Excavation & Earthworks Macquarie Links

It depends on the volume of material, the ground (wianamatta shale over reactive clay on the cumberland plain), access for the machine and how far spoil has to be carted. Every job gets a written quote after a site look, with the dig, cartage and cleanup spelled out, so you know what’s included before anything starts.

Usually, if the excavation is part of a build. Cut and fill beyond set limits, work near boundaries and anything on a lot with a flood, bushfire or heritage overlay needs approval as part of the DA or CDC. We work to the approved plans; check with your certifier before the dig is booked.

A trench, pool dig or single pad is a day or two; a knock-down site cut or a basement runs longer and depends on volume, ground and weather. Dates come with the quote, not after.

Rarely. Wianamatta shale over reactive clay on the Cumberland Plain. Shale under the clay is ripped rather than broken. The rock in this region is on the escarpment edge, not under the estates.

Reactive clay. It swells in wet winters and shrinks in dry summers, and anything poured on loose or uncompacted fill moves with it. A pad cut and filled in compacted layers to the engineer’s spec is what stops the new slab doing the same thing.

Yes. The old house down, slab and footings out, the block stripped and the new pad cut and compacted, as one run if you want the demolition handled too.

Yes. One house down, the block stripped, and two pads cut and compacted to the engineer’s spec, with the basement dug if the design has one.

Yes. Wianamatta shale over reactive clay on the Cumberland Plain. The pool builder’s engineer will usually want the base checked, which is standard, and the machine is sized to the side access.