WET HIRE · APPLICATION
Trenching & Drainage
Machine + Ticketed Operator
Clean trenches to line and depth, run by an operator who works safely around live services. Plumbing, electrical, gas and data runs, reticulation, footings, anchor and general trenching.
Where This Comes Up
Straight, clean, to depth
A good trench is straight, to the right depth, and dug without clipping the services already in the ground. That’s harder than it looks, and it’s where an experienced operator earns their keep.
We supply a machine and operator to dig service runs, reticulation, footing and anchor trenches — sized to your spec and set out to your marks. Spoil can be loaded out or stockpiled for backfill.
You set out the trench lines and confirm service locations; our operator digs to them. Operated plant hire — you direct, we run the machine.
Purpose-Built Perth Fleet & Capabilities
Executing clean utility trenches and high-capacity drainage systems requires matching the right tight-access machinery to your site layout and ground conditions:
- Compact & Micro Excavators: Equipped with specialised narrow trenching buckets, tilt hitches, and precise hydraulic controls, our mini excavators cut laser-straight trenches through tough ground. Their compact footprint lets us work alongside boundary fences, walls, and existing structures where standard machinery cannot fit.
- Low-Ground-Pressure Track Loaders (Posi-Tracks): Featuring low ground pressure and maximum flotation, our track loaders excel at backfilling trenches without crushing sensitive underground conduits or pipework, spreading aggregate bedding, and shaping surface drainage swales across soft Perth sands or wet site conditions.
- Agile Skid Steers: Powerful, highly manoeuvrable units ideal for fast site cleanup, moving aggregate, stockpiling excavated material, and loading excess soil directly into trucks to keep tight work zones safe and clear.
What you're actually hiring
Trenching near services rewards a careful operator:
- Digs clean to line and depth, first pass
- Works to located service marks and slows near assets
- Keeps spoil placed for easy backfill or load-out
- Knows when to hand over to hand-digging near assets
THE RIGHT GEAR
Machines for trenching
Matched to trench width, depth and access, each with an operator.
1.7–2.5t Excavator
Narrow reticulation and service trenches on tight blocks.
5t Excavator
General service, footing and drainage trenches at speed.
8t Excavator
Deeper or longer runs where reach and depth matter.
Trencher / attachments
Continuous narrow trenching for cable and irrigation runs.
Applications
Typical trenching jobs
Service runs and trenching an operated machine suits.
Plumbing, gas & drainage
Sewer, stormwater, water and gas service trenches to grade.
Electrical & data runs
Conduit and cable trenches for power, comms and data.
Reticulation
Irrigation and reticulation trenching for landscape and turf.
Footings, anchors & general
Footing, anchor and general-purpose trenching to spec.
Operated plant hire, not contracting: we supply the machine and a skilled operator to run it to your plan. You (or your site supervisor) direct the works.
Miniquip wet hire team in action
Operators and machines on real sites — swap for your own photography.
RELATED WORK
Other environments our operators work
BOOK OPERATED Trenching & Drainage
Need a clean trench? Let’s dig it right.
Trenching & Drainage FAQ's
Common questions
The things people ask us most about trenching & drainage.
How do you make sure you don't hit underground services?
Plans should be obtained free through Before You Dig Australia (BYDA) before work starts, and known services are hand-exposed (potholed) before the machine digs near them. Our operators work to those located marks and slow down or hand over to hand-digging close to assets. Locating and marking services on your site remains the site controller’s responsibility.
How deep can you trench?
Depth depends on the machine and the ground, but note a safety point: in Australia, a trench deeper than 1.5 m that a person may enter is classed as high-risk construction work and needs a safe system — battering, benching or shoring — and a Safe Work Method Statement. We’ll talk through depth and access when we quote so the right controls are planned in.
Can you trench through rock or limestone?
Yes — we fit a hydraulic breaker where the trench line hits rock or caprock. See our Rock & limestone breaking page; often it’s the same booking, with the operator switching between bucket and breaker as the ground changes.
Do you backfill the trench afterwards?
We can stockpile the spoil for backfill and reinstate the trench once your services are laid and inspected, or load the spoil out — your call. Compaction and inspection sign-off sit with you or your trades.
Do I need any tickets or licences to hire an operated machine?
No — that’s the point of wet hire. Our operator holds the competencies; you just direct the job. You’re responsible for the site set-out, service location and any permits (for example council approval for works in a road reserve or verge).
Can you work in a narrow side access or backyard?
Yes. We run compact excavators from 1.7 t that fit through standard gate and side-access widths, so most reticulation and service trenching in established yards is no problem. If there’s no ground-level way in at all, ask about tight access & lift-ins.