Story: What to do Before You Dig in Your Backyard
Episode: 7
Presenter: Trevor Cochrane
Air Date: 3 October 2026

Before starting any digging around the home, it’s important to know what underground infrastructure is running through your property. Before You Dig Australia (BYDA) provides free information to help householders avoid damaging essential services.

• BYDA provides information on underground telecommunications, gas, electricity, water, sewerage and stormwater infrastructure.
• Homeowners are responsible for more underground service damage than civil construction and building work, with lines sometimes buried just one shovel blade below the surface.
• Underground services aren’t always located where you might expect, which is why checking before you dig is so important.
• BYDA makes this information freely available through its website. Simply enter your property details to receive information about underground services, usually within a couple of hours.
• Damaging a service can cause serious problems, from cutting off internet or electricity to flooding from damaged water pipes.
• Before you dig, check with BYDA and know what’s underneath your garden.

For more information, head to:
byda.com.au