Concrete South Sydney
Botany Bay sands and Sutherland sandstone
South Sydney covers two very different grounds. Around Rockdale and Kogarah the land drops to Botany Bay on deep, loose sand that drains quickly but needs thorough compaction before a slab goes down. South of the Georges River, the Sutherland Shire sits on a sandstone plateau where excavation often meets rock, and the Cronulla peninsula is coastal dune sand with salt air to deal with. That mix means site preparation varies more from street to street here than in most of Sydney.
Concrete prices in South Sydney
From our calculator: N25 concrete, SL72 mesh, good truck access, GST included. Suburbs further from the CBD carry a delivery surcharge per load.
| 40m² driveway | metro zone (+$85) | outer zone (+$220) |
|---|---|---|
| Broom finish, level site | $8,100–$8,800 | $8,300–$9,000 |
| Exposed aggregate, level site | $9,850–$10,550 | $10,000–$10,700 |
| Replacing an old concrete driveway | $11,300–$14,250 | $11,500–$14,400 |
| Sloping site, 100–300mm cut, pump | $11,500–$13,900 | $11,650–$14,100 |
Estimates only, confirmed at a free site inspection.
What to plan for in South Sydney
Strata approval
Work on common property needs owners corporation approval, and building managers often ask for the contractor's insurance certificates and a work method statement. Start that early: it's usually the longest lead time on a strata job.
Sloping driveways
Levels have to be set at the kerb, the garage and every change of grade so cars don't scrape. Expect a cut at the top or fill at the bottom, and a pump if the truck can't park within 4–5 metres of the pour.
Councils in this area: Bayside Council, Georges River Council, Sutherland Shire Council. Each approves driveway crossings on its own footpaths and sets the levels they must match.
Council driveway and setback rules in South Sydney
Each council sets its own rules for crossings, driveway widths, finishes, garages and front setbacks. Summarised from their own documents, with every rule linked to its source.
Georges River Council
Georges River Driveway and Associated Works on Council's Road Reserve Policy (Pol-066)
Crossing & approvals
Maximum driveway width on the road reserve is 4.5m, and existing wider driveways must be brought down to 4.5m when the property is redeveloped (including under a CDC). One driveway per single-dwelling lot.
Georges River Pol-066, 2.1–2.2, 2.5Crossing & approvals
On corner blocks, driveways can't be within 6m of the kerb tangent point. If the driveway is within 3m of a street tree you may need a consulting arborist's report, and the owner pays for any approved tree removal.
Georges River Pol-066, 2.3, 6.1–6.3Crossing & approvals
DAs involving driveway works must include a driveway profile with levels from the road centreline to the boundary, V-grates in the gutter are only approved where there's no alternative, and any strip drain across the driveway must sit inside the property boundary, not in the road reserve.
Georges River Pol-066, 4.1–4.2, 5.4–5.5Concrete finish
Council's standard is plain (non-coloured) concrete with a broom or wood float finish meeting slip rating R11 or better. Stencilled, stamped, coloured or paved crossings need prior written approval, and any later repair by council or utilities is done in plain concrete only.
Georges River Pol-066, 3.2–3.3
Bayside Council
Bayside Technical Specification: Traffic, Parking and Access (2023)
Crossing & approvals
A house on a single street frontage can have one access driveway up to 4.5m wide at the boundary, or two of up to 3m each separated by at least 6m of kerb. Crossings are never narrower than 2.7m.
Bayside Traffic, Parking and Access Spec, 3.1.5(a)(i)Driveway
Domestic driveways are at least 3.0m wide inside the property (3.6m where there are high walls either side), and the grade over the footpath is set by council when you lodge a Vehicular Entrance / Driveway Application.
Bayside Traffic, Parking and Access Spec, 3.1.4(a)–(c)Driveway
Maximum driveway grade is 1 in 4 (25%). On steep driveways, cars must be able to enter and leave forwards, using a turning bay or turntable.
Bayside Traffic, Parking and Access Spec, 3.1.4(d)
Sutherland Shire Council
Sutherland Shire Council driveway approvals
Crossing & approvals
Before designing or building a driveway, apply to council for Property Alignment Levels, which set the ground levels in the verge and road your driveway must meet. Allow about 4–6 weeks, and ideally get them before lodging a DA.
Sutherland Shire: Property Alignment Levels ApplicationCrossing & approvals
Crossings in the road reserve are built by contractors on council's Authorised Vehicle Crossing Contractors Register.
Sutherland Shire: Authorised Vehicle Crossing Contractors Register
Rules that apply anywhere in NSW
A driveway, hardstand or paving on your own land is exempt from planning approval only if it isn't in a heritage conservation area, on a heritage item, in a foreshore or environmentally sensitive area, drains to an existing stormwater system, and is built to AS/NZS 2890.1. Otherwise it needs a DA or CDC.
NSW Codes SEPP, exempt development: driveways, pathways and pavingAnything built on or over the footpath or road, including the vehicle crossing and layback, needs approval from the council (or Transport for NSW on State roads) under the Roads Act 1993, even when the work on your land is exempt or already approved.
NSW Codes SEPP, exempt development: driveways, pathways and pavingDriveway grades follow AS/NZS 2890.1: generally no steeper than 25% (1 in 4) within the property, and any change in grade over 12.5% (1 in 8) needs a transition, usually about 2m long, so cars don't scrape.
AS/NZS 2890.1, as applied in Hunters Hill Council's driveway specification
Checked October 2026. Councils update their controls and site-specific controls can apply, so confirm with council or your certifier before you build.
Suburbs we cover in South Sydney
Hurstville 2220
Georges River Council
Hurstville has apartments in the centre and established homes on hilly streets around it. Sloping driveways and older concrete to break out are common on the residential blocks.
Kogarah 2217
Georges River Council (parts in Bayside)
Kogarah mixes apartments near the station with established homes, sloping down towards Botany Bay. Ground varies from clay on the higher streets to sand towards the bay.
Rockdale 2216
Bayside Council
Rockdale sits on low, sandy ground near Botany Bay, with apartments along the rail line and older homes around them. Sand bases need thorough compaction, and low-lying blocks need careful drainage.
Caringbah 2229
Sutherland Shire Council
Caringbah is mostly established brick homes on sandy soil over sandstone, with good side access on many blocks. Driveway replacements, pool surrounds and alfresco slabs are the common jobs.
Cronulla 2230
Sutherland Shire Council
Cronulla is a coastal peninsula of apartments and homes on dune sand. Salt exposure is high, so we specify a stronger mix and a sealed finish, and sand bases are compacted in layers.
Miranda 2228
Sutherland Shire Council
Miranda is established homes around the town centre on sandy soil over sandstone. Most blocks have reasonable access, and driveway and pool-area replacements are the usual work.
Sutherland 2232
Sutherland Shire Council
Sutherland sits on the sandstone plateau beside the Royal National Park and Woronora valley, with many sloping and bush-edge blocks. Rock close to the surface and steep driveways are common.
Get a quote for your job in South Sydney
Call us or use the calculator for an instant estimate, then we'll confirm it at a free site inspection.