Our recognised experience and reliable results keep our clients returning
Soil Tests
Residential, Commercial and Industrial Soil Testing - servicing Bundaberg right through to Caboolture.
Soil Tests are needed when constructing a new residence, shed or extension. Soil tests are also known as Site Classification Reports and are used to determine the Sites Classification so an appropriate footing or foundation design can be made.
It is highly recommended that you perform a Soil Test prior to purchasing a block to establish if there are any additional costs arising from poor soil conditions.
Site Classifications Reports involve soil testing to define the soil reactivity and help determine an appropriate founding depth for the footing of the proposed structure. This will reduce the likelihood of having slabs and brickwork cracking in the future.
Reactive soils absorb water and this is when problems can arise if the building foundation design is not appropriate to compensate for the expected movement. A soil test must be conducted to adhere to council’s building and planning requirements.
The possible results you may receive from soil tests on the Sunshine Coast and Gympie are-Class 'S' - Slightly reactive clay sites. May experience slight ground movement as a result of moisture changes.
Class 'M' - Moderately reactive clay or silt sites. May experience moderate ground movement as a result of soil conditions and moisture changes.
Class 'H1' - Highly reactive clay sites. May experience a high amount of ground movement as a result of soil conditions and moisture changes.
Class 'H2' – Highly reactive clay sites. May experience very high ground movement as a result of soil conditions and moisture changes.
Class 'E' - Extremely reactive sites. May experience extreme amounts of ground movement as a result of soil conditions and moisture changes.
Class 'P' - Ground movement may be very severe. The ability of the soil to evenly bear a load is very poor.
This could be a result of mine subsidence, landslip, soils subject to erosion, collapse activity or coastal erosion (e.g. dunes), or soft soils with a lack of suitable bearing such as soft clay or silt or loose sands.
These reactive sites are subject to abnormal moisture conditions resulting from things like trees, dams and poor site drainage. If you are building on a Class P site you will need to consult a structural engineer.
Percolation Assessments
Planning a new build or upgrading your property in South East Queensland?
If your site isn’t connected to mains sewer, a percolation test is more than just a box to tick, it’s the foundation of a compliant, efficient, and long-lasting wastewater system.
We specialise in on-site soil percolation assessments, working in collaboration with trusted wastewater design professionals to deliver council-ready reports that meet the Queensland Plumbing and Wastewater Code and AS1547. Whether you are planning to build a brand-new home, adding a granny flat, or upgrading an older septic system that is no longer efficient, we provide prompt, reliable results that local councils know they can rely on.
Why Percolation Testing Matters
- Council Compliance: Every new dwelling, extension, or additional bedroom requires a percolation test and wastewater design as part of the development application. Without this step, council approval cannot progress.
- Accurate Soil Profiling: Our testing measures soil infiltration rates to determine exactly how well your land absorbs and filters water. With these results, the best effluent disposal method can be determined - from absorption trenches to sand filter beds or advanced secondary treatment systems.
- Tailored Wastewater System Design: No two blocks of land are alike. Soil type, slope, drainage, and available space all impact how wastewater should be managed. We work alongside experienced designers who take our results and develop a wastewater solution built specifically for your property - ensuring long-term performance with minimal maintenance and cost.
- Protecting Your Investment: A well-designed system doesn’t just keep you compliant - it safeguards your property, protects groundwater and the environment, and reduces the risk of odours, overflows, or costly future repairs.
What You’ll Get
When you choose Ground Drill, you’re not just booking a test – you’re choosing a complete, stress-free service that makes council wastewater approval simpler. Our service includes:
- Site-specific soil drilling and percolation testing
- Wastewater system design compliant with AS1547
- Clear, professional, council-ready documentation
- Fast turnaround and transparent, upfront pricing
Who We Work With
We bridge the gap between property owners, builders, developers and council planners across South East Queensland - helping your project move forward smoothly without unnecessary delays. Our core service areas include Bundaberg, Childers, Hervey Bay, Maryborough, Sunshine Coast, Gympie, and surrounding regions.
Because our team understands the unique soil conditions and environmental challenges of these local areas, we can deliver practical and cost-effective solutions that align with both regulatory standards and everyday usability.
Why Choose Us
We combine local knowledge, technical accuracy, and strong partnerships with wastewater designers to give you the assurance that your percolation testing is done right the first time. From detailed soil testing to complete council-ready reporting, our mission is to make the process straightforward, efficient, and stress-free.
Geotechnical Drilling
Geotechnical drilling is a type of drilling that is performed as part of the construction process.
This is mainly for structures such as residential, industrial or commercial buildings, or as part of the investigation process carried out on site prior to construction of roads, railways, bridges, pipelines, tunnels or dams.
One of the most vital aspects before a development project can begin, is knowing what subsurface materials (soil and rock) you are dealing with. Ground Drill provides the owner with the geotechnical drilling expertise to help make your project a success.
Offering a range of Geotechnical and environmental drilling in most areas of South East Queensland - from Bundaberg right through to Caboolture. We perform geotechnical drilling on an hourly rate basis on projects including bridges, pipelines, commercial and industrial buildings, roads and many other projects throughout South-East Queensland.
We capably offer our clients the following options:
Solid Augering to 10m (Depending on material type)
A method of sampling using an auger as a corkscrew. The drilling equipment applies pressure against the top of a solid stem while turning it into the ground.
The auger bit displaces the soil material when rotated and moves it up as the drill bores deeper into the ground. Soil is retained on the blades of the auger and kept for testing.
It is used for rapid drilling into soils with a lot of clay, saving time and money. Samples taken this way are considered disturbed.
SPT's to 10mThe standard penetration test (SPT) is an in-situ dynamic penetration test designed to provide information on the properties of soil, while also collecting a disturbed soil sample for soil classification and grain-size analysis.
This method involves a hollow tube with a hardened metal drive shoe attached to the bottom that is driven into the ground by blows with a slide hammer.
The blow counts (hammer strikes) required to advance the sampler are counted and give an indication of the ground density. Generally used for non-cohesive soils, samples taken this way are considered disturbed
U50 Tubes to 10mUsed for collecting soils, including fine cohesive soils and clays. This sampler consists of a thin-walled tube with a cutting edge. A sampler head attaches the tube to the drill rod, and contains a check valve and pressure vents.
This sampler tube is advanced into the soil layer, and the vacuum created by the check valve causes the sample to be retained when the tube is withdrawn. Soil sampled in this manner is considered undisturbed.
DCP's to 3mA dynamic cone penetrometer is an in situ test in which a weight is manually lifted and dropped on a cone which penetrates the ground. The number of mm per hit are recorded and this is used to estimate certain soil properties.
This is a simple test method and usually needs backing up with lab data to get a good correlation.
Bore logging to high standards (No need for an engineer to supervise)Bore logging is the practice of recording the ground materials encountered when drilling.
Bore log is the common name for a record of drilling which can include the depth, size, details of construction and location of the bore, results of any soil testing and pump testing, and a ‘strata’ which is a description of the materials encountered through drilling.