Land clearing in Pakenham & Cardinia Shire.
Full-block clearing for new house pads, subdivisions, paddock revival and renovation works. Tree drop, understorey clearing, chipping, mulch removal, stump grinding to engineering depth. Council permits checked at the quote stage and lodged on your behalf where needed.
The Cardinia Shire planning check.
Before any chainsaw fires we check the Cardinia Shire planning mapping for the block. What we’re looking for:
- Significant Tree Register entries — protected trees that need a planning permit and often an arborist’s impact assessment before any work. Fines for unauthorised removal start at $9,000+.
- Vegetation Protection Overlay (VPO) — native trees over 10m height or 40cm trunk diameter at 1m need a planning permit. Common across the Cardinia hills and rural east of the shire.
- Environmental Significance Overlay (ESO) — biodiversity-protected areas, often near Bunyip State Forest and Cardinia Reservoir margins. Native vegetation removal restricted.
- Bushfire Management Overlay (BMO) — the 10/30 vegetation-clearing rule sometimes permits clearing within 10m of an existing dwelling without a permit, and modified vegetation within 30m. Limits apply.
- Native Vegetation Removal Regulations 2017 — the state-level framework. Three pathways depending on extent: basic, intermediate, detailed. Larger clears often trigger biodiversity offsets.
We tell you exactly what’s protected on your block before we quote. Where a permit is needed, we lodge it on your behalf (6–10 week typical turnaround).
Standard clearing workflow.
1. Site walk + planning check.
We walk the block, mark protected trees (if any) with high-vis ribbon, identify access points for the chipper and excavator, note any services or neighbouring fences that need protection. Planning-check email goes to you within 48 hours with a written fixed-price quote.
2. Large-tree removal.
The mature gums, oaks and remnant indigenous canopy trees go first — usually climbed-sectional next to any kept structures, whole-tree drop on open blocks. 12-inch chipper processing brush continuously, log lengths set aside for firewood or carting.
3. Understorey clearing.
Once the canopy is down we bring in either a skid steer with forestry mulcher head, or an excavator with grapple, to deal with the shrub layer (blackberry, bracken, regrowth wattles, gorse, broom). Mulched directly into the chip pile.
4. Stump treatment.
Two options. (1) Grind all stumps 300–500mm below grade for immediate site readiness. (2) Cut flush and leave for the builder’s excavator to push out during earthworks — cheaper if earthworks are already planned. We work with the builder’s program.
5. Final cleanup.
Chips removed, spread on-site as mulch, or windrowed for breakdown — your call. Boundary fences brushed clean. Driveways and neighbour-strip raked. Block ready for the surveyor, the excavator and the slab.
Typical land-clearing jobs.
- $1,200–$3,500: Building-pad-only clear — the 12×20m house footprint plus 5m around it. 1–2 days.
- $2,000–$3,500/acre: Light cover — scattered ornamentals, low shrubs, easy access. Common on Cardinia Lakes / Heritage Springs greenfield blocks.
- $3,500–$5,500/acre: Medium cover — mature ornamentals, some 10–15m trees, standard rural-residential understorey.
- $5,500–$8,000/acre: Heavy cover — dense bush, mature gums, blackberry/bracken understorey. Common on eastern Cardinia rural blocks near Bunyip State Forest.
- Plus stump grind if not bundled with earthworks: $40–$80 per stump in volume.
Where we work.
Get a fixed-price land-clearing quote.
Planning check at the quote stage. Permits lodged where needed. Block ready for slab.