jones Homes today to make urgent arrangements for those subcontractors to install the Sediment Erosion Control Measures ASAP on Monday or Tuesday next week.

Sydney West Excavations (Kellyville, NSW) has agreed to lay the All Weather Access (gravel, crushed rock etc.), and they will invoice McDonald Jones Homes in due course.

Digger Dunlop (Windsor, NSW) has agreed to install the required Silt Sediment Control Barrier/Fencing.  They have also agreed to invoice McDonald Jones Homes in due course.





   

Wednesday 19 March 2014

It's all gone!!!


Wednesday 19 March 2014

Yes!!  All the demolition work was completed today and all the debris has now been removed from site and carted-off to the various recycling and waste depots.

In accordance with Holroyd City Council's requirements, the Demolition Company has obtained the various receipts from all the weighbridges for the disposal of our recycled and waste building materials.  Those receipts will confirm that the Demolition has been completed in full compliance with the Council's environmental requirements.  We will need to give copies of those weighbridge receipts to Council when their inspector comes to complete Council's onsite Post Demolition Inspection (hopefully, next week).

The Demolition Company will now issue their Clearance Certificate, which we will need to give McDonald Jones Homes, so that they can now put us on their Construction List ASAP.  

We sincerely thank Aris and the team at ANA Demolitions.  They have done a wonderful job with demolishing our home and preparing the land for readiness for the builder.


Here's some photos of our property which has now been cleared and is ready for the construction work for our new home.  This is how I envisaged our home when I first brought it 12 years ago.  I've been waiting 12 years to see this!  It's amazing how big the block of land looks without that crappy old home on it.  The land is just a fraction under 50 metres deep and is a narrow 12 metres wide (594m²).  We'll still have a very decent-sized backyard area which will be turfed and simply landscaped with plenty of shrubs and trees for privacy.


Long ago, the previous owners of the property erected a small, free-standing studio, at the very rear of the property.  We previously used it just as a spare bedroom for guests or a 'chill-out' space.  It is large enough to hold a double or queen-sized bed and has built-in wardrobes and cupboards.  It used to have an electricity supply from the power board on the main house, but it has no plumbing.  We're going to keep that free-standing studio for additional storage space and a 'chill-out' area.  We'll do-it-up after we've moved into the new home later this year.