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Block Clearing Gold Coast
Building on a Gold Coast block? We clear house lots of trees, scrub and stumps, mulch or remove the timber, and hand your block back ready for the builder, the slab or the site survey.
- Trees, scrub, stumps and roots cleared in one job
- Led by a qualified arborist, with koala-safe clearing
- Council overlays and protected trees checked in every quote
Clearing acreage, rural land or a subdivision? See land clearing.
Arborist-led · Koala-safe clearing · Stumps and roots out · Fully insured
Send us the address, block size and any photos or site plan. We'll come back with a free, fixed quote.
- One price for trees, stumps and disposal
- Overlays and koala mapping checked
- Led by a qualified arborist
What's Included in Block Clearing
Tree removal
Trees of any size dismantled in sections by our SENNEBOGEN 718 E tree handler or a climbing arborist.
Scrub and undergrowth
Lantana, weeds, regrowth and overgrown garden beds cleared to ground level.
Stumps and roots
Ground out, or fully excavated with the major roots where the slab and footings will go.
Mulching or removal
Timber chipped and stockpiled for landscaping, or everything taken away.
Tree protection
Trees you're keeping fenced off at the right distance before any machine moves.
Site tidy
The block left clear and level enough for surveyors, builders and excavators to start.
How Block Clearing Works
Send the address and plans
The address, block size and any site plan, building approval or photos.
Site check and fixed quote
We check vegetation overlays, koala habitat mapping, protected trees and underground services, then send one itemised price covering trees, stumps and disposal.
Clearing and handover
Our tree handler, excavator and chipper clear the block, led by a qualified arborist. Stumps ground or removed, the site tidied, and photos sent to you and your builder.
Who We Clear Blocks For
Owner-builders
Getting a new lot ready for the slab.
Builders
Sites cleared on program before construction starts.
Knockdown-rebuilds
Established trees and gardens that need to go.
Pools, extensions and granny flats
Trees that are in the way of the new build.
Vacant lots
Tidied for sale, survey or a fire hazard notice.
Cleared to an Arborist's Standard
Anyone with an excavator can push trees over. Clearing a block properly takes an arborist's judgement, and that is what you get on every NexGen job.
- A qualified arborist leads every job. They plan the clearing, check every tree and decide how each one comes down safely.
- Retained trees protected properly. Trees you're keeping are fenced off using Tree Protection Zones calculated to Australian Standard AS 4970, so their roots survive the build.
- Koala-safe clearing. On mapped koala habitat we clear with a koala spotter present and never clear a tree with a koala in it, as Queensland law requires.
- Machines that protect the site. Our SENNEBOGEN 718 E lifts trees out piece by piece instead of dropping them, so there is less soil damage and nothing lands on fences or neighbouring houses.
- No surprises underground. We check for buried services before any stump or root comes out.
Stump Grinding or Full Stump Removal?
It depends on what will be built where the stump is.
Stump grinding
Takes the stump 200 to 300 mm below ground. It's quicker and cheaper.
Best for: Lawns, gardens and driveways.
Full stump and root removal
Digs out the stump and major roots with an excavator, then backfills the hole so your builder starts on solid ground.
Best for: Under slabs, footings and pools, where rotting timber can cause settling and attract termites.
Your builder or engineer will usually specify which is needed. If you're not sure, we'll quote both.
How Much Does Block Clearing Cost on the Gold Coast?
Block clearing is priced site by site. Most house blocks can be priced from photos and a site plan. What affects the price:
Block size
The area to clear.
Density
Light scrub through to mature trees.
Large trees
Each large tree inside the clearing area is priced separately.
Stumps
Grinding costs less than full excavation.
Disposal
Mulching on site costs less than taking everything away.
Access and slope
Machine access, gates, steep blocks and neighbouring structures.
Approvals
Whether a koala spotter, permit or arborist report is needed.
Every quote is fixed and itemised, so there are no surprises on the day.
Do I Need Council Approval to Clear My Block?
Sometimes. On the Gold Coast, clearing is controlled mainly through the City Plan. Three things decide whether you need approval:
Vegetation overlay
Mapped vegetation on or near your lot can be protected, even trees that look ordinary.
Koala habitat areas
Clearing must be staged so koalas can move on, and habitat trees over 10 cm trunk diameter (at 1.3 m) need a koala spotter present.
Your building approval
It may cover clearing the building envelope, but not always the rest of the block.
Dead, dangerous and declared weed trees are often exempt, but it's up to the owner to show that. We check your lot against the City's mapping as part of every quote, tell you up front if anything is needed, and can prepare an arborist report if council asks for one.
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FREQuently Asked questions
Block Clearing FAQS
Block clearing usually means clearing a residential lot of trees, scrub and stumps before building. Land clearing is broader and covers acreage, rural land, subdivisions and infrastructure projects. If you’re not sure which applies, we’ll help you work it out.
It depends on the block size, how dense the vegetation is, the number of large trees and whether stumps are ground or dug out. You get a timeline with your quote, so you and your builder can plan around it.
Under the slab, footings and pool, usually yes, and fully, roots included, because rotting timber can cause settling and attract termites. Elsewhere, grinding below the surface is normally enough. Your builder or engineer will specify what they need, and we can do either.
Yes. We mark the trees you want to keep and fence them off with a Tree Protection Zone calculated to Australian Standard AS 4970 before any machine moves, in line with your approved plans.
We can chip it and stockpile the mulch away from the building pad for later landscaping, which costs less, or take it all away. Builders usually don’t want mulch left where the slab is going.
Parts of the Gold Coast are mapped koala habitat. We check your lot as part of the quote. If it is mapped, we stage the clearing and work with a koala spotter, as Queensland’s koala conservation rules require.
Yes. Our tree handler grips and lowers each section of a tree instead of felling it, so tight blocks next to houses and fences are routine. Where trees are near power lines, we coordinate with Energex.
Yes. Send us the plans and target start date and we will schedule the clearing around your build, then send photos of the cleared block to you and your builder.
No. As long as we have access, we’ll send you and your builder photos when the block is clear.
Block Clearing Across the Gold Coast
Related services
Clearing acreage, rural land or a subdivision? See land clearing.
Block clearing near you
We clear house blocks across the Gold Coast, from new estates in the northern growth corridor to knockdown-rebuilds in established suburbs, including:
