Demolition: TICK!

Hooray, demolition is done!
What was a putrid garbage dump is now a big brown patch of possibilities. Luckily we didn't end up having to pay too much more, still within our budget. Unluckily, I'm pretty certain we're gonna lose all of our pavement bond. So many big trucks...

Our neighbour has said he wants to rebuild the fence we share. Fine by me! The demolition has exposed it in all it's dilapidated glory, and he's got a gorgeous black dog that needs boundaries.

As for the builder, we're 99.5% sure we're going with Huxl3y. I just paid the tender fee (it's not our first tender fee), and we're still in the initial stage of 'drawing with the architect'. Our contour survey is now outdated. The demolition has actually levelled out the property a bit, and the demolishers created a gently sloping ramp on one side for truck access.

In hindsight, I'm not sure doing the demolition as a separate development application to the building was the right move. When i submitted the application, we were thinking we'd build the house as complying development. Now with the design we're looking at, it's definately a DA, not CDC. Nevertheless, getting it out of the way is nice. It saves me the worry that it might take too long and delay the start of building, and of squatters on my land. Now all i have to worry about is people dumping rubbish on it! Maybe some temporary fencing will be the solution.

Demolition Drama

The demolishers have started work on our house, and there are problems.
When we bought this place, we knew it had rubbish at the back. However, since there were so many sheds out the back we couldn't get to the back property line until now that they've removed them during demolition. There's broken up asbestos strewn over the backyard. Rubbish, broken pots, mysteriously buried concrete structures, you name it we've got it. This is a serious problem which I'm estimating will really dent my budget.

The demolisher hasn't even given me a revised figure. I'm dreading the answer, yet don't like waiting.

Demolition Delay

There is a week's delay in my demolition. Oh no!
Today was D-day, but no sign of the D. I called up to find out, and was told he can't start today.

He'll start in a week, maybe. He'll let me know!

It would have been nice to know before I took a half-day off work to pay the deposit on site. To satisfy our palettes while we wait, here is the layout I drew up for the demolition application.




Ah the demolition application. That brings back memories. The asbestos survey company are pretty good at taking your money. I was given assurances that I would be informed before any 'samples' were taken for very expensive analysis. I specified I did not want any samples taken. Guess what, I was NOT informed, and they took TWO samples without my permission! Don't get stung like me. Make sure you follow them around during the survey, even if it means taking time off work. Drum it into their thick heads. NO SAMPLES.

Demolition Anticipation

I bought a badly sloping dump, and plan to rebuild a lovely home for the family. Currently it's real estate for

• termites
• creepy insects the size of my hand
• cracked flower pots
• chook poo
  
• lots of asbestos

Getting flattened and cleared out is the best thing that could happen for this block of land with a sordid history. I've been told previous tenants were noisy firebugs and druggies. Their parties brought the police sirens every week. I can't wait to see it razed. There's so much potential for this block. It's in a good location in a nice suburb. I hate to see good things go to waste.

Demolition is planned for tuesday the 14th April 09. I hope nothing goes wrong. The council has already demonstrated an amazing lethargy and incompetence. "How much notice do I have to give before the demolition begins?": 3 different council people give 3 different answers. It took 2 weeks for them to stick a stamp on an envelope to mail me the terms and conditions.

Council rant aside, the builder and floorplan have not yet been finalised. This needs to be done before end April 09. However, like all good dramas, there is dissention in the ranks. Someone has thrown a tantrum and is threatening to stop the project unless they get what they want. Nobody else wants what they want. Let's hope this problem goes away.