Byron Shire, NSW

Excavation and earthmoving in New Brighton

New Brighton is a small beach village of about 370 people, between the ocean dunes and Marshalls Creek. It began as a cedar-getters' camp in the 1860s and was advertised in 1906 as 'the Brighton of the north'. Byron's DCP places it, with South Golden Beach, in a reserve of protected coastal wetlands, so the jobs that fit here are careful ones: trenches, drainage and carting.

  • Google 5.0 out of 5 from 2 reviews
  • Liability and equipment insurance held
  • ABN 58 346 068 875
  • Free quotes and site looks
  • Luke runs every machine himself
  • Liability and equipment insurance held
Large black corrugated drainage pipe laid in a freshly dug trench, with the spoil heaped alongside
  • Owner-operatorLuke, over 10 years operating machinery
  • Based in MurwillumbahWorking the Gold Coast to Lennox Head
  • Insurance heldLiability and equipment, certificate on request
  • Google 5.0 out of 5From 2 reviews, October 2026
  • ABN 58 346 068 875Registered business name DIRT WERKS

Ground and access in New Brighton

Byron's flood chapter says homes in New Brighton, South Golden Beach and Billinudgel are subject to frequent low-level flooding. The NSW SES expects the northern section, west of Byron Street, to be fully inundated in a flood with a 5% chance in any year, and properties along Casons Lane and River Street flood by then too. On the ocean side the dunes are low, the SES records past ocean breakthroughs to Marshalls Creek, and a July 1999 storm cut erosion scarps 2 to 3 m high.

Access roads in New Brighton are cut by a flood with a 20% chance in any year, so plan earthworks for a settled spell rather than a wet week. The SES puts the village's homes within 50 m of the dune erosion escarpment, so tell Luke where firm ground is for the tipper. Send photos of the street frontage, any side access and the spot.

Before you dig in New Brighton

New Brighton is in the Byron Shire Council area. These rules are worth checking before the machine is booked. Luke lodges his own Before You Dig enquiry for every job.

CheckWhat it means
Excavation and fill limitsWhere earthworks need development consent, Byron's DCP Chapter B14 limits excavation and fill to 1 m deep unless otherwise stated. Earthworks on land steeper than a 15% gradient, or with more than 1 m of cut and fill, need engineering detail from a structural or geotechnical engineer.
Acid sulfate soilsCouncil says acid sulfate soils sit in the coastal floodplains, generally below RL 5 m AHD. Under clause 6.1 of Byron LEP 2014, Class 1 land needs consent for any works and Class 2 for works below the ground surface. On Class 3 and 4 land the trigger is works more than 1 m or 2 m below natural ground, or works that lower the water table that far.
Driveways and the road reserveCouncil needs a permit before any work on a driveway or elsewhere in the road reserve. Even an exempt driveway needs Section 138 approval under the Roads Act, lodged on the NSW Planning Portal.
Flood-prone landCouncil's floodplain pages cover the Brunswick River, Belongil Creek and Tallow Creek, and much of the shire's low ground can flood. Check the flood maps before any fill or drainage work on the flats.
Near creeks and natural waterExempt earthworks must be at least 40 m from natural water and must not redirect water or send sediment onto a neighbour's land.

How it works

From a photo to a finished job

  1. Call or text Luke a photo

    A wide shot, the gate or access, and the exact spot tells him most of what he needs.

  2. Get a free quote

    From your photos, or from a quick site look if the job needs it. No charge for either.

  3. Book a day

    Luke brings the right machine for the access and the job.

  4. Dig, cart and clean up

    Spoil goes out on his own tipper. The site is left tidy.

Got a job in New Brighton?

Call Luke, text him a photo of the site, or send the details through the quote form. Quotes are free.

Questions about earthworks in New Brighton

Can I use the spoil to build up my yard in New Brighton?

Ask Byron Shire Council first. Its flood chapter prefers homes here on piers with parking underneath, and says the under-floor area must stay clear of infill and must not be filled in later. Fill can also change flood behaviour beyond your boundary. Carting the spoil away avoids the question: Luke takes it to a lawful tip or approved site, with dockets.

Who do I ask about earthworks approvals in Byron Shire?

Byron Shire Council's Development Support Officers answer approval questions on 02 6626 7025. Get any approval the job needs, or confirm the work is exempt, before the machine is booked. The council approval guide sets out the Tweed, Byron and Ballina rules side by side.

Suburbs near New Brighton

Luke works right across the area. Pick a neighbouring suburb, or see all of Byron Bay and Brunswick Heads.

Sources (checked October 2026)
  1. Australia Post: New Brighton NSW postcode
  2. Wikipedia: New Brighton, New South Wales
  3. Byron Shire Council: DCP 2014 Chapter E9 Ocean Shores, New Brighton and South Golden Beach (PDF, effective 28 September 2020)
  4. Byron Shire Council: DCP 2014 Chapter C2 Areas Affected by Flood (PDF, effective 6 June 2025)
  5. NSW SES: Byron Shire Flood Emergency Sub Plan (PDF, endorsed May 2023)
  6. Byron Shire Council: DCP 2014 Chapter B14 Excavation and Fill (PDF)
  7. Byron Shire Council: acid sulfate soil management plan for minor projects (PDF)
  8. Byron Shire Council: driveways
  9. Byron Shire Council: Brunswick River floodplain

Get a quote

Your name, phone number, suburb and the type of job are all Luke needs. Everything else is optional, and photos help him quote without a site visit.

    Your details are used only to quote your job. Privacy policy. Prefer to talk? Call 0488 987 325 or text a photo.