Response to Information Request - MCU12/0184

coffey.)geotechnics     SPECIALISTS MANAGING THE EARTH




Important information about your Coffey Report

As a client of Coffey you should know that site subsurface conditions cause more construction
problems than any other factor. These notes have been prepared by Coffey to help you
interpret and understand the limitations of your report.
Your report is based on project specific criteria

Your report has been developed      on the   basis of your    earth, rock and time. The actual interface between
unique project specific requirements     as   understood      materials may be far           gradual or abrupt than
                                                                                          more

by Coffey and applies only to the site investigated.          assumed based on the facts obtained. Nothing can

Project criteria typically include the general nature of      be done to change the actual site conditions which
the project; its size and configuration; the location of      exist, but steps can be taken to reduce the impact of
any structures on the site; other site improvements;          unexpected conditions. For this reason, owners
the presence of underground utilities; and the additional     should retain the services of Coffey through the
risk imposed by scope-of-service limitations imposed          development stage, to identify variances, conduct
by the client. Your report should not be used if there        additional tests if required, and recommend solutions
are  any changes to the project without first asking          to problems encountered on site.

Coffey to assess how factors that changed subsequent
to the date of the report affect the report’s                 Your report will only give
recommendations. Coffey cannot accept responsibility
                                                              preliminary recommendations
for problems that may occur due to changed factors
                                                              Your report is based        on   the   assumption that the
if they are not consulted.
                                                              site conditions        as   revealed    through selective
                                                              point sampling are indicative of actual conditions
Subsurface conditions can change
                                                              throughout an area. This assumption cannot be
Subsurface conditions are created by natural processes        substantiated until project implementation has
and the    activity of man. For example, water levels         commenced and therefore your report recommendations
can    vary with time, fill may be placed on a site and       can only be regarded as preliminary. Only Coffey,
pollutants may migrate      with time. Because   a   report   who prepared the report, is fully familiar with the
is based on conditions which existed at the time of           background      information needed to      assess   whether
subsurface exploration, decisions should not be based         or    not the   report’s recommendations are valid      and
on a   report whose adequacy may have been affected           whether    or   not   changes should be considered        as

by time. Consult Coffey to be advised how time may            the  project develops. If another party undertakes
have    impacted on the project.                              the implementation of the recommendations of this
                                                              report there is a risk that the report will be misinterpreted
Interpretation of factual data                                and Coffey cannot be held responsible for such

                                                              misinterpretation.
Site assessment identifies actual subsurface conditions
only at those points where samples are taken and
                                                              Your report is prepared for
when they are taken. Data derived from literature
and external data source review, sampling and                 specific purposes and persons
subsequent laboratory testing are interpreted by              To avoid misuse of the information contained in your

geologists, engineers or scientists to provide an             report it is recommended that you confer with Coffey
opinion about overall site conditions, their likely           before    passing your report on to another party who
impact on the proposed development and recommended            may not be familiar with the    background and the
actions. Actual conditions may differ from those inferred     purpose of the report. Your report should not be
to    exist, because    professional, no
                       no                     matter how      applied    to any     project   other than that
                                                                                                       originally
qualified, can reveal what is hidden by                       specified at the time the report was issued.




Coffey Geotechnics Pty Ltd         ABN 93 056 929 483