Pool removal and retaining wall projects are natural partners: removing a pool often opens up space for a new terrace or level change, and the excavator and trucks already on-site can do both jobs in one mobilisation rather than two. Done well, combining projects saves on plant hire, spoil removal and council paperwork. Done poorly, with the sequence back-to-front or the contracts not clearly coordinated, it creates delays and cost blowouts. This guide explains how to get the combination right. See our broader guide on pool removal and landscaping for how landscape work fits into the post-removal picture.
Quick answer (BLUF)
A combined pool removal and retaining wall or landscaping project can save on mobilisation, spoil haulage and potentially paperwork when the works are designed as a package and sequenced correctly: remove and backfill first, then build the wall or hard elements, then finish with planting and turf. The saving depends on the scale of the combined project and how well the contractors are coordinated. Refer to NSW Fair Trading home building contracts for your contract rights when engaging multiple trades on a single project.
Why bundling can save on mobilisation and spoil
The main saving from combining a pool removal and retaining wall or landscape project comes from plant hire and truck movements. A 5-8 tonne excavator mobilised to site for a pool removal costs the same whether it does one day of work or three. Adding a retaining wall footing, a slab preparation or a landscaping grade to the scope allows that plant to do more work in the same mobilisation window.
Similarly, spoil trucks already coming to pick up pool rubble can, in some cases, bring in fill material for a terrace or level area on the return trip, reducing the total number of truck movements. This is particularly relevant on sloping blocks around Lake Macquarie, where a pool removal often involves significant cut and fill to restore the site.
Savings are real but not guaranteed. They depend on:
- How well the two scopes are planned and coordinated before the first machine arrives
- Whether the same contractor handles both, or whether two different trades need to sequence their visits
- Whether a single DA or CDC covers both works, or whether separate approvals are needed
Sequencing: remove, wall, level, plant
The order of operations matters. Getting the sequence wrong can mean a landscaping contractor arriving to a site that is not yet ready, or a retaining wall builder waiting for the pool removal to finish before they can set out the foundations.
The typical sequence for a combined project:
- Pool demolition and backfill. The pool is broken, spoil is removed, and the void is filled and compacted to the specified level. This must be complete before any adjacent retaining wall or structure is started, because the machinery and truck movements during demolition would otherwise damage finished work.
- Bulk earthworks and cut-to-fill. Once the pool void is stable, the broader site earthworks are done: benching for terraces, cut-to-fill for level changes, sub-base preparation for hard surfaces.
- Retaining wall construction. Walls are built once the earthworks levels are set. Concrete blocks, sleepers or sandstone are placed to the design height. Drainage behind walls is installed.
- Hard surfaces. Slabs, paths and paving are laid once the walls are built and the sub-base is compacted. Our guide on pouring a concrete slab over a filled pool covers the structural considerations if a slab is going directly over the pool fill area.
- Deck construction. Decks that span or sit near the old pool area are built once the fill has had time to stabilise. Our deck over filled pool guide explains how footings for decks should be designed to reach undisturbed ground below the fill zone.
- Soft landscaping. Planting, turf, garden beds and irrigation are the final step. Our guide on backyard design ideas after pool removal has layout and planting suggestions for different site configurations. For productive gardens, our guide on vegetable gardens and raised beds over filled pools covers soil depth and drainage requirements.
Who signs off what: contractor coordination
One of the most common problems with combined projects is a gap in the contract chain: each contractor assumes the other is managing something, and neither does.
Key responsibilities to confirm in writing before work starts:
- Who is responsible for ESC measures during the transition between the pool removal and the landscaping phase?
- Who is the primary contact for the certifier or council inspector?
- What finished level must the pool removal contractor deliver for the landscaper to start?
- Who orders the fill material for the bulk earthworks, and to what specification?
- Is there a hold point (inspection) between the pool removal and the next phase?
The Master Builders Association of NSW provides guidance on managing subcontractor chains and principal contractor responsibilities for projects with multiple trades. Our pool removal quote comparison guide explains how to compare quotes effectively when projects cover multiple scopes.
Approvals bundled into one DA or CDC
Combining a pool removal with retaining walls or a deck in a single application can simplify the approval process, particularly if a DA is needed. A single DA can cover the demolition, the retaining wall and any new structures, and the council assesses the package rather than running separate processes.
For complying development, check with your certifier whether a single CDC can cover all the works. The answer depends on whether each element individually qualifies for complying development. Some combinations are fine; others need to be split if one element requires a DA while another qualifies for a CDC.
It is worth asking the question early. See our guide on pool removal permits checklist for the standard documents needed at application stage.
Combined-site erosion & sediment control
A combined project has a larger disturbed footprint than a pool removal alone, and ESC management becomes more complex when multiple trades are working across the site in sequence. The risks:
- Stockpiles of soil from the bulk earthworks may remain on-site for days or weeks, requiring stabilisation or covering
- Truck movements during wall construction can damage or remove silt fences installed during the pool removal
- Concrete washout from wall footings or slab work needs a bunded area separate from the pool-removal washout point
Agree on a combined ESC plan with the pool removal contractor before work starts, and confirm who is responsible for maintaining it through each phase. Our detailed guide on erosion and sediment control for pool removal sites explains the standard measures; the same principles apply across the extended project scope.
Case sequences: three indicative composites
The following examples are indicative composites only, not real projects. They illustrate how sequencing and scope interact.
Composite A: Pool removal plus rear terrace on a flat block. Suburban block, Warners Bay. 7 x 4 m fibreglass pool removed, void filled and compacted. Excavator stays on-site to bulk-cut 200 mm from a 40 sqm area for a new tiled terrace. Single truck movement takes pool rubble and surplus soil. Certifier confirms CDC covers both scope items. Landscaper installs terrace and garden beds the following week.
Composite B: Pool removal plus retaining wall on a sloping Lake Macquarie block. Block drops 1.5 m across the rear yard. Concrete pool removed, void filled. Retaining wall builder installs a 900 mm concrete-block wall to create a level lawn area behind the fill zone. Spoil from pool removal used as bulk fill for the raised lawn area. Two separate contractors, coordinated via the homeowner with a clear scope split and agreed finished level.
Composite C: Pool removal plus new shed slab and landscaping. Hamilton block. Concrete pool removed. Homeowner plans a timber shed over the fill area and lawn beyond. Full removal specified (not partial fill) to simplify footing design. Compaction test results provided at handover. Shed builder installs a slab on footings engineered to reach undisturbed soil below the fill. Landscaper follows. Our guide on building a shed over a filled pool covers the structural requirements for this type of project.
For all these scenarios, our pool excavation and backfill service and full pool removal service provide the demolition and fill component.
FAQs
Can one contractor do the pool removal and the retaining wall?
Some pool removal contractors also do earthworks and retaining walls; others focus solely on demolition and fill. The key is that both scopes are clearly priced in writing and the sequence is agreed before anyone mobilises. A single contractor doing both can simplify coordination but is not necessary if both contractors agree on the handover conditions.
Will combining the works definitely save money?
In most cases, yes, on plant hire and truck movements. But the saving is only real if the scope is tightly coordinated. Poorly managed combined projects can cost more than separate projects if one trade delays another or if ESC failures result in clean-up costs.
What if the pool removal uncovers unexpected conditions (rock, groundwater)?
Unexpected conditions during the pool removal phase can flow through to the retaining wall or landscaping scope if the fill specification changes or the timeline is extended. Include a contingency allowance in the project budget and make sure both contractors understand the risk.
Do I need a separate licence for retaining wall work?
Retaining walls above 600 mm typically require a licensed contractor in NSW. See NSW Fair Trading home building contracts for the licensing requirements for different work types. Always confirm your contractor’s licence before signing a contract.
How much settlement should I allow for before building the retaining wall?
Ideally, allow the pool backfill to settle for at least four to six weeks before constructing any adjacent retaining wall, and longer if the fill is deep (more than 1.5 m). This gives the compacted fill time to reach equilibrium before the wall is locked in. Discuss the timing with both contractors.
Related reading
- Pool removal and landscaping after
- Backyard design ideas after pool removal
- Building a deck over a filled pool
- Vegetable garden and raised beds over a filled pool
- Pouring a concrete slab over a filled pool
- Building a shed over a filled pool
- Pool removal on sloping blocks around Lake Macquarie
- Pool removal quote comparison guide
- Full pool removal service
- Pool excavation and backfill service