Ventilation Shaft - Have you experienced it?

activ8newbs on 15/06/2020 - 00:05

Hi Ozb

Looking to purchase land, and can manage to purchase something that fits our budget and criteria, however at the cost of a large Ventilation Shaft on the front yard.

A ventilation shaft is an asset owned and serviced by Sydney water which essentially acts as an exhaust fan for the sewerage system.

Inherently this sounds like a horrible idea (loud noise, smells, etc) but upon research it appears that it is noiseless. Additionally at this stage we can't smell anything (albeit suburb isn't developed yet)

The shaft is a long vertical pole, very similar to a street light pole albeit a bit slimmer/narrower and a fair bit taller (10-15m tall in the air).

Does anyone know anything about these? Has anyone ever lived near one or seen one? Can you recommend to proceed or not proceed on this purchase?

Thanks all!

Home & Garden

Comments

  • krakenn on 15/06/2020 - 00:35

    do you have an example picture of what it looks like?

    • activ8newbs on 15/06/2020 - 00:38
      +1

      https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https:/…

      But in my case it's even taller, which is a good thing (it releases the air even higher, so hopefully less chance of smell)

      • krakenn on 15/06/2020 - 00:43
        +1

        oh wow ok. I recently purchased a large block in a new estate, and in the rear corner is a steel grate/access point/vent thing for the storm water system im assuming. I was curious to see if yours was the same, and therefor something i should also worry about. But mine looks nothing like that, its at surface level. I cant seem to find a good pic for comparison.

      • TheAccountant on 15/06/2020 - 08:47
        +1

        I hate how Google hides the original link so you don't know what site you're going to end up on especially on mobile.

        • John Kimble on 15/06/2020 - 09:02

          It's not really hidden, just further into the link

          • TheAccountant on 15/06/2020 - 09:17

            @John Kimble: I'm on mobile and the link ends at https:/

            It's just Google trying to grab the referral for every page that originated from their search engine. Makes it harder to know if the site you're going to visit from the link is safe or not.

  • krakenn on 15/06/2020 - 00:54

    This is the kind i have:

    https://bit.ly/2AzgNq0

    • pegaxs on 15/06/2020 - 08:22
      +2

      That’s storm water. Very different to sewer…

  • Slippery Fish on 15/06/2020 - 07:14

    Do you get a discount?

    • RockyRaccoon on 15/06/2020 - 08:02
      +1

      Read the first para of the post, it’s explained there

      • Slippery Fish on 15/06/2020 - 08:05
        +1

        I did but I'd just woken up.

        • activ8newbs on 15/06/2020 - 08:16

          Haha that's fine - I wasn't very clear. Sorry.

          I am looking for someone with first hand experience of a Vent Shaft. Can't seem to find anyone who can share their experiences, so turned to Ozbargain

    • activ8newbs on 15/06/2020 - 08:06

      Yes a significant discount about $50k under market value

      • Slippery Fish on 15/06/2020 - 08:17

        I'd say it'll have an in pact then plant lavender lol.

  • bloom on 15/06/2020 - 08:01
    +6

    Bang an Australian flag to it and everyone will be none the wiser

  • ihbh on 15/06/2020 - 08:41

    Did you get a good resolution on the Rouse Hill property?

  • JIMB0 on 15/06/2020 - 09:07
    +1

    Sounds like the place has all the bells and whistles.

  • mskeggs on 15/06/2020 - 09:18
    +3

    Neighbors had this growing up and I currently have one on a boundary.
    Never encountered any noise or odour and I would have said completely innocuous, except the one where we live currently needed to be replaced and we had some scaffolding in our yard for a few days.

    Note, I live on a 1700m block and this is at the rear out of sight.
    On a new subdivision, with presumably a smaller block, the visual impact might be more noticeable.

    • activ8newbs on 15/06/2020 - 10:43

      Ms keggs,

      Thankyou so so so so much! You have no idea how much you've just helped

      We searched on so many threads and posted on forums to find someone that has first hand experience of these. So glad that we found someone…..on Ozb!

      Thanks for taking the time to answer - it has made a massive difference to our confidence, going into this build.

      This is a massive decision for us and now we're this much more certain we're making the correct decision!

      Thanks
      :)

      • sw00p on 15/06/2020 - 10:45

        Mate, welcome to the mskeggs effect.

      • Rajniv on 23/06/2020 - 20:24

        Hi,

        I have the same issue as you raised, did you end up buying it?
        I have a ventillation shaft at the front of the land, I am planning to buy.

        I am getting it way cheaper than other options.

        Please suggest.

        Regards

  • trinkasharma on 15/06/2020 - 09:38

    Try taking a beach chair and sit under it for a day. You will know it firsthand.

    Don't forget to report back. Also, plant lavender.

  • chasis on 15/06/2020 - 11:19

    A friend had one when I was growing up. I thought it was a flag pole when I was a kid. Never experienced any noise/smell from it.

    I imagine the only drawbacks are:

    1. Cant build on the easement so that Sydney Water can access the site for maintenance
    2. Property price will also be 50k lower when you are selling it.

    Good luck.

  • peteru on 15/06/2020 - 15:06
    +1

    Those are very useful. Put another one 10m away, string some wire between them and grow your own hops.

  • brad1-8tsi on 15/06/2020 - 15:58
    +1

    I had one of these in the first place I owned. It was at the back of the block and rarely smelled (maybe 4 times a year).

    There were 2 problems:
    1) the pipes under the ground created an easement down my driveway which meant that any building on that portion of the land involved encasement in concrete of the pipe at my expense. This effectively reduced my usable land by 25%.

    2) The easement & the vent pipe drastically reduced the number of potential buyers when i sold. Most saw "sewer vent" and decided that it would be like living in a public toilet. The easement put off anyone considering developing the site and that is exactly what has happened. The houses all around have been improved and enlarged and my old place looks the same 30 years later.

    Buy cheap, sell cheap.

    • activ8newbs on 15/06/2020 - 16:52

      thanks for your first hand experience! Lucky in our case there is no easement.

      But the pipe is in the front yard, so more visible I suppose.

      We're prepared to sell it cheaper, when it comes time for that (not for a long time!!!!)

      • brad1-8tsi on 15/06/2020 - 16:58
        +1

        as long as you understand why your house is 10% cheaper and taking twice as long to sell. If it's your first place then you have to start somewhere. My first 2 places were crap but they were mine and i still have fond memories of living there and they got my toe onto the property ladder.

      • Rajniv on 23/06/2020 - 20:53
        +1

        Hi,

        I have the same issue as you raised, did you end up buying it? 
        I have a ventillation shaft at the front of the land, I am planning to buy.

        I am getting it way cheaper than other options.

        Please suggest.

        Regards

        • activ8newbs on 23/06/2020 - 22:58

          Hey mate,

          Pm me directly and I can walk you through my decision making.

          I can't PM you as it seems your settings don't allow it.

          Thanks

        • activ8newbs on 24/06/2020 - 10:20

          Hey Rajniv, PM Me

  • estatecentral on 21/03/2021 - 18:20

    Hi @active8newbs,

    I am searching on the net for similar information that you were searching before and found this. I am also interested in a house and next to it is a tall steel vertical pole (educt vent shaft for the sewer). It's even mentioned in the contract.
    I also have the same concern about the potential gas it produces and if it makes any noise. Did you find any information useful last time?
    I would be grateful if you could share.

    Thanks so much

    • activ8newbs on 21/03/2021 - 21:08

      Hey yes, pm me your email and we can chat. My PM Is disabled on Ozb. I can recieve, but not respond.

      thanks

      • estatecentral on 21/03/2021 - 21:38

        thank you, just pm'ed you.

        • activ8newbs on 22/03/2021 - 18:58

          Yup I emailed you. Feel free to call me to discuss! I shared my number. Cheers

  • Logical on 21/03/2021 - 21:59

    Yeah, nah. Not worth the discount you may be given for the land. The property will never appreciate to its full potential having it there. Definitely a game changer when it comes to selling and you wanting to move on……

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join