Highgate WA: 4 townhouses development

Piling is definitely cheaper and would be the answer for 90% of the time. This sewer line is 2-3m in from the side boundary and the block is only 6.5m wide so if I wanted to build on it, it needs encasing.
Water Corp need to approve the design then it goes out to tender. I have $50k in the budget and I'm hoping that its not that much.

 

Water specifically asked not to encase MPC sewer and then engineer did it any way! Oops.

 

How deep is it? Is this the one you mentioned at the meetup?

What/ how much design do you need to provide? Just a highlighter and red pen "concrete encased" or have you got another super challenging site

 

@bob shovel Yup - these are the plans as it's easier to show you than type it all out

Dropbox - D146802-A-124WrightHighgate-A1 C-01.pdf

 

For my highgate project qe had to encase and pile for a section too from memory. Plus cut up the road and fix etc and it was under 30k, i think under 25k.

Ive done a bucket load of work with this guy for nearly 10 years though, everything from small basic plumbing work to 6 figure jobs on sites so he gives me a good rate.

 

Ok can see why you uploaded the drawing

Have you rung around for a second opinion?

That's very different to concrete encasing. You can add "tunneller" to your resume! Not sure how i feel about that. Is that something water Corp normally asks for?? I can understand they're probably doing for future up grades but looks like over kill ....which is standard for designers i guess

Unusual they are going for pre cast pits as over east they not allowing pre cast man holes (sydney water) for sewer anymore due to the deterioration of the ones in the ground now, they have $millions to spend in repairs to fix their network.

Normally concrete encase is just a standard drawing (WSA code) showing some reo and concrete. They must have their reasons i guess

 

Zombie apocalypse or bomb shelter

 

@sanj can you send me the details of your civil/sewer guy?

The sewer tunnel drawings went out to tender via Structerre and all tender responses were due back on Wednesday 12th October

*crickets*

Structerre ring all the people they sent it to encouraging them to respond

*more crickets*

Not one SINGLE person/company wanted to quote on it.

I'm like WTF?!?!?!? Surely people want some money for doing some work? I thought economy sucked here?

@bob shovel hop on a plane and come back please

 

@Westminster that is absolutely crazy that in the current market over there you're not having mulitple builders throwing themselves at you for business.

Just doesn't make sense!!!

 

I don't understand this.
Exclusive Homes WA, that took longer than they should have but apparently they are doing apartments and quality is pretty good. May be worth a try.

 

Hmm I should mention I was talking about the sewer tunnel not the house construction - that is under control.
Builder is keen as and doesn't want to wait for stupid sewer tunnel so will probably start building the front 2 which aren't near the tunnel whilst we beg and beg for someone to do the tunnel work.

 

Ok. I'm going to need a few sober(ish) Irish lads, the biggest digger you can find and some pipe. I'll use the plans as a "guide" but i can make **** flow down hill for you!

It's a pretty complicated little job. I'll have another look at the plans. I know a great contractor in Sydney that would be perfect for it! No good to you though any indication of price from anyone? By the lack of response the budget may be taking a hit on this one!

Can you get the designers to look at it again, it's probably scarring contractors off. It's not just a simple green fields block! Can they look at concrete encasing some how? ?

Be careful with your builder starting if he blocks access it could make it even harder to quote. It's around 4m deep and they'll need shoring and a way to cart spoil out.

Have you got a "pretty" photo of the site? Send some out with the tender to show what it's like, something showing a clear area to work may help

*edit. Good side road access

 

Thanks for the suggestions @bob shovel. It's a corner block so if we start construction we are on the other side and well away from it

We've had no real indication except from Structerre who have said that last tenders came in around $30k for similar work at another site. I have $50k in the budget just in case.

 

I'll keep looking but as a start it may be worthwhile if you call up some shoring hire companies - coates are usually helpful send them the drawing. With it being close to the neighbours house and the comment "specialist temporary shoring blablahbla" is a big flag. You're deep and close to the boundary.

You'll probably need a shoring box atleast 2100mm wide to to get pits in plus do concrete footings (unless coates come up with another idea). And for 2100mm wide the excavation may be close to 3m. it's going to be very close to the fence and close to the neighbour's house.

This is one where you'd probably be happy to be in rock! Extra cost but no shoring and good solid ground would be easy to work in.

I'll keep looking later today my washing and groceries wait for no one

 

Thanks Bob.

Wish they would just ........

 

@Westminster has water Corp approved this design or did they specify it had to be done that way?

Another issue/cost could be the sewer flows, it may require a temporary bypass set up while the section is changed to pvc.not always needed but being a city location and higher density it could have some decent flows.

You don't want to step on your designers toes but could you call water Corp direct and see what they suggest? Or have approved elsewhere? It could be a 20k phone call if you find the right person!

Otherwise best to find who the tender went to and keep ringing around to find someone that didn't get it, or the right contact from ringing around. It's to small a job to split ie bulk excavation then pipe laying and pits etc

 

Hey got your msg, will send you his details.

 

@Wesminster I have started reading this post from the beginning last night and just finished it this morning..It was just like watching a movie and wishing for a good end..So inspirational ! Thanks for sharing your story.

 

Any luck with design or contractors? @Westminster

 

Received our first quote today. $115k
Should be getting 2 more in the coming days.