Information for Building Sites

The Building Code of Practice is a guide to the responsibilities of developers, builders and trades people working on building sites. The aim of the Building Code is to reduce the negative impacts of building and construction in the community, protect the environment and ensure safer building sites. Council's issues include:

  • Litter and other building materials escaping sites
  • Building materials placed on nature strips
  • Damage to footpaths and vehicle crossovers
  • Litter, sand and soil escaping building sites and entering stormwater drains causing pollution of local creeks and rivers.
Building Site Litter and Materials

All litter and building waste must be secured in a skip or a cage with a lid - to prevent it from blowing away. It must be emptied during and at the end of construction.

Footpaths, Vehicle Crossovers and Nature Strips

All building materials MUST be contained on site - NOT on the nature strip, footpath or roadway.

Within 7 days of receiving the building permit, builders MUST notify Council of any pre-existing damage to footpaths, kerbs, vehicle crossovers and nature strips. It is the builders responsibility to make sure these assets are protected and maintained in a safe manner until building works are completed and the Certificate of Occupancy is issued.

Builders MUST use wooden vehicle crossover protectors to reduce the spread of soil and protect against damage to vehicle crossovers. Builders and contractors must not drive vehicles over footpaths to gain access to properties.

Temporary Fencing

Use temporary perimeter fencing to enclose a building site. This will restrict access and prevent litter and building materials from being blown off site. Use of fencing may also act as a deterrent to theft. Please note that temporary fencing is not compulsory in the City of Whittlesea but is highly recommended.

Drains

Before starting work, sand bags or hay bales must be used to surround drains and the perimeter of sloping land. This will prevent soil from being washed off site and polluting the stormwater system.

Noise

Be considerate to surrounding neighbours. Noise regulations state that operating times for building sites are as follows:

  • Monday - Friday 7am - 8pm
  • Weekends and Public Holidays 9am - 8pm
Animal Control

A dog taken onto a building site must be controlled, registered and not create a noise nuisance.

Property Identification

Allocated property numbers must be clearly displayed and no further than 0.5m inside the front boundary line. The number must be on a contrasting background and must be easily read at all times from the road. This will assist in the easy identification of the property by delivery drivers and emergency vehicles.

From the 1st of July, 2005 building sites are required to have details of the Building Permit displayed on site. The details required are:

  • Builder's Registration number
  • Builder's Contact details
  • Building Surveyor's Name & Registration number
  • Building Surveyor's Contact details
  • Building Permit number
  • Building Permit issue date
Securing Loads

When transporting waste from the building site, ensure loads on utilities, trailers and trucks are secured to prevent litter blowing from vehicles.

Sanitary Facilities

A working toilet and running water must be provided on all building sites.

Damage to Trees

Trees, both on the site and on the nature strip, must be protected from damage.