Half the pool digs we do on the Gold Coast are tight-access — a 900mm side gate, an established garden, a narrow path between the house and the fence. The good news: it almost always works. Here's the practical version of tight access excavation.
What fits through what
- ≤ 750mm access: hand-dig or crane-in only — no machine fits
- 750–900mm: 1.0T–1.5T mini excavator (specialist gear)
- 900–1,200mm: 1.7T mini excavator — our most-used size
- 1,200–1,500mm: 3.0T machine — much faster digging
- 1,500mm+: 5T+ machine — production work
Most Gold Coast residential side gates are 900–1,000mm — perfect for a 1.7T machine.
What slows a tight-access job
Spoil removal
On tight access, spoil has to come out by mini-loader, conveyor, or even bobcat-and-trailer relay. That can double the time vs an open-access dig of the same volume.
Existing landscaping
Established gardens, paving and turf need protection. Ground protection mats, careful track placement, and an experienced operator make the difference between a 'we'll fix it after' job and one where the garden looks untouched at the end.
Overhead clearance
Low pergolas, eaves and powerlines all matter. We measure overhead before quoting — a 1.7T machine needs about 2.4m clearance to fit under.
Tight-access jobs are the worst over the phone. A 15-minute site visit lets us walk the access, measure clearances, and quote you a real number.
When you might need a crane-in
If access is under 750mm or you're going through a house extension to a back yard, crane-in is the answer. Day-rate crane hire on the Gold Coast typically runs $1,500–$3,500. We coordinate the crane and brief the operator.
Common tight-access jobs we do
- Pool excavation through 900mm side gates
- Granny flat and pool plumbing trenches
- Stump grinding and tree removal in courtyards
- Footing and pier digging on infill blocks
- Drainage and stormwater retrofits