Pottsville, Cabarita and the southern Tweed Coast, NSW

Excavation and earthmoving in Crabbes Creek

Council's 2016 village strategy counted just eleven houses on the main street of Crabbes Creek, one of the Tweed's smallest villages. It sits where Crabbes Creek Road meets Tweed Valley Way, on the Byron Shire border. Behind it the creek's valley runs west between forested hills, with open pasture, cane and bananas on the farms. Out there, Luke's excavator, posi-track and tipper suit drains, creek crossings, tracks and clearing.

Call Luke 0488 987 325 Text Luke a photo

Or send the job details online

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

Freshly cut dirt access track through bushland with machine track marks

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

Jobs Luke takes on in Crabbes Creek

Freshly graded gravel driveway curving through bushland, Kubota excavator and ASV posi-track parked beside it

Driveway repairs

Valley drives and the approaches to creek crossings take the brunt when Crabbes Creek rises fast. Luke rebuilds the base and lays culvert pipe where water crosses. Then the drive is gravelled, levelled, watered and rolled.

Orange Kubota excavator at the end of a deep, clean-walled trench in red soil, with drainage pipe ready beside it

Trenching and drainage

Town water and sewer aren't on Council's plans for Crabbes Creek, according to its 2016 village strategy. Luke digs and backfills the trenches for tank and on-site sewage lines, and the licensed plumber lays and connects them. Farm culverts and ag drains he lays himself.

Kubota excavator arm and bucket clearing dense overgrown scrub and long grass

Land clearing

Semi-forested hills ring the valley's open pasture. Luke clears scrub along fence lines and tracks, and pulls trees and stumps at the owner's request, after any approval is sorted.

Large tree stump and root ball dug out by a Kubota excavator on a rural property

Soil removal and tipper

Flood silt, spoil from drain work and green waste go out on the Fuso to lawful tips or approved sites, docketed. Road base comes in from the quarry to patch washed-out tracks.

Ground and access in Crabbes Creek

The village follows the creek and the valley floor, with the creek on its northern edge and the lie of the land closing it in to the south. Steep upper catchments make Crabbes Creek rise and fall quickly, according to NSW SES, which also says major floods can inundate the village. Council's March 2022 update put Crabbes Creek among the places hit harder than in past floods. The Bundjalung name for the area, Pymble or Pimble, is recorded as meaning 'stones in creek' or 'many stones'.

Council's 2016 strategy flagged the first crossing over Crabbes Creek: it tends to flood in rain and cut off homes further up the valley. If your place is past it, the job is booked for dry weather. Send photos of the crossing, your drive and gate, and the work spot, and say how the creek has been running.

Before you dig in Crabbes Creek

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

Check	What it means
Acid sulfate soils on low ground	Tweed Shire Council says acid sulfate soils are common along the Tweed Coast. Written approval is needed in most cases before they're disturbed, and Council's management plan for minor works can't be used where groundwater is likely to be disturbed or dewatering is likely. Those jobs need a site-specific plan.
Bringing in fill	Council says filling land needs development consent in most cases. On flood-prone land, get a Section 10.7 certificate and a Property Flood Report for your lot before any fill is ordered, because flood planning levels change as flood studies are updated.
Trees and clearing	On non-rural land, clearing declared vegetation needs Council approval, which is free to lodge. That includes native plants 4 m or taller or 10 cm or more in diameter, any tree 40 cm or more in diameter, preferred koala food trees and threatened species. On rural RU1 and RU2 land, clearing native vegetation may need approval under the Local Land Services Act 2013.
Driveways and the road reserve	Any work in the road reserve, including a driveway across the verge or a kerb and gutter change, needs Council consent under section 138 of the Roads Act 1993 before it starts.
Near creeks and the estuary	To count as exempt development, earthworks must be at least 40 m from natural water and must not redirect water or carry sediment onto a neighbour's land. Work on waterfront land can also need a controlled activity approval from NSW Water.
Fire ants	Parts of the Tweed are in the NSW fire ant biosecurity zone. Earthmoving machinery must be cleaned free of soil before it leaves, and soil, fill and quarry products moved out of the area follow set rules. Zones change, so check the current NSW DPIRD maps.

How it works

From a photo to a finished job

Call or text Luke a photo
A wide shot, the gate or access, and the exact spot tells him most of what he needs.
Get a free quote
From your photos, or from a quick site look if the job needs it. No charge for either.
Book a day
Luke brings the right machine for the access and the job.
Dig, cart and clean up
Spoil goes out on his own tipper. The site is left tidy.

Got a job in Crabbes Creek?

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

Call 0488 987 325 Send the job details

Questions about earthworks in Crabbes Creek

What happens if the creek is up on the day of my job?

The job waits. NSW SES says Crabbes Creek rises and falls quickly, and Luke won't take the Fuso or a machine through floodwater. Once the water drops and the ground at the crossing is firm again, he books a new day with you. A photo of the crossing that morning helps him decide.

Does Tweed Shire Council need to approve my earthworks?

It depends on the job. Small earthworks can be exempt development if they meet the NSW standards, such as staying at least 40 m from natural water and not sending water or sediment onto a neighbour. Fill, acid sulfate soils, flood-prone land, trees and work in the road reserve each have their own approvals. Check with Council on 02 6670 2400 before the machine is booked.