The sequence that prevents rework

Good site preparation follows a strict sequence: assessments first, then engineering, then earthworks, then services, then the foundation — all before the cottage arrives. Skipping ahead causes rework. If you start earthworks before the soil test, the foundation design may change and you'll redo the ground. If you deliver before services are connected, the cottage sits unoccupied. The sequence exists because each step depends on the one before it, and doing them out of order costs time and money.

Assessments come before earthworks

Before any ground is moved, you typically need: a soil test (for foundation design), a site survey (for levels, boundaries and setbacks), a BAL assessment (if bushfire-prone), a wastewater design (if septic), and confirmation of the wind rating. These assessments are done during the feasibility and approval phase. Starting earthworks before the engineering is finalised risks rework if the design changes — the foundation type, depth, and footprint all come from the engineering, which comes from the assessments.

Earthworks and levelling

Most cottages need a level pad for the foundations. On flat ground, this may be minimal. On a slope, it can involve cut and fill, retaining walls, and drainage. The earthworks must be done to the engineer's specification — poorly prepared ground can cause the foundations to fail. Heavy rain before or during earthworks can delay the work, so timing matters. Your contractor should confirm the finished level matches the engineering drawings, and any retaining walls should be engineered, not improvised.

Access and the crane pad

An expandable cottage arrives on a truck and is usually lifted into place by crane. Access means: a road route wide and high enough for the truck, a driveway that can bear the load, and a clear area on site for the crane to set up and operate. Narrow roads, low bridges, overhead powerlines, tight corners, and soft ground can all block access. An access assessment early in the process identifies problems while there's time to solve them — or to choose a cottage size that fits the access.

Services to the connection point

Before the cottage arrives, services should be ready at the connection point: power (mains or off-grid), water (mains or tank), and wastewater (mains or septic). The cottage is manufactured with internal rough-ins; the on-site work is connecting those to the supply. Arranging these connections early — including council approvals for septic and the retailer for power — avoids delays on installation day. Services that aren't ready when the cottage arrives means the cottage sits there, unconnected, until they are.

Clearing — and why you check first

Vegetation may need to be cleared for the building footprint, the crane operating area, and to create defensible space in bushfire-prone areas. However, some overlays (Vegetation Protection, Bushfire Management) restrict what you can remove. Check the planning controls before clearing — removing protected vegetation without a permit is an offence and can trigger enforcement and penalties. A BAL assessor or planner can advise on what clearing is permitted and what requires approval. Never clear first and ask later.

Who is responsible for what

Clarify in your contract who is responsible for each part of site preparation: the cottage supplier, you, or a separate contractor. Typically: earthworks and foundations are done by a contractor to the engineer's design, service connections by licensed trades, and the delivery and lift by the transport and crane companies (often arranged by the supplier). Ambiguity here is a common source of cost disputes — get it in writing before the work starts.