Forward (In Ground) Works in South Lake

Before excavation, demolition or staged construction begins, existing and temporary services can shape the whole program. Forward (in ground) works help project teams identify, manage and coordinate plumbing-related site services early, reducing the risk of avoidable disruption as commercial construction moves ahead.

Plan early-stage plumbing works with clearer project information

Start with the services already beneath and around the site

Commercial civil plumbing often begins before the main building work. Forward (in ground) works focus on the early plumbing and hydraulic arrangements that can affect demolition, excavation, piling, construction access and staged occupation.

A site may have old, undocumented or live services that need to be understood before work proceeds. Water, sewer, stormwater, gas and trade waste services may need locating, protecting, disconnecting, diverting or kept operational while the site changes. Temporary arrangements may also be needed to support construction activity or an occupied part of the site.

For builders, developers, project managers and design teams, the central question is not simply what will be installed later. It is what exists now, what must remain live, what can be removed, and how each change will be coordinated with the program.

What forward works can involve

Commercial plumbing forward works can involve a combination of investigation, temporary services and changes to existing assets. The required work depends on the site, the proposed construction sequence and the services present.

Investigation and mark-up of existing services.
Locating water, sewer, stormwater, gas and trade waste services.
Temporary water supply, drainage, amenities or site-compound plumbing.
Disconnection, capping or isolation of redundant services.
Diversions for sewer, water, gas or stormwater services.
Temporary pump-out or dewatering connections.
Early stormwater controls and sediment management.
Temporary fire service or construction-water arrangements.
Protection of live services during excavation.

These activities may be required before demolition, excavation, construction or staged occupation. They can also require coordination with utility providers, builders, civil contractors and consultants.

Why early coordination matters

Forward works are not merely temporary plumbing. They are an early planning measure for managing service-related risk before the main construction program is underway. A live or poorly documented service can affect excavation, demolition or piling, while an unplanned change can create uncertainty about responsibility, timing and access.

On an active site, conditions may change daily. A plumber may need to work around demolition crews, earthworks, temporary fencing, traffic management, cranes, excavation, live buildings, occupied tenancies or staged handovers. Clear coordination helps project teams consider how temporary systems will operate while adjacent work continues.

Information to prepare for a plumbing business

A well-prepared brief gives a plumbing business a clearer starting point for commercial in-ground plumbing. It also helps align the work with the site program and the people responsible for approvals.

Set out the site and project stage. Provide the property address, contact person, access instructions, current site conditions and the planned work sequence.
Share available service information. Existing service drawings, Before You Dig information, hydraulic drawings, site surveys, asset locations, photos and known live services can be useful.
Identify planned changes. Include demolition plans, staging plans, proposed excavation areas, temporary water needs and temporary sewer or pump-out requirements.
Flag controls and constraints. Note access restrictions, traffic management requirements, shutdown windows, inductions and the person authorised to approve variations.
Coordinate documentation expectations. Larger projects may require project-specific records, testing information, photographs, as-constructed mark-ups or builder and consultant sign-off before later work proceeds.

Temporary services and live-site conditions

Temporary water, drainage, amenities and construction-water arrangements can be important where a project needs site facilities or where part of a property remains in use. Service diversions and isolation work may also need careful sequencing when existing services are live.

Site conditions can add complexity. Excavation, changing access, occupied tenancies and neighbouring properties all affect how work is planned. Temporary arrangements need to be considered alongside risks such as flooding, odour, gas risk, environmental discharge and disruption to surrounding properties.

Where requirements apply, forward works may need to meet the National Construction Code and Plumbing Code of Australia, relevant AS/NZS standards, Water Corporation requirements, local government requirements, environmental controls, site safety requirements and project specifications. Project teams should ensure the relevant requirements and responsibilities are clear for their particular work.

Products and suppliers you may encounter

Forward works can bring together products, materials, pumping equipment, drainage components, locating equipment and supply channels. Examples customers may encounter include Reece, Galvins, Tradelink, Iplex, Vinidex, ACO, Everhard, Humes, Grundfos, Davey, Radiodetection and Hilti. These names may arise through brands, manufacturers or supply channels associated with plumbing and construction work; their presence on a project will depend on the specified work and project arrangements.

Choosing a Master Plumber for forward works

Forward (in ground) works sit within commercial construction plumbing, where drawings, specifications, program dates, site constraints, inspection points and coordination responsibilities can all matter. When comparing plumbing businesses, explain the project stage and the services to be investigated or managed, then ask how the proposed work will be coordinated with site access, other contractors and required documentation.

Find a Master Plumber connects customers with Master Plumbers and plumbing businesses associated with the Master Plumbers and Gasfitters Association of Western Australia. Choosing a Master Plumber can help customers make a more informed choice of plumbing business for a property or project.

For work that extends beyond early-stage service management, you may also need to consider the wider commercial construction plumbing program, stormwater requirements or the scale of the project.

Questions about forward works

What are forward (in ground) works?

Forward works generally relate to early-stage plumbing, drainage, water, gas, stormwater, sewer, trade waste, temporary-service and service-diversion work completed before the main construction phase begins.

Why are existing services investigated before excavation?

Sites can contain old, undocumented or live services. Investigating them early helps project teams establish what services exist, what must remain live, what can be disconnected and what may need diversion or protection.

Can forward works include temporary water and drainage?

Yes. Temporary water supply, temporary drainage, temporary amenities, site-compound plumbing, pump-out connections and construction-water arrangements may form part of the required work.

What documents are useful to provide?

Useful information can include service drawings, Before You Dig information, hydraulic and demolition drawings, staging plans, site surveys, utility provider correspondence, known asset locations, excavation areas, access constraints and shutdown windows.

Who may need to be involved?

Forward works may require coordination between the plumbing business, builder, civil contractor, consultants and utility providers. The project’s scope and site conditions determine who needs to be involved.

Are forward works relevant only to new buildings?

No. They may be needed for redevelopment projects and work involving demolition, excavation, staged construction or staged occupation, as well as new construction activity.

Find a Master Plumber is backed by the Master Plumbers and Gasfitters Association of Western Australia. Use the directory to choose a plumbing business for commercial construction plumbing and forward works that suit your project requirements.