Our daughter-in-law has just told me that last weekend, people unknown to them and without notice, started digging up their front lawn. As it is a rental property and they need to look after the lawn they asked what was happening? Some vague reply about internet or broadband.
Today, again, strangers unannounced digging up their front lawn. One dressed in absestos gear and a bag with 'asbestos' written on it. After many phone calls and no 'joy' as to what was happening, she approached the men who, in broken English, told her it was something to do with Telstra. There was nothing to say who they were working for on the side of their vehicles.
When do we have the right to be told someone or many are going to dig up our front lawn? When is it OK not to be told there could be absestos in your front lawn? I think someone needs to answer for this invasion of privacy. She was frightened to go outside and get her washing in.
-- Edited by neilnruth on Saturday 27th of April 2013 04:05:54 PM
Happywanderer said
11:13 PM Apr 27, 2013
Did she ring the owner or rental agency? No way should they be doing that and if they are legit they should be protecting the residents of the house by notifying them of the asbestos and making arrangements for their safety. Has she rung telstra also?
GaryKelly said
12:00 AM Apr 28, 2013
Sounds very suss to me. I'd be phoning the cops.
2foot6 said
02:04 AM Apr 28, 2013
Hi NielnRuth . If they were Telstra contractors their first obligation is to notify the owner ,renter or persons on the property who they are and what they are doing. The fact that asbestos was involved changes the circumstances even further(although if there ground was wet there is little danger from the asbestos unless they are cutting or grinding it).If they were changing an old asbestos pit outside on the nature strip ,there would be no obligation for the contractor to notify anyone in the house except, that they may have their telephone line disconnected for a few minutes. As for calling the police,I'm with Garry,if you don't know who they are and they couldn't or havn't identified themselves it would be a good idea.Telstra require ALL CONTRACTORS to advise customers when doing work on their property,it could be that these contractors may have been NBN contractors ,who should be following the same guidlines.It may have been a good idea to get registration numbers of vehicles they were using. Cheers Peter.
neilnruth said
04:19 AM Apr 28, 2013
I agree with all the above. She told me what was happening in the middle of the news that another son had just been taken off the soccer field with a broken collarbone! She rang the agents, the local council, the environment something or other and got passed on and by all of them. I was just amazed that they did it without even knocking on the door. If it was the footpath I'd half expect that. And no ID on vehicles was very suss. Yes, I wish she had taken number plates and rung the police. I'll ask what happened tomorrow. I did tell her to hose down any areas she might be worried about. And, the son didn't end up with an op as first expected as he had already had injuries to the same collarbone in a bike accident! Time will tell with both stories.
ibbo said
02:38 PM Apr 29, 2013
GaryKelly wrote:
Sounds very suss to me. I'd be phoning the cops.
That would be my plan Gary.Uninvited trespassers.Times like this you need a really ugly Pit Bull.(Not a fierce nasty one).
Gerty Dancer said
05:00 PM Apr 29, 2013
GaryKelly wrote:
Sounds very suss to me. I'd be phoning the cops.
Me too. This is NOT all right!!
Second question... about the coal-seam gas miners, I've heard that they actually have the right to enter the farmers properties to "do their thing"regardless of trespass laws... thats not all right either!
herbie said
09:33 PM Apr 29, 2013
Mining companies do not just turn up onto your property unanounced , they send letters or face to face meetings. And remember we all only own a certain amount of the land we own.and after that it becomes really any companies lease if they find minerials of any sort under that depth. Wish they would find cold seam gas or coal running through my land,as the compensation is like winning lotto for land holder.
neilnruth said
05:51 AM May 2, 2013
Yes, herbie, they let you know they are coming but why bother farming when they are going to take over? People just give in and take the money - which is indeed like winning the lotto.
Our daughter-in-law has just told me that last weekend, people unknown to them and without notice, started digging up their front lawn. As it is a rental property and they need to look after the lawn they asked what was happening? Some vague reply about internet or broadband.
Today, again, strangers unannounced digging up their front lawn. One dressed in absestos gear and a bag with 'asbestos' written on it. After many phone calls and no 'joy' as to what was happening, she approached the men who, in broken English, told her it was something to do with Telstra. There was nothing to say who they were working for on the side of their vehicles.
When do we have the right to be told someone or many are going to dig up our front lawn? When is it OK not to be told there could be absestos in your front lawn? I think someone needs to answer for this invasion of privacy. She was frightened to go outside and get her washing in.
-- Edited by neilnruth on Saturday 27th of April 2013 04:05:54 PM
No way should they be doing that and if they are legit they should be protecting the residents of the house by notifying them of the asbestos and making arrangements for their safety.
Has she rung telstra also?
Hi NielnRuth . If they were Telstra contractors their first obligation is to notify the owner ,renter or persons on the property who they are and what they are doing. The fact that asbestos was involved changes the circumstances even further(although if there ground was wet there is little danger from the asbestos unless they are cutting or grinding it).If they were changing an old asbestos pit outside on the nature strip ,there would be no obligation for the contractor to notify anyone in the house except, that they may have their telephone line disconnected for a few minutes. As for calling the police,I'm with Garry,if you don't know who they are and they couldn't or havn't identified themselves it would be a good idea.Telstra require ALL CONTRACTORS to advise customers when doing work on their property,it could be that these contractors may have been NBN contractors ,who should be following the same guidlines.It may have been a good idea to get registration numbers of vehicles they were using. Cheers Peter.
That would be my plan Gary.Uninvited trespassers.Times like this you need a really ugly Pit Bull.(Not a fierce nasty one).
Me too. This is NOT all right!!
Second question... about the coal-seam gas miners, I've heard that they actually have the right to enter the farmers properties to "do their thing"regardless of trespass laws... thats not all right either!
Mining companies do not just turn up onto your property unanounced , they send letters or face to face meetings. And remember we all only own a certain amount of the land we own.and after that it becomes really any companies lease if they find minerials of any sort under that depth. Wish they would find cold seam gas or coal running through my land,as the compensation is like winning lotto for land holder.