- In this blog, you’ll learn:
- Why winter increases the risk of underground utility strikes during excavation in South East Queensland.
- The limits of Dial Before You Dig (DBYD) plans and how professional utility locating adds essential accuracy.
- Best practices for safe winter digging—such as re-marking after rain and sharing scan data with your crew—to prevent costly and dangerous mistakes.
Why Winter Adds Risk To Groundworks
While winter in Queensland is relatively mild compared to southern states, it still impacts excavation conditions. Ground surfaces may be softer, wetter, or more unstable than in drier months. Visibility can be reduced due to shorter daylight hours or poor weather, and timelines often tighten as projects aim to stay ahead of spring deadlines.
These seasonal conditions make underground utility strikes more likely—and more disruptive.
Some common winter-specific issues include:
- Saturated soil concealing trench lines or underground markers
- Washed-out paint markings after heavy rain
- Slower excavation due to safety requirements around wet, uneven terrain
- Delays in response times from asset owners or subcontractors
All of these amplify the importance of clear, confirmed utility locations before digging begins.
What Is Dial Before You Dig?
Dial Before You Dig (DBYD) is a free referral service that connects anyone planning to excavate with utility providers in the area. When a DBYD enquiry is lodged, you’ll receive plans showing the approximate location of underground assets like:
- Water mains and sewerage
- Electrical lines and conduits
- Gas infrastructure
- Telecommunications cables
- Stormwater drains
- Traffic signal or lighting control
For any excavation work in South East Queensland—residential or commercial—lodging a DBYD enquiry is not just best practice; in many cases, it’s a legal and contractual requirement.
The Limits Of Relying On Plans Alone
While DBYD is a critical first step, it should not be treated as the final word on underground safety.
Some of the known limitations of DBYD plans include:
- Lack of depth detail – Most plans show surface layout, not how deep the asset sits beneath the ground.
- Not-to-scale drawings – Plans are often indicative and may not represent exact positions.
- Outdated or missing data – Older properties or modified sites may contain undocumented or abandoned assets.
- No private asset coverage – DBYD doesn’t include private services (e.g. irrigation, private power) or anything installed after the initial utility build.
That’s where utility locating services add the next layer of accuracy and confidence.
The Role Of Utility Locating
A professional locating technician uses a combination of methods to confirm the presence, type, and exact position of underground assets. This typically involves:
Electromagnetic Locating (EML)
This technique traces live or metallic services, such as power lines or metal pipes. It can help confirm service alignment and position more accurately than plans alone.
Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR)
GPR is ideal for detecting non-metallic utilities such as plastic water pipes or empty conduits. It uses radar pulses to build a visual map of underground conditions, especially valuable in complex or congested areas.
Site Marking And Reporting
Once services are located, the technician will mark the ground surface using environmentally safe paint and flags, creating a visible guide for safe digging. Some providers also offer photographic records and digital mapping.
What Can Go Wrong If You
Dig Without Locating?
Damaging underground services is a serious risk—not just to budgets and schedules, but to health and safety. Common consequences include:
- Electrical strikes, which can lead to serious injury or fatality
- Gas line ruptures, posing fire or explosion hazards
- Flooding or water service loss from broken mains
- Telecommunications outages, affecting homes and businesses
- Fines, legal action, or insurance refusals if safety procedures weren’t followed
Even a shallow trench can cause major disruption if it cuts into the wrong area.
Why Winter Construction Needs
Extra Precautions
The conditions of winter can impact both the locating process and the visibility of results. For example:
- Soaked ground may interfere with electromagnetic signal transmission
- Muddy surfaces may obscure line markings after just a few hours
- Weather delays may require re-marking if scanning was done days before work starts
- Time pressure during dry spells can tempt teams to cut corners
Being thorough and allowing time for both DBYD and scanning reduces these risks considerably.
Discover how our Ground Penetrating Radar solutions can support your next project.
Winter Site Planning: Best Practices
Before starting winter excavation, consider the following steps to improve outcomes:
1. Schedule Your DBYD Early
Don’t wait until the day before excavation to lodge your DBYD enquiry. Some asset owners take 2–3 business days to respond. Planning early avoids rushed decisions.
2. Book A Professional Locator
Bring in a qualified locating technician to verify the accuracy of your DBYD plans. This is especially important on sites with unknown history, mixed-use zoning, or nearby public infrastructure.
3. Use Non-Destructive Digging Around Known Services
Once assets are identified, soft dig or vacuum excavation is recommended. This helps expose pipes or cables without risking a strike.
4. Monitor Weather And Re-mark As Needed
After rain, site markings may need to be reapplied. Don’t rely on memory or faded paint. Safety depends on visibility.
5. Communicate Findings To The Whole Team
Ensure your ground crew, contractors, and subcontractors all understand where services are located and what work methods are required in those areas.
Why Utility Locating Should Be Standard Practice
Across Brisbane, the Gold Coast, and surrounding regions, professional scanning is becoming a standard requirement on construction and civil jobs. Many councils, insurers, and builders now require utility locating before issuing work permits or coverage.
Even in smaller residential projects—like installing fences, retaining walls, or garden irrigation—identifying underground services first can prevent costly mistakes.
Contact South East Scanning For Expert Utility Locating
If you’re planning to excavate this winter—whether it’s a new build, renovation, civil job, or service installation—it’s essential to know what lies beneath. Lodging a DBYD enquiry is the starting point, but getting a site scanned by professionals provides the certainty you need.
South East Scanning offers accurate, fast, and fully certified utility locating across Brisbane, the Gold Coast, and South East Queensland. Our experienced team uses advanced technology and detailed reporting to help you dig safely and stay compliant.
📍 Don’t dig blind—plan ahead.
📞 Contact South East Scanning today to book your utility locating service or request a quote.
