PROJECT MANAGEMENT- BUILDING A HOUSE

Project Management- Building a House



Project Management- Building a House

Introduction

Once your plans have been designed and a preliminary costing has been done it is then time to lodge your plans into council. Try our construction cost calculator before you lodge your plans, so there are no nasty surprises later on or talk to a quantity surveyor to ensure your are aware of all costs involved in the construction process.

Discussion

A DA is the first part of the council approval process which is submitted by the developer or owner to the local council for approval of new homes and renovations involving structural changes (Wood, 2012). Design drawings, Statement of Environmental Effects, Materials Reuse statement (sometimes called Waste Management Report) and a BASIX Certificates also accompany the application and other reports such as a Flora and Fauna Assessments, Bushfire Assessments and Geo-technical Assessments may also be required at this stage (talk to your local council). Together they describe the usage, style, size and location of the intended building and its surrounds including the zoning and any special conditions that may be placed upon the property.

Those special conditions or encumbrances are listed in the Section 149 Certificate that form part of the contract of sale document (Cronin, 2005). They can include:

bushfire areas

earthquake of subsistence areas

alpine environments

waterways

heritage

flood zone

These encumbrances can limit your choose of construction types eg, rendered brick walls are not suggested in mine subsidence areas due to the cracking that will most likey occur as a result of ground movement. For the same reasons, unusual structures such as strawbale buildings will need special consideration.

New Preset Housing Codes

Preset housing codes will be introduced into NSW in Dec 08 and become operational on Feb 17, 2009. There will be a series of codes for different house types and lot sizes, and for small commercial developments. This new code will reduce approvals to 10 days. It will cover suburbs in Sydney's middle and outer ring where house blocks are larger than 450 square meters but would not cover small inner city.

Site Survey

This is a graphic description of the property and a comprehensive survey usually contains:

North arrow and scale of drawing

Location of public thoroughfares

Site boundary dimensions

Location of easements

Location of existing developments and driveways

Contour lines in AHD levels

Locations of trees

Location of fencing and sheds

Location of watercourses, services, rocky outcrops etc (Wood, 2012)

BASIX Report

BASIX is the acronym for "Building Sustainability Index". Since October 2006 all development applications lodged in NSW for new homes, renovations and additions valued over $100,000 must contain a BASIX certificate. Applications for installing a pool or spa must also include a BASIX certificate. The BASIX certificate pledges the homeowner to water and energy saving commitments that must be verified by an accredited certifier before an Occupation Certificate is issued.

Materials Reuse Statement (sometimes called Waste Management Report)

This is a short 2 page form where the applicant makes a statement to local council how demolished materials will be disposed of, or recycled, and how waste will be managed during construction.

Geotechnical Report

The type of soil determines the bearing capacity (how much weight it can support), and its ...