341+
Dams Built
30+
Years Experience
Yes
Price Guarantee
15+
Awards
Our Latest Awards
DESIGNED WATER
Clean lines. Organic shapes. Inviting vistas
Site inspections
For just $500, I will to do a full 90 minute on-site inspection and assessment of your new dam site, or your dam repair.
That small investment will save you thousands of dollars
You get knowledge, experience and expertise gained from 30 years experience doing one thing – building earth dams – from the person who has built more earth dams than anyone else in Australia.
WARNING!
Does your dam leak?
On the right is Andrew Evans of Polymer Innovations
Mr Evans has threatened to sue us twice for having a negative opinion about his product ‘Water$ave‘.
If your dam is leaking, Mr Evans doesn’t want you to know what we think about his product’s effectiveness.
What makes us special?
We are the only professional dam builders in Australia who offer fixed price contracts.
We pioneered fixed price contracts because we’ve never heard of a contractor who charges by the hour – come in under budget
Charging by the hour is advantageous to contractors. Not you
Fixed price? No problem
- $500 + GST site inspection & assessment
- $2,750 + GST dam design
- $10,000 + GST per megalitre (1-4 mgl)
- $6,000 + GST per megalitre (5-20 mgl)
- $5,000 + GST per megalitre (21-100 mgl)
- $4,000 + GST per megalitre (101+ mgl)
Complete Design Service
You’re going to be looking at your water feature for the next 30 years, and that water feature should bring a smile to your face every time you look at it.
A bog standard round dam is not going to achieve that, so we only take on work where the client wants to create something extraordinary.
We have a very strong competitor – ourselves. Because we compete with our ourselves and our ability to create magic on every project
BLOG
How Big Is China’s $167 Billion Medog Dam? Scale, Cost, and What It Means for the Rest of Us
China's Medog Hydropower Station will be 3× the Three Gorges Dam and cost up to US$170 billion. Here's what the scale actually means — and why it matters beyond Tibet.
Bentonite clay for dam sealing: how it works and when to use it
Quick Answer: Bentonite clay works for dam sealing when the dam is structurally sound and you’re dealing with general seepage through a permeable basin — not a piping leak through ...
Why do dams leak? The 6 most common causes
Why do dams leak? In my 30 years building and repairing farm dams, I see the same 6 causes: poor compaction, bad clay, pipes, trees, burrows, and spills.
Calcium Bentonite for Dam Sealing: Does It Work? (Watheroo Minerals Clay A Review)
Last updated: April 2026 | Author: Angus Hughson, Big Ditch Dam Building Company Can calcium bentonite seal an earth dam or pond? Yes — calcium bentonite can effectively seal earth ...
What Causes Odour in Ponds, Lakes and Dams? (And How to Fix It)
Last updated: April 2026 | Author: Angus Hughson, Big Ditch Dam Building Company If your pond, lake or dam has started to smell, you are not alone. Foul odours coming ...
Building Farm Dams: An Expert’s Perspective on Design, Construction, and Sustainability
Building Farm Dams: An Expert’s Perspective on Design, Construction, and Sustainability
Important Vegetation Management for Dams: What to Plant and What to Remove
As a dam builder with over 30 years in the industry, I have seen first-hand how vegetation can make or break the long-term safety, functionality, and environmental value of a ...
10 Ways to Select the Best Site for your Farm Dam
Water is the most important thing for any farm, and a well-placed farm dam can keep your water safe for decades. I've been building and designing dams for more than ...
Solar Panels for Farm Dams to Stop Evaporation
Water is very important for farming. Farm dams are crucial for irrigation, cattle, and keeping rural communities alive in Australia and around the world. But every year, millions of litres ...
Repairing Cracks and Seepage in Earth Dams
Earth dams are vital for water storage, flood control, irrigation, and environmental management. However, their safety and longevity are continually threatened by cracks and seepage—issues that, if neglected, can escalate ...
Prepare Your Dam for Droughts or Floods: Essential Tips
As an expert dam builder with over 30 years of experience, I’ve seen firsthand the challenges and opportunities that come with managing dams through extreme weather events. Whether you’re a ...
How To Calculate the Right Size and Capacity for Your Farm Dam
Calculating the right dam size and capacity for a farm dam requires balancing water demand, evaporation losses, catchment hydrology, and site-specific engineering factors. Here's a systematic approach refined over decades ...
Last month, the photos of our projects were viewed 29,755 times*
We not only build stunning water features, we take pretty pictures of them too
*Google verified
CORPORATE CONSULTATIONS
When Australian Unity needed water design advice
THEY TALKED TO US
Visual water design for corporate brands
Australian Unity operate 19 upmarket resort style retirement communities up and down the east coast of Australia.
Their residents are sophisticated and stylish people who appreciate the serenity of beautiful water features.
When the installation at Sienna Grange needed an upgrade, we worked closely with senior management on the opportunity to create spectacular visual highlight for their landscape design.
And it all starts with the mood board that defines what success looks like.
Australia Unity | Sienna Grange
Before
Australia Unity | Sienna Grange
Proposed
CORPORATE CONSULTATIONS
Robert Oatley Olives are obsessed with perfection
SO THEY TALKED TO US
Robert Oatley Olives make the world’s best olive oil
The Oatley family own Hamilton Island, so they know quality.
And their Olive Oil operation at Gulgong NSW continues that heritage.
When they wanted their old leaking dam to be something they were proud of, we pushed the design boundaries of what was capable in the harsh surrounding geography that is so suitable for growing premium olives.
Robert Oatley Olives | Gulgong NSW
Before
Robert Oatley Olives | Gulgong NSW
Proposed
BET ON EXPERIENCE
To be great at something, you must do it every day
We have over 30 years experience in dam building, and we are the industry leader in the art of earth dam construction
30
Years of experience
341
Dam engagements
31,800
Machine Hours