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Excavating ContractorsDay 0
A reader’s guide to the days around a dig, by Dotto

The notices, approvals and duties before an excavating contractor’s first bucket

An excavation can set several clocks running: an enquiry with a lead time, a neighbour who may need notice, approvals that can apply, and in Victoria insurance that runs on after the work.

General information about notices, approvals and duties in four jurisdictions, not legal or engineering advice.

Before the digDig day The twelve months after Not to scale
  1. Before You Dig At least 1 day before NAT
  2. Excavation approval Before work starts QLD VIC
  3. Neighbour notice 14 days to answer VIC 12 months of cover VIC
  4. Contractor licence Before work starts QLD
  5. Trench safety Before high risk work starts NAT
  6. Soil disposal 10 business days QLD

Before the dig

  1. Before You Dig At least 1 day before NAT
  2. Excavation approval Before work starts QLD VIC
  3. Neighbour notice 14 days to answer VIC
  4. Contractor licence Before work starts QLD
  5. Trench safety Before high risk work starts NAT
  6. Soil disposal 10 business days QLD
  7. Dig daythe day the work starts
  8. The twelve months after 12 months of cover VIC

What the dates meanBars end at dig day and run back their own count. Victoria’s 14 days start when the notice is served; Queensland’s 10 business days start from a properly submitted application. A diamond has no count.

Six questions

  1. 1Do I need to call Before You Dig before excavating?
  2. 2Do I need approval to excavate my block?
  3. 3What if digging could undermine my neighbour’s land?
  4. 4Does an excavating contractor need a licence?
  5. 5What must an excavating business do before a deep trench?
  6. 6What happens to soil dug out of contaminated land?