Most landholders in the South Burnett want to clear something at some point: a fence line, a firebreak, a house site or a paddock full of regrowth. Queensland has strict vegetation laws with big fines, and a lot of everyday clearing is still exempt. Here’s how to check where you stand before the machines turn up.
The short version: check your vegetation category on a free property report first. Category X is exempt on freehold land. Fence lines, roads and tracks can usually be cleared up to 10 m wide, firebreaks up to 20 m or 1.5 times the height of the tallest adjacent tree, and up to 2 hectares for necessary buildings and structures in some categories. If in doubt, check before you clear.
Step 1: Find out what category your vegetation is
Queensland maps vegetation into categories, and what you can clear without approval depends on which category covers your land. You can get this information for free from the Queensland Government through a property report and vegetation maps, and look up regional ecosystems in the vegetation management regional ecosystem description database (VM REDD).
In simple terms:
- Category X is generally non-regulated vegetation, such as previously cleared paddocks and regrowth that isn’t mapped as regulated
- Categories A, B, C and R are regulated in different ways, with Category B covering remnant vegetation and R covering areas near watercourses in certain catchments
Get the report before you ring an earthmover. It takes minutes and it’s the single best way to avoid a costly mistake.
Step 2: Check the exemptions
The Queensland Government lists a range of exempt clearing work. The ones that matter most on rural blocks are:
| Clearing for | What’s exempt |
|---|---|
| Category X vegetation | Clearing is exempt on freehold, Indigenous and leasehold land |
| Fences, roads and tracks | Up to a maximum width of 10 m |
| Firebreaks | Up to 20 m wide, or 1.5 times the height of the tallest adjacent tree |
| Necessary buildings and structures | Up to 2 hectares in Category B least concern, C and R areas |
| Maintaining existing infrastructure | Clearing needed to maintain buildings, structures, fences, roads and watering points |
| Fire and risk management | Hazardous fuel reduction, and removing vegetation posing an imminent risk to people or infrastructure |
Each exemption has conditions, so read the details on the Queensland Government’s exempt clearing work page for your situation. Your local council’s planning scheme may also add its own requirements.
Burning off? Stacking and burning windrows is common after clearing. In Queensland, lighting a fire bigger than 2 m in any direction generally needs a permit from your local fire warden, so organise it before the burn.
Step 3: If you need approval
Clearing that isn’t exempt usually falls under an accepted development vegetation clearing code (where you notify the department and follow the code’s rules) or needs a development approval. The Queensland Government’s clearing codes and approvals page explains which applies. It’s worth doing properly, because clearing without the right approval can bring heavy penalties and an order to restore the vegetation.
What clearing work looks like on the ground
Once you know what you can clear, the right machine makes a big difference to the cost.
- Regrowth, lantana and small scrub: the Positrack with a 6 ft slasher or stick rake handles most of it quickly and leaves a tidy finish
- Trees and stumps: the 14.5 tonne excavator with the 360 demolition grab lifts, sorts and stacks timber, and pulls stumps cleanly
- Fence lines and firebreaks: excavator and Positrack together, cleared to width and left ready for the fencer or the grader
- House and shed sites: cleared, stumps out, and the site left ready for the pad
Green waste can be stacked on site for burning or mulching, or carted away if you prefer.
What clearing costs
| Job | Starting price (ex GST) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Small jobs | From $660 | 4-hour minimum with machine and operator, travel included |
| Full day with the Positrack | From $1,320 | Slasher, stick rake, trencher and auger all included |
| Full day with the 14.5 t excavator | From $1,520 | Demolition grab $220 per hour for heavier clearing |
The price moves with the size of the block, how thick the scrub is, stump size, whether waste is stacked or carted away, and access.
Next step: get your property report, then see our clearing and excavation service or grab the free price guide. When you’re ready, send us a map pin and a few photos for a fixed written quote.
This article is general information only. Always confirm the rules for your property with the Queensland Government before clearing.
Want real numbers for your job?
Grab the free South Burnett price guide, or send us a few photos and get a fixed written quote. We reply within 2 business hours.
