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Pipe & Cable Locating Sydney

Accurate pipe & cable locating for safe and compliant excavation.

Prevent costly damage with accurate underground service detection
Fast, professional utility locating for builders and contractors
Identify pipes, cables, and utilities before you break ground

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Professional Pipe and Cable Locating Services

MCS Surveyors provides professional pipe and cable locating services across Sydney. Whether you are planning excavation for construction, landscaping, or infrastructure works, knowing what lies beneath the surface is critical to protecting people, property, and essential services.

Our experienced team uses advanced locating technology to identify and mark underground utilities including water pipes, gas mains, electrical cables, and telecommunications lines. By locating these assets accurately before any ground is broken, we help clients avoid delays, safety risks, and costly repair bills.

When Do You Need To Locate Pipes & Cables?

Excavation always carries the risk of damaging unseen infrastructure. Australia’s utility networks supply vital services such as drinking water, gas, electricity, sewer systems, and telecommunications. Accidentally striking a buried pipe or cable during excavation can result in serious safety incidents, large repair costs, and significant project delays.

Engaging a professional pipe and cable locating team ensures that your worksite is assessed using reliable methods and that any buried utilities are clearly identified before excavation begins. This is especially important when working in built-up areas, near roads, on development sites, or within residential boundaries.

What Is Pipe & Cable Locating?

Pipe and cable locating is the process of detecting, identifying, and marking the presence of underground utilities using non-invasive methods. These may include:

Electromagnetic
Ground penetrating radar (GPR)
Signal tracing and sonde equipment
Visual inspection of surface features and plans

Different utility types and conditions may require different detection approaches. Our trained technicians understand which tools to use and how to interpret complex data, ensuring each service is located as accurately as possible.

Once located, services are marked clearly on site and can also be mapped or integrated into construction documentation if required.

What Can Be Detected?

Our pipe and cable locating services are used to identify and mark:

Water and sewer mains
Gas pipelines
High and low voltage electrical cables
Telecommunications and fibre optic cables

Stormwater infrastructure
Irrigation systems
Private and unknown utility lines

Our team can also advise on further potholing or non-destructive digging requirements if deeper confirmation is needed.

Dial Before You Dig Enquiry

Before engaging a locating technician, all projects should begin with a Dial Before You Dig (DBYD) request. This free national service provides utility maps and plans from relevant asset owners. These documents indicate where services might be located and often come with additional instructions from each asset owner.

DBYD plans are typically received within 48 hours and form the foundation for safe planning. However, these plans do not provide exact physical locations of assets and must be verified on site.

Site Inspection & Utility Location

Our trained specialists use electromagnetic locators, GPR, and other advanced tools to physically scan your site. We confirm the presence, location, depth, and alignment of underground utilities. Any services found are marked clearly on the ground using paint or pegs.

Reporting & Advice

Where required, we provide a digital sketch or mapping of located services. We also offer recommendations on minimum approach distances, safe excavation practices, and any asset owner conditions you must comply with.

Our goal is to ensure you have full visibility of what lies beneath the surface so you can plan excavation works safely and with confidence.

Even a seemingly flat block of land may have minor elevation changes that affect water runoff, excavation costs, and structural design. A topographic survey ensures no critical information is missed.

Do Residential Properties Have Underground Utilities?

Yes. Even standard suburban blocks often contain a number of underground services. These can include:

Telecommunications cables
Water or sewer mains running through backyards
Electrical lines feeding street lighting or other properties
Stormwater drainage lines
Gas connections to the home

Rural properties may also have buried Telstra infrastructure or high-pressure pipelines within their boundary lines.

Even if you believe your property has no utilities, it is essential to request DBYD plans and verify locations through a qualified technician before starting any digging or trenching works.

How Close Is Too Close?

Each asset owner has different minimum clearance or exclusion zones. These depend on the type of asset, its condition, and the proposed excavation method.

For example:

Ausgrid may require direct supervision for any work within 2 metres of a high-voltage cable
High-pressure gas pipelines may have approach limits ranging from 2 metres up to 20 metres or more
Some councils specify minimum offsets for stormwater lines or sewer mains

All asset owner conditions are included with your DBYD plans and must be reviewed carefully. If you are unsure, our team can help interpret the requirements and recommend safe control measures.

Why Choose MCS Surveyors?

At MCS Surveyors, we combine modern locating equipment with decades of field experience. Our goal is to provide clients with accurate, site-specific data that reduces risk, improves compliance, and keeps projects on track.

Here is what sets us apart:

Comprehensive pipe and cable locating services across Sydney and NSW
Fully trained technicians using the latest electromagnetic and radar systems
Fast response times and clear on-site marking

Optional digital mapping and documentation
Friendly, reliable service backed by over 30 years of combined industry experience

We work with builders, civil contractors, landscapers, developers, and homeowners to ensure underground services are properly identified before excavation begins.

Book A Pipe & Cable Locating Service Today

If you are planning excavation or construction works, do not take chances with what is below the surface. Protect your team, your timeline, and your budget by engaging MCS Surveyors for professional utility locating.

Contact us today to arrange your pipe and cable locating service or request a tailored quote.