Paving, patios and outdoor areas in the City of Melton
Updated November 2026
Paving looks like a surface job, but what lasts is the base under it and the fall across it. A patio laid on a poor base over moving clay will sink and rock within a few seasons. We pass your request to a local landscaper who works your suburb. We are a referral service, not a landscaping business.
What gets paved
- Alfresco and entertaining areas at the back of new homes
- Side paths and bin areas on narrow new-estate setbacks
- Pool surrounds, often relaid when an older pool is renovated
- Front paths and entries, within any estate design guideline
- Garden paths and stepping stones
Pavers or concrete
Concrete pavers and natural stone can be lifted and relaid, which helps when clay moves or a pipe needs work. A poured concrete slab is quicker over a large area but is one piece, so movement shows as cracks. Exposed aggregate and stamped concrete sit somewhere between. National 2026 guides put paving at about $55 to $145 per square metre ex GST, with natural stone at the top of that range and above. See the cost guide.
Base and falls on basalt clay
The basalt clays of Melbourne's west shrink and swell with the seasons, which engineers describe as damaging to light structures. For paving that means:
1. Dig out topsoil and soft ground to an even depth
2. Lay and compact a crushed rock base in layers
3. Screed a bedding layer to the right fall
4. Lay, cut and edge-restrain the pavers
5. Joint, compact and seal if specified
Paving changes where water goes. Falls should run away from the house, and falls and drainage have to send water somewhere legal, not against a wall or into a neighbour's yard.
If your paving runs to the kerb
The section of driveway over the nature strip is the crossover, and it falls under Melton City Council's crossover policy. A new or changed crossover needs written approval from the council and consent to work in the road reserve, and next to a footpath it has to be plain concrete or match the footpath. So pavers or stone usually stop at your boundary. Policies get reviewed, so ask the landscaper to check the council's current requirements.
Around a pool
Raising paving, moving a gate or adding a planter near a pool can change the barrier. If the work touches anything near the pool barrier, ask for it to be checked against Victoria's barrier rules.
Registration
Paving is structural landscaping. Under a domestic building contract worth more than $10,000 it must be carried out by a practitioner registered with the Building and Plumbing Commission. Ask who is registered before you sign, and lodge a free Before You Dig Australia (BYDA) enquiry before excavation.
Frequently asked questions
Why are my pavers sinking?
Usually a thin or poorly compacted base, or water getting under the paving. Lifting, rebasing and relaying is often possible without new pavers.
Can I pave the nature strip?
The crossover over the nature strip falls under Melton City Council's crossover policy and needs council approval. Ask the council before changing anything on council land.
What fall should paving have?
Enough to move water away from the house to a drain or garden. The landscaper sets it to suit your levels.
Are pavers better than concrete on clay?
Pavers can be relaid if the ground moves, which concrete cannot. Both last if the base and drainage are right.