Excavation prices on the Central Coast
This site doesn't set or quote prices, and no government or professional body publishes an excavation price for the Central Coast; the independent provider quotes after seeing the site. What is public is Council's own fees, and several sit alongside a digging job: clean soil costs $244.07 a tonne to tip in 2026-27, and only with a waste classification certificate.
Call (02) 4326 8289Excavation rules by job value
Type the job's value and the rules that apply to it are highlighted. Each is the NSW Government's, Central Coast Council's or Before You Dig Australia's own line, with the page it comes from and the date it was read, and every rule is listed below whether or not you type anything.
| Rule | Applies when the job is valued at | Source |
|---|---|---|
| The contractor needs a NSW contractor licence for excavating work valued at more than A$5,000 in labour and materials, including GST.About excavation | over A$5,000 | NSW Government, Excavating work licence · read |
| The builder or tradesperson must give you a written contract when the contract price is over A$5,000, including GST.About excavation | over A$5,000 | NSW Government, Home building contracts · read |
| Jobs worth more than A$20,000 must be covered by a more extensive written contract, known as a large job contract.About excavation | more than A$20,000 | NSW Government, Home building contracts · read |
| Your deposit must not exceed 10% of the contract price.About excavation | any contract price | NSW Government, Home building contracts · read |
| For jobs over A$20,000, the builder or contractor must have home building compensation cover.About excavation | over A$20,000 | NSW Government, Home building contracts · read |
| The contract must set out a cooling-off period of five clear business days after you are given a copy of it.About excavation | over A$20,000 | NSW Government, Home building contracts · read |
| For a residential development or complying development certificate next to Council infrastructure, the Council's security deposit is a minimum of A$3,250 for dwelling alterations and additions with a capital investment value under A$150,000, a swimming pool, or a single dwelling house with a single frontage.About excavation | less than A$150,000 | Central Coast Council, Fees and Charges 2026-27 · read |
| For dwelling alterations and additions with a capital investment value over A$150,000, a dual occupancy or secondary dwelling, or a single dwelling with more than one frontage, the minimum is A$5,250 per frontage.About excavation | over A$150,000 | Central Coast Council, Fees and Charges 2026-27 · read |
| Lodge a Before You Dig Australia enquiry before digging. It is free to lodge; in some instances, asset owners may charge to supply information.About excavation | any job value | Before You Dig Australia, FAQs · read |
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This lists each source's own lines as read; it is not legal advice, and it sets no price. The value that counts is the value of the work, including materials, labour and GST.
What moves a quote
The soil that leaves the block is the plainest cost. Council's tips charge $244.07 a tonne for certified clean soil and $243.00 for bricks, tiles, pavers and concrete kept clean, both including GST, and the tip fees include the state waste levy of $180.20 a tonne. Using the road reserve costs too: a section 138 permit to open or temporarily use it is $212.30 to apply for plus $271.95 for each inspection, standing heavy machinery there is $350 a day per lane, and a standard driveway crossing is $338.50 to apply for plus a $271.95 inspection fee.
Before you agree to a price
Over $5,000 the job is residential building work, so the contract should be in writing and name the licence holder, and the deposit can't be more than 10% of the price. Above $20,000 the contractor must give you a certificate of home building compensation cover before taking any payment, and you can cancel within five clear business days of receiving a copy of the signed contract. Ask where the spoil is going and have that written down too.
Costs and fees by service
- Excavation
- Site Cuts
- Tight Access Excavation
- Pool Excavation
- Rock Excavation
- Trenching
- Excavator & Bobcat Hire
Two job-specific Council figures: when Council certifies a swimming pool, its complying development certificate fee is $1,583.45 including GST, and its security deposit against damage to the road, kerb and footpath is at least $3,250, excluding GST, for a pool or a single-frontage house. Every figure on this page is Council's, from its 2026-27 fees and charges.
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Last reviewed · Updated · First published