Question 1

What does site cut and fill actually involve?

Accepted Answer

Site cut and fill is the bulk-earthworks stage of any new build: strip topsoil 200-300mm (segregate for reuse on landscape), cut the high side of the block to slab level, batter the cut face to a stable slope, deposit and compact the cut material as engineered fill on the low side in 100mm lifts to 95% standard maximum dry density, prepare the final pad surface ready for the builder. Add lime stabilisation where the sub-grade strength is too low. Add retaining-wall trenches where the batter can't go to natural slope.

Question 2

What does a typical Casey site cut and fill cost?

Accepted Answer

Single-storey 250-300m2 house pad on a flat block (Eliston, Lochaven, Avon, Officer): $4,500-$7,500. Two-storey on a sloping block with cut, fill and batter: $7,000-$12,000. Reactive-clay sites (Endeavour Hills, Hampton Park, Hallam) add $1,500-$3,000 for lime stabilisation. Bulk commercial site (warehouse pad, school car park) is quoted per m3 — typically $14-$22/m3 for material moved on-site, $28-$45/m3 if cart-away is required.

Question 3

What's AS 3798 and why does it matter for my pad?

Accepted Answer

AS 3798 — 'Guidelines on earthworks for commercial and residential developments' — is the Australian Standard governing how engineered fill is placed and compacted. Key requirements: maximum 150mm loose lift (we run 100mm), compact each lift before placing the next, document compaction density via nuclear densometer or sand-cone testing at minimum every 250m2 per lift, supervisor sign-off at each level. For commercial sites it's mandatory and a Level 1 geotechnical supervisor is present. For residential it's best-practice — and it's how we run every job.

Question 4

Do you do bulk earthworks for subdivisions?

Accepted Answer

Yes — small civil subdivisions (under 20 lots) are within scope for our crew. Larger subdivisions and bulk commercial earthworks (warehouses, infrastructure) we'll quote but often work alongside the principal contractor's plant — we bring the precision finish work after the bulk earthmovers have moved the volume. We carry the engineer reports, AS 3798 inspection sign-offs and dump dockets you'll need for handover.

Question 5

How long does a residential site cut and fill take?

Accepted Answer

A flat block, single-storey, no rock: 1-2 days. Sloping block with cut and batter: 2-4 days. Reactive-clay site with lime stabilisation curing: add 24-48 hours between lime treatment and the first lift placement. Bulk subdivision earthworks 5-20 days depending on volume. We give a fixed program at quoting so the builder can lock in the slab pour date.

Question 6

What happens to the spoil?

Accepted Answer

Where possible we balance the site — cut material becomes engineered fill on the low side, no cart-away. Where there's net excess, we cart to a legitimate Class A or Class B receiving site near Pakenham or Hampton Park; dump dockets in your handover folder. Topsoil is stockpiled and either reused for landscape areas or carted off as the client prefers. Contaminated spoil (suspected asbestos, fuel, building rubble) is segregated and ticketed separately.

Question 7

What weather stops you working?

Accepted Answer

Compaction work needs the right moisture content — too wet and you can't compact, too dry and the material won't bond. On reactive clay sites we don't start a cut-and-fill if forecast rain is more than 15mm in the working week. On sandy / silty sites we work in light rain with tarps over the active pad. Worksafe-mandated stop for any electrical storm or wind over 60km/h. We watch the BOM forecast daily and reschedule rather than push through and redo.

Site cut & fill across Berwick & Casey.

What a proper Casey site cut and fill looks like.

The seven stages.

Equipment we bring.

Rates.

Compliance.

Where we work.

Free site cut & fill quote.