The Dial Before You Dig (DBYD) service was recently renamed Before You Dig Australia (BYDA).
The new BYDA is a merged entity, with no change or disruption. BYDA continues to offer the same free pre-excavation referral service for the community.
Instead of a phone call, BYDA provides an online portal where requests can be made for information about the location and owner of underground infrastructure assets on a planned project site.
Why is BYDA important for telecommunications?
Without plans or maps showing the location of underground telecommunications infrastructure assets, you may inadvertently cut trunk cables or dig up and damage other underground conduit or cable. This may cut off essential services to homes and businesses until the cable is repaired by the owner of the asset.
If you caused the damage, you can be liable for its repair and the cost can be significant. Having accurate information on the location of underground assets can help you avoid a potentially dangerous and expensive mistake.
If you are planning to subdivide land, there may be underground pipes and cables that need to be moved to another location. You may be required to pay an underground infrastructure owner, such as a telecommunications carrier, to move their equipment. Given it can be expensive to undertake this type of work, it is best to know what infrastructure is there and the possible costs before you start.
What Services does BYDA provide?
BYDA provides a free referral service for users to access vital plans and information from members, including telecommunications companies, who have registered their underground infrastructure assets.
The referral service is available to anyone across Australia and should be the first point of contact when starting any project that involves digging at any depth.
BYDA’s service allows members to share detailed plans and safety information with users, including individuals or companies, planning to dig underground. BYDA’s service is vital to protect essential underground infrastructure assets, and to prevent harm or injury to those working in and around those assets.
Once an enquiry is submitted using the online portal, details including the location, date and type of work being carried out are sent to all infrastructure owners with registered underground assets in the vicinity of the proposed project. The underground asset owners respond directly to the enquirer with information on the location of underground infrastructure assets that have the potential to be impacted by proposed work.
Information is typically provided in the form of plans to ensure the right information is available before excavation commences.
How do I contact BYDA?
Enquiries can only be submitted through creating a free account and lodging a query via the BYDA website.