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Ask three different earthworks contractors in the Wide Bay for a quote on the same job and you can easily get three different numbers. Sometimes those numbers vary by 30% or more for the same scope, which makes it hard to know whether you are getting fair value or being taken for a ride.
This guide breaks down what actually drives earthworks pricing across Hervey Bay, Maryborough, Gympie and the wider Fraser Coast in 2026. We cover real day rates for each machine size, what causes prices to swing high or low on a given job, how long different jobs typically take and what questions to ask when comparing quotes.
By the end you will know roughly what your job should cost before you ring around. You will also know the questions to ask each quote so you are comparing like with like, not apples to oranges.
What actually drives earthworks pricing?
Earthworks pricing in the Fraser Coast Regional Council area comes down to four main variables: the machine size required, the operator hours needed, the volume of material moved and the complexity of the site. Get any of those wrong in a quote and the price will be off by hundreds or thousands of dollars.
Most contractors quote earthworks on either a per-hour wet hire basis (machine plus operator, you pay for the time on site) or a per-cubic-metre basis (you pay for the volume of material moved, the contractor estimates the time it takes). Hourly is more common for residential and small commercial work. Per cubic metre is used on larger bulk earthworks contracts where the scope is well-defined.
Machine size and day rates in 2026
Machine choice is the single biggest cost variable. Wet hire rates across Hervey Bay, Maryborough, Gympie and the surrounding Wide Bay area sit roughly in these ranges in 2026:
| Machine | Best for | Hourly wet hire | Day rate (8h) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 tonne excavator | Tight access, trenching, small pool digs | $110 to $140 | $880 to $1,120 |
| 5 tonne excavator | House pads, standard pool digs, shed bases | $130 to $160 | $1,040 to $1,280 |
| 14 tonne excavator | Commercial site cuts, medium bulk work | $180 to $230 | $1,440 to $1,840 |
| 20 tonne excavator | Civil work, large bulk earthworks | $220 to $280 | $1,760 to $2,240 |
| 35 tonne excavator | Major civil and infrastructure | $300 to $400 | $2,400 to $3,200 |
| 80HP Positrack | Landscaping, turf prep, tight access | $120 to $160 | $960 to $1,280 |
| Tipper truck | Spoil cartage and material delivery | $130 to $170 | $1,040 to $1,360 |
Wet hire (machine plus operator) is the standard offering across the Wide Bay. Dry hire (machine only, you supply the operator) usually costs 40 to 50% less per hour but adds operator wages, insurance, fuel and a maintenance bond to your total. For most jobs wet hire ends up cheaper once everything is counted.
How long does an earthworks job take?
Knowing the day rate is only half the picture. The other half is how many days the job actually takes. Here is what typical scopes look like for common Wide Bay jobs:
- Standard 4-bedroom house pad: 1 to 2 days, 5 tonne excavator and operator
- Above-ground pool excavation: 4 to 8 hours, 5 tonne excavator
- In-ground pool excavation: 1 to 2 days, 5 tonne or 14 tonne excavator
- Trenching for a 30m driveway with services: 1 day, 3.5 tonne or 5 tonne excavator
- Driveway prep (50m gravel): 1 to 2 days, Positrack plus tipper
- Commercial slab cut (small): 2 to 3 days, 14 tonne excavator plus tipper
- Bulk earthworks (1000 cubic metres): 5 to 10 days, 20 tonne or 35 tonne excavator plus tipper
Mary River alluvial soils dig faster than coffee rock-heavy lots near Eli Waters. Established Pialba blocks often have demolition fill that adds half a day for trial holes and disposal. Add 20 to 30% on these estimates if your site has known complications.
Six tips to keep your earthworks bill down
- Get at least two quotes for any job over $5,000. The difference can be material.
- Provide an engineer set-out or builder drawing so the contractor can spec the right machine first time.
- Ask whether mobilisation is included in the hourly rate. Some contractors charge it separately.
- Specify spoil disposal up front. It can add $200 to $1,000 depending on the volume and the destination tip.
- Schedule outside the wet season if you can (December to March in the Wide Bay). Wet sites cost more.
- Confirm the operator is properly ticketed for the machine size. Saves a delay if anyone audits the site.
Real Wide Bay earthworks costs by job type
Pulling the machine rates and the job durations together, here is what common Wide Bay earthworks jobs typically cost in 2026:
| Job type | Typical scope | Typical Wide Bay cost (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Pool excavation (small, above-ground) | 4 to 8 hours, 5T excavator | $650 to $1,200 |
| Pool excavation (in-ground, 8m x 4m) | 1 to 2 days, 5T or 14T excavator | $1,300 to $3,500 |
| House pad (standard 4-bed) | 1 to 2 days, 5T excavator | $1,200 to $2,500 |
| Shed pad (large) | 4 to 8 hours, 5T excavator | $650 to $1,200 |
| Driveway prep (50m gravel) | 1 to 2 days, Positrack plus tipper | $1,800 to $3,400 |
| Driveway trenching (services) | 1 day, 3.5T excavator | $900 to $1,400 |
| Commercial site cut (small) | 2 to 3 days, 14T excavator plus tipper | $4,500 to $9,000 |
| Bulk earthworks (per cubic metre) | varies, 20T or 35T excavator plus tipper | $14 to $22 per cubic metre |
These ranges assume metro-Wide-Bay access. Sites in Howard, Childers, Tin Can Bay, Tiaro and Bauple typically add a $200 to $500 mobilisation fee depending on distance from the nearest contractor depot.
The cheapest quote is rarely the best quote. The contractor who looks closely at your site, asks the right questions and explains where the cost comes from is the one who is most likely to deliver the job on budget. Cheap quotes usually become expensive variations.
How to get an accurate quote
An accurate earthworks quote needs four pieces of information from you. Provide them in your first call or email and you will get a tight number back instead of a wide range:
- Site address. Suburb matters because soil profiles differ across the Wide Bay. The contractor needs to know if your site is in a known clay area, coffee rock zone, or floodplain.
- Scope. What is the job? A pool dig, a house pad, a driveway, a bulk subdivision cut? Engineer drawings or a builder set-out is best. A photo and a rough description works for smaller jobs.
- Access. Side gate width, overhead obstructions, distance from the road. This determines machine size and adds time if access is tight.
- Timeline. When do you need it done? Outside wet season is cheaper. Same-week mobilisation is possible but limits machine choice to whatever is available.
If a contractor quotes without asking about any of these, the quote is probably padded for risk they have not assessed. Push back, ask why, get a more specific number.
Further reading
Working out which machine your job needs? Read bobcat vs positrack vs skid steer. Getting ready to build? Our 12 step site preparation checklist covers everything before the slab pour.
What affects pricing on different job types
House pad cost in the Wide Bay depends on the cut depth, the soil type and whether spoil needs to be carted away. A standard 4-bed pad on a flat block with good soil and on-site spoil storage is a 1-day job at $1,200 to $1,800. Add a day and $500 to $1,000 in cartage if you need spoil removed. Add another $300 to $700 if you have coffee rock or demolition fill to break through.
Pool excavation costs swing on access and depth. A standard 8m x 4m in-ground pool on a block with clear side-gate access (1.8m+) and a 5 tonne excavator costs $1,300 to $2,200. Drop to 1.5m access and you need a 3.5 tonne machine and an extra half day, pushing the cost to $2,500 to $3,500. Spoil disposal is usually $400 to $900 depending on whether the soil is clean.
Driveway prep cost depends on length, drainage and existing surface. A 50m gravel driveway prep with light grading and base material spread is $1,800 to $2,800 using a Positrack and tipper. Add concrete demolition for an existing driveway and the cost rises to $3,000 to $4,500. Trenching for services (water, electrical conduit, NBN) typically runs $900 to $1,400 for a 30m run.
Commercial site cuts require larger machines and tighter compliance. Expect 14 tonne or 20 tonne excavators plus tippers. Erosion sediment control plans (ESCPs) are mandatory in the Fraser Coast Regional Council area and add documentation cost. A small commercial site cut (300 to 500 cubic metres) typically runs $4,500 to $9,000. Larger jobs are quoted per cubic metre at $14 to $22, with a separate mobilisation and ESCP setup fee.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a standard house pad cost in Hervey Bay?
Is wet hire or dry hire cheaper?
Do you charge for travel to my site?
How quickly can you start?
Do I need council approval for earthworks?
What documentation do you provide for commercial jobs?
Want a real quote on your Wide Bay earthworks?
Contrex Group services Hervey Bay, Maryborough, Gympie, Bundaberg and the wider Wide Bay with 3.5T to 35T excavators, Positrack and tipper, all with operator. Most quotes come back same day.