Site Cuts & Site Preparation Melbourne
A site cut levels a sloping or uneven block to a building platform — cut on the high side, fill and compact on the low side, batter the edges, and hand a builder a clean, set-out pad ready for footings.
It’s bread-and-butter builder work where speed and a reliable per-lot price matter. YellowX turns site cuts around fast, with a per-lot BOQ typically within 2 business days and crews sized from single lots to full townhouse and estate sites.
What's included
- Cut to design platform level with survey control
- Engineered fill placement and compaction
- Benching on sloping sites
- Batter forming and edge stabilisation
- Spoil removal and select fill import
- Set-out coordination and pad handover
Where it fits in your program
The builder’s first trade — establishes the building platform before footings.
Plant we use
Compliance
- Fill placed and tested to the geotechnical specification (compaction/level testing)
- Erosion & sediment control to council/EPA requirements
- DBYD service location before cutting
Site Cuts — FAQs
What is a site cut?
A site cut is the excavation that turns a sloping or uneven block into a level building platform — cutting earth away on the high side and, where needed, placing compacted engineered fill on the low side so footings can be set out on a stable, level pad.
How much does a site cut cost in Melbourne?
It depends on the fall across the block, soil and rock conditions, how much spoil leaves site, and access. As a guide (indicative, ex GST), bulk excavation with cart-away runs about $45–80 per m³, and a 5.5 t excavator with operator is from $125/h with a 6-hour minimum. We measure the cut and fill off your plans and return an itemised per-lot BOQ, so volume builders get a consistent, comparable rate across a project.
Can you handle multi-lot and estate site cuts?
Yes — we scale crews and plant for single lots through to townhouse and estate developments, and can price per lot for volume builders.
Need site cuts priced?
A detailed Bill of Quantities back, typically within 2 business days of full documentation. No obligation.