Cutting a new access track through scrub, how it works

New tracks come up for the same handful of reasons, getting to a back paddock, getting a builder to a house site, reaching a dam or pump, or meeting a fire access requirement on a permit or notice.

Check what you are allowed to clear

Native vegetation removal in Victoria can need a planning permit, and some properties sit under an overlay that changes what is exempt. Start with your council planning department and the state native vegetation information before any machine turns up.

• Native vegetation removal regulations, DEECA
• City of Greater Bendigo planning

Set the line before you cut it

The shortest line is rarely the best one. We look for the route that avoids the steepest grades, keeps off wet ground, crosses drainage lines at the narrowest point, and gives the vehicles that will use it room to turn at the end.

Mulch first, grade second

The vegetation line gets mulched to the width you need, which leaves a mulch layer on the ground instead of windrows and burn piles. Then the surface underneath gets graded and shaped so it drains.

Width for the vehicle that will use it

A ute track and a track for a tilt tray or a CFA unit are not the same width or canopy height. Tell us what has to get down it, including height, and we set the clearance accordingly.

Re-opening old tracks

If there was a track there once, the base is often still sound under the regrowth. Re-opening an old line is usually cheaper than cutting a new one, and the longer it is left, the more it costs.

Rules, overlays and mapping change. We check the links in this article regularly, but always confirm the current requirements with your council or the relevant Victorian department before you clear anything.

Got a job in mind? Send your address and we'll come out, have a look, and put a written quote together. No obligation.