site cut
Site cuts for Melbourne builds
Get the levels right first and the slab goes smoother. We cut, fill and grade to plan for homeowners, builders and developers across Greater Melbourne.
Who a site cut is for
New-home owners and volume builders who need the pad at design level before the concreter. Renovators adding an extension where the existing house stays live. Developers preparing a handful of lots, not a civil subdivision package. Owner-builders who have a cut sheet and want one crew to cut, grade and cart spoil.
- Residential site cuts for new home builds
- Extension and renovation earthworks
- Cut and fill to engineer or surveyor levels
- Pad left ready for slab, footings or the next trade
Why builders use us for site cuts
Based in Melton, we cut the same clay and occasional basalt as the rest of the west. Our operators do the cut — the same people who quoted the levels.
Usually included
- Bulk and detailed cut to the levels on your cut sheet
- Fill placement and rough compaction of site-won material where the engineer allows it
- Spoil loaded to our tippers — see soil removal
- Pad graded and left trafficable for the concreter
- Crossover and street kept reasonably clean on estate lots
Not included unless quoted
- Retaining walls, screw piles or structural fill import
- Compaction testing or geotech reports
- Council permits — your builder or surveyor owns the permit set
- Rock breaking beyond the allowance written on the quote
- Service trenching — that is a separate trenching booking unless bundled
How the cut runs
- Cut sheet and access. Send levels, soil report if you have it, and a photo of the crossover. We quote machine size, days and spoil loads.
- Set out. Work to the surveyor or builder marks. If marks are missing, we stop rather than guessing a slab level.
- Cut, fill, cart. Clay comes off in layers. Wet winter cuts on the west are paced so the pad is not a bog for the concreter.
- Handover. Levels checked against the plan, remaining spoil gone, block ready for footings or slab.
Site cut calculator Melbourne
Punch in pad size and average depth. You get bank m³, western-clay swell and estimated tipper loads — not a dollar figure. Useful before you send the cut sheet.
| Typical pad | Depth | Bank m³ |
|---|---|---|
| 18 × 12 m estate lot | 300 mm | ~65 |
| 20 × 15 m new home | 450 mm | ~135 |
| Sloping Sunbury-style cut | 800 mm avg | varies — use the tool |
Estate lots in Melton, Rockbank, Aintree and Tarneit are often handed over near grade. You are paying for a detailed cut of a few hundred millimetres, not moving a hillside — but there is still no room to stockpile, and estate rules on mud are strict. Older or sloping blocks in Sunbury, Diggers Rest and parts of Craigieburn need genuine cut-and-fill balancing. That is a different quote.
Rock is the usual surprise on the basalt plain. We price a clear rock allowance. For what that looks like in practice, read rock on site cuts and whether you need a permit.
To the mark
Levels to your surveyor or engineer’s specs so the slab sits where it should.
Spoil carted off
Excess soil leaves with our tippers so the block is clear for the next trade.
Melbourne coverage
Melton, Caroline Springs, Werribee, Tarneit, Sunbury, Craigieburn and surrounding suburbs.
Site cut FAQs
How much does a site cut cost?
Depends on cut depth, rock, access and spoil volume. A lot of residential cuts land between a few thousand and the low teens — we quote after seeing the block. See our site cut cost guide.
Is soil removal included?
Usually yes. We dig and tip spoil so the block is left clean for slab or footings — confirmed in the quote.
Do you cover Melton and the western suburbs?
Yes. We are based in Melton VIC 3337 and regularly work Werribee, Tarneit, Point Cook, Rockbank, Caroline Springs, Sunbury, Craigieburn and surrounds. See earthmoving in Melton and Werribee.
What if we hit rock?
Basalt floaters are common on the west. The quote states how rock is handled — typically a breaker rate and extra spoil loads. Read rock on site cuts.
Do I need to be on site?
Not always. Builders often send the cut sheet and we coordinate access. Owner-builders should walk the block with us once so levels and spoil are agreed.
How do I estimate cubic metres before you quote?
Use the Melbourne site cut calculator — length × width × average depth, then a clay swell factor. Send those numbers with the suburb and cut sheet.
Commercial landings & local guides
Local site cut guides by suburb
- Site Cuts in Werribee & Hoppers Crossing
- Site Cuts in Tarneit & Truganina
- Site Cuts in Melton, Rockbank & Aintree
- Site Cuts in Craigieburn, Mickleham & Kalkallo
- Sloping Block Site Cuts in Sunbury & Diggers Rest
- Site Cuts in Point Cook & Williams Landing
- Site Cuts in Clyde North, Officer & Pakenham
- Site Cut Costs in Melbourne's Western Suburbs
- Tight Access Site Cuts in Melbourne
- Site Cut Permits & Council Rules