Site clearing is what turns a block into a clean starting point. It can follow a house demolition, or it can be the whole job: an old slab where a shed once stood, a cracked driveway, an unused swimming pool, or a lot overgrown with rubbish and green waste. Done well, it leaves a site your builder, landscaper or buyer can work with straight away.
Geelong Demolition Service is a referral service. With your consent, we pass your enquiry to one independent demolition business with the registration the job requires. We do not quote or carry out site work.
What clearing can cover
- Slabs and footings: concrete slabs, strip footings, brick piers and old stumps.
- Driveways, paths and hardstand: concrete, pavers and asphalt.
- Pools: in-ground concrete or fibreglass pools, filled in place or fully removed.
- Rubbish and green waste on neglected or vacant blocks.
- Trees and stumps, subject to council controls.
- Levelling and grading to a builder-ready pad or a tidy block for sale.
Ground and site conditions
Every block is different, and we do not make general claims about Geelong soils. What matters is what is on your site. Tell the demolisher about any known fill, old drains, septic tanks, soft or wet ground, or rock, and share any soil report your builder has commissioned. If you are building, your builder or engineer will usually specify how the cleared ground must be left.
Pool removal options
- Partial removal and fill: the top of the shell is broken out, the floor is holed for drainage, and the void is backfilled and compacted. It costs less, but it can restrict where you build later.
- Full removal: the entire shell is excavated and the hole filled with compacted, engineered fill. It costs more but leaves the land more usable.
Council may need to be told when a pool is removed, because pool barrier registration rules apply in Victoria. Ask your council how to update or cancel the pool registration.
Trees and vegetation
Some trees are protected by planning controls or local laws, and approval to demolish does not automatically include approval to remove trees. Check with your council (Greater Geelong, Surf Coast, Golden Plains or Queenscliffe) before any tree is cut.
Asbestos and contaminated fill
Old fibro fragments in the soil, buried building waste and imported fill of unknown origin can all turn up during clearing. If suspect material is found, work in that area should stop until it is assessed. Licensed asbestos removal applies above 10 square metres of non-friable material, or to any friable material. See asbestos before demolition.
Clearing for sale or subdivision
Vendors sometimes clear a block so buyers can picture a new build. Developers clear ahead of subdivision works. Either way, confirm what the purchaser or civil contractor expects, so you do not pay twice for the same work.
What affects price
- Slab thickness, reinforcement and area
- Pool type, size and chosen method
- Access for trucks and machinery
- Volume and type of waste, and recycling options
- Trees, stumps and green waste
- Imported fill and compaction testing
Published 2026 guides suggest roughly $8,000 to $15,000 for a partial pool removal and fill, and $25,000 to $40,000 or more for full removal. These are budgeting ranges, not quotes. See the demolition cost guide.
Before the machines arrive
- Before You Dig Australia. Lodge an enquiry so underground power, gas, water, sewer and telecommunications are located before excavation.
- Boundaries and survey marks. Confirm boundary positions, especially where fences are coming down, and protect any survey pegs needed for the new build.
- Neighbours. Agree what happens to shared fences and overhanging trees.
- Sediment and stormwater. Bare ground sheds soil in rain. Plan sediment controls so material does not wash into the street drains.
- Footpaths and kerbs. Heavy trucks can crack council assets. Check council's asset protection requirements and photograph the nature strip and footpath first.
Timing with your builder
Leave enough time between clearing and slab pour for any soil testing or engineering inspections your builder needs. Ask your builder exactly how they want the site left, and pass that on to the demolisher in writing.
Waste and recycling
Clean concrete and brick can often be crushed and recycled. Steel is recycled. Green waste can be mulched. Mixed or contaminated waste costs more to dispose of, so keeping streams separate on site helps.
Frequently asked questions
How much does pool removal cost in Geelong?
Published 2026 guides suggest about $8,000 to $15,000 for partial removal and fill, and $25,000 to $40,000 or more for full removal. A site inspection is needed for a real price.
Do I need a permit to remove a pool?
It depends on the scope. Check with a building surveyor, and update the pool registration with your council.
Can trees be removed during clearing?
Only if they are not protected, or approval has been obtained. Check with council first.
Will my builder want the slab removed?
Usually yes, if a new home is going in the same place. Confirm with your builder.
Can clearing go ahead after rain?
Often, but wet ground can slow machinery and damage the nature strip. Ask how the contractor manages access in wet weather.
What happens to removed concrete?
Clean concrete is commonly crushed and recycled.
Next step
Send photos, the approximate area and what needs to go. With your consent, we will refer the job to a registered demolisher working in the Geelong region. Request a referral.