Home Owner Information
beforeUdig has developed a unique partnership with most of New Zealand’s major utility asset owners such as gas, power, water and telecommunications. In most cases the service offers a ‘one stop shop’ to request information about the utility networks at the planned excavation site, commercial or residential, without the need to contact utility owners individually.
The service helps home owners avoid potential damages to any surrounding utility asset(s) when undertaking projects, such as:
- New fencing
- Driveways
- Landscaping
- Mailbox installation
- Pools
- Carports
- Decking
Utility assets can be anywhere and underground assets may be closer to the surface than expected, which is why lodging a FREE beforeUdig enquiry is your way to ‘protect lives, cables and pipes.’
For more information about lodging a FREE enquiry and the steps after, review our Guide to Lodging a FREE Enquiry.
Some Useful Tips for Home Owners
A beforeUdig enquiry must be lodged at least two full business days prior to starting any excavation or work site project, allowing sufficient time to receive plans back from member asset owners to locate any affected infrastructure assets.
If you have a tradesperson working onsite, determine who will be lodging the FREE enquiry with beforeUdig. If in doubt lodge an enquiry yourself and have the plans ready.
Plan(s) DO NOT pinpoint the exact location of the utility assets, only their presence. Duty of Care must, therefore, be exercised when working near all utility assets.
NEVER assume the depth or alignment of pipes and cables. Landscaping, ground movement, shallow installation may affect the location underground
For any excavation project, always proceed with caution and follow the rules of safe excavation.
Plans are intended to be an indication only of the location of assets and may not contain specific detail(s) within your property boundary of services that you own such as power service cables and telephone service cables. A locator service may be able to assist with identifying these cables and pipes.
If further assistance is required, contact the utility asset owners directly using the numbers provided on the plan(s) or the beforeUdig confirmation sheet.
Consider hiring a qualified locator or one recommended by the asset owner if you believe there are utility assets within the vicinity of your project site but cannot locate them.
Keep a record of the information and any notes you make in case damage has occurred to a utility asset(s).
If damage does occur, evacuate the site immediately and contact the utility owner and/or emergency services where gas is concerned. DO NOT attempt to fix the service yourself.
Be aware utility asset owners may seek compensation for any damage caused to their asset, regardless if a beforeUdig enquiry has been lodged. Any type of excavation around the home can cause damage(s) to surrounding utility assets. Proceed with caution and follow the Duty of Care.