We had the formal site meeting with minutes today. When I arrived the architects Alex Coutts and Peter Coad, with the builders Marc, Maurie and Kevin Cohen were standing near the large Hoop Pine I wanted to keep. (I had thought it was a bunya nut- both are araucaria: araucaria bidwillii is the bunya nut and araucaria cunninghamii is the hoop pine.) They announced they had solved the problem threatening the tree by some minor modifications to the building and adjacent landscaping. Soon we were joined by Matthew Taylor, the landscape architect. We all agreed on the changes. Then we walked up to the fig tree.
The Moreton Bay fig tree was walked around and its extraordinary roots were followed before Matthew decided it could be saved with some trimming of branches and roots as well as protection for pipes etc. The builders got out some bright fluoro spray paint and got Matthew to mark what he wanted done. Sam, the arborist came later and he had his professional views and suggestions about how things were to be done.
We then sat down to our formal meeting. The minutes are very succinct- there is a column headed action which is described as "an instruction to proceed". Not much leeway there. One thing I learned was that the builders intend to set out the site, get all the levels exactly right before the drillers come for the piles which will go down to the rock so that the slab can then float on the piles. After this they will erect the steel frame and put on the roof. Only then will the brickies come and begin to lay the walls using Timbercrete.
Meanwhile the demolishers were beavering away. By afternoon the outside toilet was all that was left of the cottage. Most of the debris had been removed, as well. The site is looking clean. They start on the farm sheds tomorrow.
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