Drainage trenching in Berwick & Casey.

• Stormwater discharge — rear yard, downpipes and patio surface drains to street kerb or legal point of discharge. 300–450mm wide, 600–900mm deep.
• Subsoil ag-line drainage — 100–150mm slotted pipe wrapped in geotextile, surrounded by drainage gravel, along the high side of slabs and driveways. The single most cost-effective slab-protection measure on Casey reactive clay.
• Sewer connection — trench from house to council sewer tie-in. 450mm wide, typically 1.2–1.8m deep with shoring. We dig and reinstate; licensed plumber lays and joints the pipe.
• Downpipe-to-stormwater — 200–300mm wide, 300–450mm deep, from downpipe boots to the stormwater main line.
• French drains — behind retaining walls or in low yard zones. Gravel-filled trench with optional perforated outlet pipe.
• Electrical conduit trench — from the main meter to pool equipment pad, outbuilding, EV charger. 450mm depth standard, 600mm under driveways, mechanical protection above conduit.
• Gas service trench — from meter to BBQ kitchen, pool heater, outdoor heater. 300mm deep, sand bedding, plastic warning tape over the pipe.

Laser-grade fall.

Stormwater needs a continuous fall (1:100 to 1:200), sewer steeper (1:60 to 1:100). We run a chase-grade rotating laser to control trench bottom levels — straight fall, no humps or dips, no future blockages. Laser checked before bedding sand goes in.

Trench safety — non-negotiable.

Worksafe Victoria mandates shoring, benching or battering on any trench over 1.5m deep. We carry 1.2m × 2.4m and 1.5m × 3m hydraulic trench shields. Open-cut sites get engineered batters (1:1 sandy, 1:0.75 stiff clay). Written SWMS for every trench over 1.5m. No one enters an unshored or un-battered trench at that depth on our jobs.

Dial Before You Dig.

DBYD plans 5 working days before any dig. Services marked on the ground with paint and pegs. Within 600mm of marked services we hand-dig with shovels. Unmarked-service strikes follow the SWMS protocol — stop work, photo, service owner contacted, area made safe.

Pricing.

• Stormwater trench, 300–400mm wide, 600mm deep: $80–$110/lin.m
• Stormwater trench at 900mm depth: $110–$150/lin.m
• Subsoil ag-line trench, 200–300mm wide, 600mm deep: $70–$100/lin.m
• Sewer trench, 450mm wide, 1.2–1.8m deep with shoring: $150–$280/lin.m
• Electrical conduit trench, 450mm depth: $50–$80/lin.m
• Subsoil drainage retrofit, full 40–60m rear-to-kerb run: $2.8K–$5.5K all-in