Excavation contractor Central Coast: what to check before you book

Start with the approval, not the machine

Central Coast Council says it is currently dealing with longer processing times for development applications, and that assessments have averaged 88 days over the last 12 months. If your job needs a development application, that is roughly three months before any soil moves, so ask a contractor early what approval path they expect your job to follow.

Some smaller jobs skip the full application. Council lists below-ground swimming pools as an example of complying development, and says a private principal certifier or Council can grant the certificate. A good contractor will tell you which path applies to your site instead of guessing.

Depth and boundaries decide what is allowed

Council's dwelling house chapter sets limits on how deep you can dig for development, measured from existing ground level. Within 1m of a boundary the cap is 1m. Further than 1m from a boundary it rises to 3m. That means a cut for a slab or a shed pad tight against the fence is treated very differently from one in the middle of the block.

Drainage easements add another limit. Council's floodplain chapter says no excavation is permitted within 2 metres of a drainage easement unless the Director City Services has granted approval. If your yard has a stormwater pipe running through it, a contractor who does not ask about it before quoting is a warning sign.

Soil, slope and waste paperwork

Ground conditions can add a report to your job. Council's geotechnical chapter says that when a lot scores Hazard Category 2 or above, the application must be supported by a geotechnical report covering stability on your site and on neighbouring lots. At Hazard Category 4 it asks for a comprehensive report. Slopes and cuts are where this tends to matter, so ask whether your lot has been assessed.

New developments also need a waste plan. Council's site waste chapter says a Resource and Waste Management Plan must be submitted and approved as part of the application for each new development. Spoil from a big cut is part of that conversation, so a contractor should be able to explain where it is going.

Work that touches the street and the neighbours

If the job connects to services or crosses the nature strip, council permits come into it. Council says a Road Opening Permit is needed for road opening works, including water tapping, stormwater connections and sewer connections. It also says approval is required to build or alter a Vehicle Access Crossing, which is the section of driveway between the road and your boundary.

Neighbours get a say in some cases. On the Planning Portal, the state government says demolition under the complying development route requires you to notify your neighbours before work starts. It also says that for complying development you must notify neighbours within 20 metres of the boundary of the development lot before any work begins. Raise this with your contractor so nobody is surprised by the noise.

Ask any contractor you are considering to walk you through these points for your own block. Their answers will tell you quickly whether they know the local rules.