Question 1

Do landscaping and retaining walls need council approval?

Accepted Answer

Sometimes. Minor earthworks and retaining walls may qualify as exempt development only when every relevant NSW standard and site condition is met. Height, boundaries, easements, drainage, waterways, heritage, flooding and environmentally sensitive land can all affect the pathway. If the work is not exempt, a Complying Development Certificate or Development Application may be required.

Question 2

Will my retaining wall need engineering?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the wall height, retained earth, loads, ground conditions, nearby buildings, boundaries, pools and the approval pathway. All work must be structurally adequate. Where engineering or certification is required, MTS works from project-specific documentation rather than relying on a generic wall detail.

Question 3

Will my project need Home Building Compensation Fund insurance?

Accepted Answer

Residential structural landscaping contracts over $20,000 including GST generally require Home Building Compensation Fund insurance unless an exemption applies. Where required, the insurance certificate must be provided before work starts or any payment is taken. MTS identifies the applicable contract and insurance pathway during quotation.

Question 4

How are underground services handled before excavation?

Accepted Answer

Relevant Before You Dig Australia information should be obtained and reviewed before excavation. Asset plans indicate where services may be present but do not prove an exact location or show every private connection, so electronic locating, potholing or other verification may also be required for the individual site.

Question 5

Can MTS manage excavation and the finished landscape?

Accepted Answer

Yes. MTS combines broad excavation and transport capability with licensed structural landscaping, allowing site preparation, retaining, drainage, hardscape and landscape reinstatement to be considered as one coordinated scope.

Question 6

What should I send with my enquiry?

Accepted Answer

Send the property address, useful site photos, plans or surveys, any engineering already prepared, your preferred finish, budget range and timing. Access widths, known services and whether spoil can remain onsite are also valuable details.

Question 7

Do you take on smaller landscaping and excavation jobs?

Accepted Answer

Yes—selected small works are a strong fit where the scope is clear and MTS machinery can create a valuable result efficiently. Examples include tight-access excavation, drainage trenches, post holes, wall repairs, yard levelling, paths, landings and site reinstatement.

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Structural landscaping and earthworks from Hornsby to Bundanoon.

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