7 Smart Things to Have on Your Radar for 2026 (So Jobs Don’t Get Held Up)

If you’ve got clearing, clean-up, or earthworks planned over the next year or two, most of the thinking usually goes into timing, weather, and making sure the job’s set up properly before you start.

What’s changing isn’t the work itself. It’s what sits around it.

Most people on the land don’t want more rules. They just want to get the job done properly and keep moving. But with a few things starting to tighten up into 2026, it’s worth knowing what’s on the radar so you don’t get caught out halfway through a job.

This isn’t about red tape. It’s about avoiding hold-ups.

1. Clearing Is Getting Looked at a MORE

Clearing land isn’t new. But in some situations, it’s getting a closer look than it used to - especially where areas haven’t been touched for a long time or where native vegetation is involved.

That doesn’t mean you can’t clear.
It just means thinking it through before you start.

When work is planned properly, it’s easier to keep control of where material ends up and leave the place tidy, which makes life a lot easier if questions ever get asked later.

2. Drainage Lines and Low Areas MATTER

Creeks, drains and low spots are another area getting more attention.

From a practical point of view, it’s just common sense:

• Don’t block water

• Don’t push debris into drains

• Clean up storm damage without creating new problems

Being able to work selectively around these areas helps keep things simple and avoids extra headaches.

If you want to read the official wording, it’s here:
https://www.dcceew.gov.au/environment

3. Getting Stopped Mid-Job is the REAL Pain

Most frustration we hear about isn’t the rules themselves - it’s finding out about them once the job’s already started.

• Machines sitting idle.

• Contractors waiting around.

• Weather windows missed.

That’s why a bit of thinking ahead goes a long way. Jobs that are planned early tend to run smoother once you’re on site.

4. Tidy Work Makes Everything EASIER

There’s more expectation now around being able to show what work was done and how a site was left.

Nothing complicated. Just practical outcomes:

• Material moved where it needed to go

• Debris managed properly

• Ground left stable and tidy

Clean, controlled work saves time and avoids arguments later.

5. Good Gear STILL Does the Heavy Lifting (Including the Stick Rake)

At the end of the day, rules don’t clear land - machines do.

Having the right attachment for the job makes a big difference to how clean the work is and how easy it is to move on once you’re finished. Controlled results matter, especially when jobs are under more attention than they used to be.

If you want to see how we build the gear, look here: https://www.aarch.net.au/stick-rakes

6. Find Out Early, NOT When You’re Already There

If a job might need a bit more checking, it’s far better to know before machines roll in.

A quick look early gives you options - adjusting timing, staging the work, or making sure everything’s lined up before you start. Once you’re halfway through, options disappear pretty quickly.

7. 2026 Is About FEWER Surprises

That’s really what it comes back to.

The jobs that run best are the ones that are thought through before they start. A bit of planning upfront can save a lot of mucking around later.

Most of the smooth jobs we see are the ones where a bit of thinking’s done before the first machine fires up. Knowing what’s on the radar, planning the work properly, and using gear that does what it’s meant to do makes everything easier once you’re underway.

That’s what keeps jobs moving and avoids hassles once the work starts.

Work smarter. Not harder.