What actually drives the cost of a clearing or slashing job

The most common question we get after 'can you do it' is 'what will it cost'. The honest answer is that two properties that look the same on a map can be very different once you're standing on them. Here's what moves the price.

Access and travel

If we can get the machine straight to the work, the day runs efficiently. If we're opening gates, dodging low branches, crossing soft ground or travelling 40 minutes from the nearest decent road, that time shows up in the quote. Travel distance from Bendigo also matters because the machine, ute and trailer all have to get there.

Terrain and ground conditions

Flat, dry clay is the easy stuff. Steep slopes, granite outcrops, wet gullies and soft creek crossings slow the machine down and increase fuel and wear. Some ground needs a smaller machine or a different attachment to do the job safely without tearing the place up.

Fuel load and density

Short grass in an open paddock is quick. Waist-high grass with woody regrowth, blackberries and dead timber mixed through it is not. The denser the material, the slower each pass and the more fuel the machine burns. We price by what we expect to clear in a day, not just by the acre.

Machine and attachment choice

A slasher handles grass and light scrub. A forestry mulcher eats thick regrowth and small trees. A power rake or box blade finishes a pad. Using the wrong machine for the job either leaves it half done or costs more than it should. Matching the gear to the work is a big part of the quote.

Disposal vs mulching

Mulching leaves the material on the ground, so there's no hauling, no tip fees and no burn pile. If the job needs material removed, that adds labour, trailer time and disposal costs. For fire prep and most rural properties, mulching is usually the cheaper and better option.

Why we quote on site

We don't give prices over the phone because none of these factors show up on Google Maps. Send your address, we'll come out, walk the property and put a written quote together that breaks down what we're doing and why.

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