Every phase of construction when building your home plays a key role in creating a safe, sustainable, and high-quality outcome. Read more to learn more.
Maintaining your construction site
From site preparation and foundation work to the final fit-out, each construction phase when building your home plays a key role in creating a safe, sustainable, and high-quality outcome. Your principal contractors are responsible for overseeing construction.
In the ACT, construction regulation is managed through Access Canberra. While your builder is in charge of your site for the duration of construction, it’s your responsibility as the landowner to be aware of on-site mishaps to ensure you and your builder takes compliance seriously to avoid fines. You can check the registration status of your builders and tradespeople on the Access Canberra website. The WorkSafe ACT guidelines and ACT Government regulations that builders must follow can be found here.
Engage with certifiers early and talk with your builder about mindful on-site practices that minimise your environmental impact and ensure your project will stand the test of time.
Questions to ask your builder
How will you dispose of excess materials?
Will verge protection be included in the scope of works?
Read more questions to ask here.
Best practices for managing spare materials
Responsible handling means cutting down on excess resources. Your builder should consider:
Considerate storage
Principal contractors and subcontractors are responsible for ensuring that the materials on your site are managed appropriately. Ask your builder about their process for creating designated storage areas to store spare building materials neatly. They may rent skips, bins, or cages for your site. Ensure they keep them covered to secure debris such as concrete dust or sawdust in wet or windy conditions. For more information about minimising waste, you can read our article on sustainable construction practices here.
Avoiding illegal dumping
Dumping materials in undesignated areas can harm the environment, attract pests, and contaminate the soil and water. Compliance is important to keep your community clean and safe.
Collecting and repurposing responsibly
Before excess materials such as bricks, metal, concrete and timber are removed, consider whether they can be reused, sold, or donated. Many organisations repurpose resources for community projects. A full list of materials that can be recycled by your builder is available here.
Understanding your boundaries
Encroachment happens when structures or building materials extend beyond property boundaries, like fences, driveways, or buildings crossing into neighbouring or public land. To avoid disputes and fines, check boundaries, get the right permits, install a temporary fence around your block boundaries and communicate with neighbours before building.
Verge and tree maintenance
As the landowner, the trees and plants on your verge are your responsibility to maintain during construction. Regular upkeep prevents issues with damage, overgrowth or obstruction, ensuring that the of the area remains intact throughout the building process. Caring for these areas not only enhances their natural beauty and supports the aesthetic appeal of the surrounding suburb but also protects local wildlife. Find out what you can do to your verge here.
Verge bonds
In Jacka, a $1,000 bond is required at block settlement to support the upkeep of the verge and street trees throughout the construction of your home. Once your home is complete and the verge is returned to its original condition, you can apply for a refund. Claiming the refund must be done within six months of receiving your certificate of occupancy, and no later than 30 months after settlement. You can read more here.
