Welcome back to the site!
We’re now about four or five days into the demolition phase, and things are really moving.
Most of the work you see here was done last Friday. Right now, the operator is using the grabber to carefully pull out materials like metal, which you can see piled up over to the side. This methodical sorting helps us see what we’re working with and keeps the site organized.
A Delicate Demolition Process
You might notice the operator, Darren, is taking it slow. There’s a good reason for that. We have to be careful not to accidentally peel off roof sheeting or guttering and send debris flying toward the neighbors.
It’s all about control. We’re also lucky with the weather today—it’s overcast with a bit of rain, which is perfect for keeping dust to a minimum. This makes for happier neighbors and is a key part of our dust control plan (often called a DNC or Demolition Noise & Dust Control plan).
Over by the pile, the team is sorting the structural steel coming out of the house. This includes vertical steel posts that carried loads and horizontal beams (called universal beams) that supported the main roof. It’s a big puzzle we’re taking apart piece by piece.
Understanding the Site Boundaries
Let’s talk about some site terms you may have come across. This strip of grass here is called the “grass verge.” This is actually council land, followed by the “vehicle crossover” (the driveway entrance from the road).
To pour your new driveway in this area on the Gold Coast, you need a VXO permit. Then you have the curb and channel, and a stormwater pit.
A short note on driveway details. The standard details referred to by councils in QLD and NT is the IPWEA (Institute of Public Works Engineering Australasia) standard drawing suite and in particular, RSD100 and RSD 101 (see details below)
We haven’t installed our formal sediment and erosion controls (ESC) just yet, because the demolition work would knock them right over. For now, the grass verge itself is helping to trap sediment. We’re also keeping an eye on the driveway, sweeping any loose material back onto the site to prevent runoff.
Setting Up The Site: Site Facilities
Our big focus this morning is setting up proper site facilities for the crew. Here’s the plan:
- We’ll dig out this road base material and use it to extend and level a platform near our shipping container. This expanded area will become our main site hub.
Why? Two key reasons:
- The Toilet: The sewer main and manhole are located here. We’ll move the portable toilet onto the new platform and connect it directly to the sewer, making it a proper flushable toilet. We’ll also tee into the water line here to supply it.
- Water for the Team: We’ll also install a water bubbler (a drinking fountain) on the platform. It needs both power and a water connection. Having clean drinking water on site isn't always a legal requirement, but we believe it’s essential. Happy, hydrated tradespeople are more productive, and in the Queensland heat, it’s just the right thing to do.
We’re also planning to set up another awning off the side of the container to create more shade. Those containers can become ovens in the sun, so a cool place for the team to take a break is a must.
Securing the Site with Smart Tech
I’ve just finalized orders for the site security system. Instead of using a typical camera rental company—which can charge around $130 per camera, per week—we’re installing our own more permanent, smarter solution.
We’ll have four cameras total. A pole mounted here will hold cameras covering the driveway/delivery area and the front work zone. Another set at the back will cover the rear of the property.
Modern site cameras are pretty flash. They have built-in AI for smart detection. The system will run off a 4G router with an antenna mounted on the container. Inside, a network switch will power the cameras (using Power over Ethernet, or PoE), and all the footage will record to a network video recorder (NVR) with a 10-terabyte hard drive back at the office.
The best part? We can use the Unified Protect app to view the cameras live on our phones and get alerts for any site movement. It gives us and the client real-time peace of mind.
So, while the house is coming down, we’re firmly in the "site setup" phase—building the foundation, both literally and operationally, for the entire project ahead.
More progress updates to come.
