The initial bulk excavation by a 20-ton excavator created some spare topsoil that was partly spread around the house and partly piled up along the new drive.

A 7-ton excavator was needed to install our Biolytix® waste water system, and this was able to do the landscaping preparation around the house and spread out the remaining piles of soil. Robin is enjoying her well-earned afternoon tea in the background.

We now have a site that more resembles a home. However, much to the amusement of the excavator driver we set to with a spade and wheelbarrow to tidy up around the edges. This is now the end of major soil disturbance, much to our relief. Most of the builders and contractors expect us to plant a lawn, but we want a managed version of the bush as our "lawn".

Once we had tidied up the excavated sites, we mulched (covered the sandy soil) with slash debris from various vintages, but mostly brought in from the fence line. This will stop dry sand blowing around during the summer. We hope there are seeds and underground shoots that will regenerate naturally, otherwise we have to do some regeneration around the house and start landscaping with local plants in autumn 2009.