Ballarat City Council has signed up to the national ‘Dial Before You Dig program in an effort to further protect Ballarat’s multimillion dollar infrastructure assets from accidental damage.

Dial Before You Dig is a free national community service designed to prevent damage and disruption to the vast pipe and cable networks which provide Australia with the essential services we use everyday – electricity, gas, communications and water.

Dial Before You Dig is a single point of contact for contractors to receive information about underground cable and pipe networks at proposed excavation sites.

Rather than contacting individual organisations which own or operate underground infrastructure themselves, contractors can nominate their dig location to Dial Before You Dig, which then passes on the referral to all affected underground utility owners (such as Council, Powercor, Central Highlands Water).  The required information, in map form, is then sent directly to the contractor, generally within 2 working days.

Council’s underground infrastructure is valued at close to $200 million and includes extensive drainage infrastructure and electrical and optical cables which connect the city’s CCT cameras; power pumps for irrigation of ovals, parks and gardens; and power lighting and barbeques at public reserves.

Council’s Director of Growth and Development, Eric Braslis said Council’s involvement with the Dial Before You Dig program would enhance public safety and reduce red tape.

“The City of Ballarat owns a vast number of underground assets across the municipality and over the years we’ve seen a variety of accidents and disruptions caused when excavators have unwittingly dug up underground infrastructure.  This has resulted in ruptured pipes which could lead to drainage problems or even flooding during the next storm event.

“The severity of incidents varies greatly – as does the resultant impact.  The personal affect on the individuals involved in such an incident can be catastrophic.  Apart from possible financial impacts, serious injury and death are often the result - particularly if there is contact with underground electricity cables”, Mr Braslis said.

Council has now joined with Dial Before You Dig to provide information through this service. If you plan to undertake any excavation work it is recommended that you use the Dial Before You Dig service on www.1100.com.au or by phone on 1100.

“The Dial Before You Dig service is also designed to protect Australia’s excavators. Whether you are a back yard renovator, an individual tradesman or a professional excavator doing directional boring or directional drilling the potential for injury, personal liability and even death exists every day. Obtaining accurate information about your work site significantly minimises these risks”, Mr Braslis said.

 Lodging your enquiry online allows you to mark your exact worksite using the DigSAFE® OneCall program. You can call the national call centre on 1100 from anywhere in Australia. The call centre operates from 8am to 5pm and is manned by a team of experienced consultants who can talk you through lodging your enquiry.