Excavation Gold Coast
The digging, levelling and site preparation at the start of a landscape build, planned around the walls, pool area and paving that follow and carried out by the team that builds them.
Bella Terra Group is a landscape construction company based in Nerang, and excavation is the first stage of the projects we build across the Gold Coast. Our earthworks and earthmoving cover site preparation, cut and fill for new levels, footings for retaining walls, trenching and bulk removal. Quotes are free and measured on site.
Most of our excavation is the first stage of a landscape project we design and build. The levels are set from the finished design, so the ground suits the space that will sit on it.
That matters most on a sloping block, where the dig decides how high each wall stands and where the water goes. Our owner, Dion McGirr, runs each project on site, from setting out the levels to handover.
The two halves
What Makes Good Excavation?
Good excavation gets two things right: the levels and the ground beneath them. Levels decide where water drains and how tall each wall stands. The ground decides whether what is built on it stays put.
Levels that are right on paper still sink if the fill beneath them is loose, and well-compacted ground set at the wrong height can leave water sitting against the house.
We set both from the landscape design, before digging starts.
The work
Our Excavation Services
Our own team carries out the work below under our QBCC builder’s licence.
Site preparation, levels and bulk removal
Site preparation turns a sloping or uneven block into ground that can be built on. Guessed levels and loose fill show up later as sinking paving and water pooling on the lawn.
Here's what our site preparation work covers.
- Clearing old garden beds, paving and concrete
- Site cuts and fill for pool areas, driveways and terraces on sloping blocks
- Compacted bases for paving, slabs and concrete driveways
- Bulk removal of soil, rock and spoil
Footings, trenching and drainage
Most of this work ends up out of sight, beneath walls, paving and lawn. Shallow footings and badly graded trenches are costly to fix, because what sits on top has to be lifted.
Here's what our footing and trenching work covers.
- Removing old retaining walls before new ones go in
- Footings for retaining walls, block walls and steps
- Drainage behind walls and away from the house
- Trenching for stormwater, irrigation and lighting conduit
Every excavation quote begins on site. We walk the site with you, measure the fall and talk through the levels, walls and drainage your plans need and what they cost.
The process
Our Process
Every excavation runs in three stages.
- Consultation and site assessment. We check the slope, soil, access, underground pipes and cables, and where the spoil can go.
- An itemised quote. The earthworks are priced apart from the walls and paving, so you can see each stage.
- The work itself. We dig and build in the order below, and Dion hands the project over.
In What Order Does an Excavation Run?
An excavation runs in the six steps below, because ground that has been filled and built on is hard to reopen.
- Underground services located and levels set out. Underground pipes and cables are located and the finished levels are marked from the design before any soil moves.
- Bulk excavation. The cut comes first, while machinery can still reach the whole site.
- Footings and walls. Footings go into firm ground, and walls are built before the soil behind them is filled.
- Drainage and trenching. Drains and conduit go in while the ground is still open.
- Backfill and compaction. Fill goes back in compacted layers, so the ground under paving and lawn stays put.
- Paving, turf and planting, last. The finished surfaces go down on ground prepared for them.
Why Bella Terra Group
Choosing Bella Terra Group for Your Excavation
Our owner, Dion McGirr, has been in the trade for over 14 years. Our excavation is the first stage of the projects we build, from retaining walls to complete pool landscaping.
The same company digs and builds, under QBCC licence 15452813, so one team answers for the levels and what sits on them. One client wrote: “Upfront, honest, hardworking and delivered on what we talked about.” Another wrote that we “stuck to quoted price and estimated timeline of work.”
Quotes are free, measured on site and itemised, with no obligation to go ahead.
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does excavation cost on the Gold Coast?
The cost depends on how much soil has to move, whether there is rock, how easily machinery can reach the area and how far the spoil has to go. Those vary too much between blocks for a set rate to be accurate, so we visit, measure the site and provide an itemised quote at no charge.
Do you do earthworks for retaining walls on sloping blocks?
Yes. On a sloping block, the earthworks and the retaining walls are usually one job. We cut the footings into firm ground, build the wall, then drain and backfill behind it in compacted layers, so the wall and the ground around it are built together.
How long does excavation take, and what happens to the site?
The time depends on the volume of soil, the access, any rock and the weather, and we set out the timeline with the quote. We also set out how the site will be kept safe and where the spoil will go with the quote.
How do I choose an excavation contractor on the Gold Coast?
Ask whether the contractor will also build what goes on the excavated ground, check its licence on the QBCC register, and ask how the levels, drainage and spoil will be handled. A good answer names the finished levels and explains the order of works.
Do I need to check for underground services before excavating in Queensland?
Yes. Queensland's Electrical Safety Office says to contact Before You Dig Australia before excavation starts. It also warns that the service does not identify every cable, privately owned underground cables for example, and that cables may not be at their original depth where ground levels have changed. Those checks are part of planning every dig we carry out.
Source: the Electrical Safety Office.
Areas We Serve Across the Gold Coast
We’re based in Nerang, and we work right across the Gold Coast. Every quote is measured on your site, so we come to you.
If you’re planning earthmoving or site preparation on the Gold Coast, there’s a good chance we’ve already worked nearby. Our recent projects include Burleigh Heads, Burleigh Waters, Palm Beach, Currumbin, Currumbin Valley, Casuarina, Benowa, Hope Island, Oxenford, Robina, Carrara, Parkwood, Bundall.
Not on that list? Get in touch. We cover most of the Gold Coast and can confirm your suburb when you call.
Written by Dion McGirr, who runs Bella Terra Group and has been in the trade for over 14 years. You can talk to Dion directly about your project.
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Get a free quoteEvery quote is free, prepared on site and carries no obligation. Or call 0423 188 691.