Appendix H - Engineering Services Report Part 1 of 2

ESSENTIAL PRECAUTIONS AND APPROACH DISTANCES

Note: If the following clearances cannot be maintained, please contact Optus Network Operations Asset
Analysis Team for advice on how to resolve the situation.

1. On receipt of plans and before commencing excavation work or similar activities near Optus plant, carefully
locate the plant first to avoid damage. Engage an Optus accredited locator to undertake exposure of the
Optus plant when working within the following approach distances.

Where Optus plant is in an area where road and footpaths are well defined by kerbs or other features a minimum
clear distance of 1.0m must be maintained from where it could be reasonably presumed that plant would reside.

In non established or unformed reserves this distance must be at least 3 metres.

In country or rural areas which may have wider variations in reasonably presumed plant presence, the following
minimum approach distance applies:

a) Parallel to plant: 5 metres

Note: Indicated depths may vary significantly and pot-holing needs to be undertaken within extreme
care, commonsense and using techniques least likely to damage cables. Potholing is only to be
undertaken by an Optus accredited plant location contractor.

If construction work is parallel to Optus plant, then carful hand digging or using non destructive water jet method (pot
holing) at least every 5m is required to establish the location of the plant, confirming the location of the plant prior to
work commencing.

Under no circumstances is crossing of Optus plant to be performed without first exposing the Optus plant and having
an Optus representative present onsite.

2. Maintain the following minimum clearance between construction activity and the actual location of Optus

 

 

 

plant.

Jackhammers / Pneumatic Breakers Not within 1.0m of actual location

Vibrating Plate or Wacker Packer Compactor Not within 0.5m of actual location
300mm compact clearance before compactor can be used
across Optus ducts
750mm compact clearance cover before compactor can
be used across Optus Direct Buried cable

Boring Equipment Not within 5.0m of actual location without Optus

representative onsite
(in-line, horizontal and vertical)

Constructor to hand dig or non-destructive water jet
method (pot holing) and expose the Optus plant

Not to cross the Optus plant without first exposing the
plant at the crossing point and without Optus
representative onsite

 

Heavy vehicle Traffic (over 3 tonnes) Not to be driven across Optus ducts or plant with less
than 600mm of cover

Depth to be verified via hand digging

 

Mechanical Excavators, Farm ploughing, Boring, Not within 1.0m of actual location
Tree removal, fencing
Constructor to hand dig or use non-destructive water jet
method (pot holing) and expose plant

 

 

 

 

Optus Communications Page 3 of 4