Locating, CCTV and build-over documentation for builders across SEQ.
Orbital delivers the underground locating, CCTV inspection and council-ready documentation that builders and developers need at every stage of a project — before footings, before slab pour, before lodging a build-over application, and into the post-build record. Twenty-three years of locating in South East Queensland; we know what each council expects and where applications get returned.
What builders and developers engage Orbital for
Pre-excavation locating
Before footings, retaining walls, pool excavation, driveway slabs, fence trenches, landscape installations — anywhere a digger is going into the ground and the underground services aren’t 100% confirmed. AS 5488-aligned locate, AS/NZS 4502 marking, photo record, defensible documentation if a strike happens despite the locate.
Pre-pour slab locating
Before the concrete goes down, we locate everything beneath the slab — services to be embedded, services to be avoided, services that need vertical clearance. Slab pre-pour locating is fast, cheap, and saves the cost of cutting (or worse, leaving) the wrong thing in the slab.
Build-over applications
Most SEQ councils require WSAA-compliant CCTV inspection of the sewer asset crossing the proposed structure, with Wincan-compatible reporting, as part of the build-over application. We deliver this routinely across Brisbane City, Logan, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Ipswich and Redlands. We know what each council expects.
Post-build condition confirmation
Some councils require a post-construction CCTV inspection confirming the sewer or stormwater asset wasn’t damaged during the build. We deliver that documentation in the same format the original application used, so the post-build review goes through cleanly.
Strike defence documentation
If a service is struck despite the locate, fast attendance to capture the as-found condition, AS 5488 designation on the original locate, and methodology documentation that holds up to an insurer or asset owner review.
Why builders choose Orbital
We know what each council expects
Build-over application requirements vary by council. Brisbane City Council, Logan, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Ipswich and Redlands each have their own format expectations and common rejection reasons. We’ve delivered into all of them, and we flag the issues at scoping rather than after submission.
Fast turnaround
Most pre-excavation and pre-pour locates are mobilised within 3–5 business days. Urgent jobs are accommodated where possible. Build-over CCTV reports typically deliver within 5 business days of the on-site inspection, ready for lodgement.
Defensible records
AS 5488 quality-level designation on every located service, photographs of every access point, methodology statement on every report. If a service is struck or a council application is challenged, the documentation holds up to review.
Vac2U alliance for QL-A verification
Where the project warrants physical verification of a service — a critical clash, a deep crossing, an unknown asset where the locate signal is weak — we coordinate Vac2U’s hydro vacuum excavation through our alliance. One project lead, one deliverable.
Frequently asked questions
Do you handle build-over applications for my council?
Yes for the SEQ councils we work across — Brisbane City Council, Logan, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Ipswich and Redlands. Each council has its own submission requirements; we know them and deliver to each council’s standard. If you’re working outside this catchment, send us the council’s submission requirements and we’ll confirm whether we can deliver to them.
What’s the turnaround on a build-over CCTV inspection?
Typically 3–5 business days from booking to on-site inspection, with the Wincan-compatible report delivered within another 3–5 business days after that. Urgent jobs are accommodated where possible. The total lead time from initial call to report ready for lodgement is usually 7–10 business days.
What does a typical residential pre-excavation locate cost?
Most residential locates land within a defined fixed-price range; the variables are site size, number of services and access conditions. Send us the site address and a brief outline of the work; we’ll come back with a fixed quote, usually within 24 hours. We don’t publish rates because every site is different — but the conversation is quick.
Do I need a locator if Dial Before You Dig has come back?
Yes. DBYD returns indicative asset owner records — useful starting point but often incomplete, sometimes wrong, and rarely covers private services like irrigation, hydronic, recycled water, or services installed by previous owners. A professional locate confirms what’s actually there before you commit to excavation. The cost of a locate is a fraction of the cost of a strike.
What happens if there’s a strike despite the locate?
Call us first. We attend the site to capture the as-found record, and our original deliverable carries AS 5488 quality-level designation and methodology documentation — exactly what your insurer or the asset owner will be looking for during a post-event review. Defensible documentation is the whole point of professional locating.
Can you also handle the slab pre-pour locate?
Yes. Slab pre-pour locating is a fast, focused scope — locate the services beneath where the slab is going to be poured, confirm clearances, document any embedded services. Usually a half-day on site for residential, a day for commercial.
Related services
- Underground service locating
- CCTV pipe inspection (WSAA / Wincan) for build-over applications
- AS 5488 Subsurface Utility Engineering
- Vacuum excavation through Vac2U alliance
Tell us about the build.
Send us the site address and a sentence about the project. We’ll come back with a fixed-price quote, the council requirements that apply, and a realistic mobilisation date — usually within 24 hours.