Civil Engineering Services
Civil engineering design and advice for residential, commercial and government projects across Australia
What We Do
reeca provides civil engineering services covering stormwater design, flood assessments, earthworks, drainage and infrastructure coordination. Our engineers work closely with architects, builders and developers to deliver practical, compliant designs that meet council and regulatory requirements.
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Early-stage civil engineering advice to assess the development potential of a site.
We review available survey information, planning constraints and servicing requirements to identify potential civil engineering challenges. Feasibility studies typically consider stormwater management requirements, site grading constraints, drainage discharge points and infrastructure servicing. Early feasibility input helps developers and architects understand site constraints and reduce risk during project planning or even inform site purchasing and ROI.
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Preliminary civil engineering design to support early planning and design development.
We work with architects, planners and developers to establish site levels, review drainage strategies and identify infrastructure requirements. Early civil engineering input helps refine site layouts, coordinate with architectural design and streamline development approvals.
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Design of stormwater drainage systems to safely collect and discharge runoff from development sites.
Our engineers design stormwater pits, pipes, overland flow paths and connections to council infrastructure. Drainage designs are prepared in accordance with council requirements and Australian standards and form part of development approval and construction documentation.
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Design of on-site detention systems to manage peak stormwater flows from new developments.
Many councils require OSD systems to limit discharge rates into the public drainage network. We prepare detention system designs and supporting calculations to ensure developments comply with council stormwater policies.
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Preparation of MUSIC modelling to demonstrate compliance with stormwater quality objectives.
We undertake MUSIC modelling to assess stormwater treatment measures such as bio-retention systems, rain gardens and sedimentation basins. This modelling is commonly required as part of Stormwater Management Plans for development approvals.
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Design of finished surface levels and earthworks to support site drainage and development layout.
This includes preparation of site grading plans, cut and fill calculations, overland flow paths and coordination with building levels and retaining structures. Proper grading ensures efficient drainage and minimises construction impacts.
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Engineering design of pavements and parking areas for residential, commercial and industrial developments.
We prepare pavement designs based on expected traffic loading and site conditions and coordinate parking layouts with architectural and planning requirements to ensure safe and efficient vehicle access.
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Preparation of civil engineering documentation required to support Development Applications (DA), Complying Development Certificates (CDC) and subdivision approvals.
Our documentation typically includes stormwater design, site grading plans, drainage calculations and stormwater management strategies required by councils and certifiers.
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Civil engineering advice and technical reporting for matters before the NSW Land and Environment Court.
Our engineers provide independent civil engineering assessments and technical documentation relating to stormwater drainage, flooding, site levels, earthworks and development infrastructure. These services may support development appeals, planning disputes, or matters where civil engineering evidence is required.
We work with legal teams, planners and project consultants to prepare clear technical reports and provide expert engineering input where required.
Project Types We Work On
reeca delivers structural engineering services across a broad range of building and infrastructure projects, supporting both new developments and the ongoing management of existing assets.
Residential Projects
Civil engineering services for new homes, duplexes, townhouses and small residential developments.
Our work commonly includes stormwater drainage design, on-site detention (OSD), site grading, driveway design and drainage connections to council infrastructure. We regularly support Development Applications and Complying Development Certificates for residential projects.
Typical projects include:
New houses
Duplex developments
Dual occupancies
Townhouse developments
Residential alterations and additions
Multi-Residential Developments
Civil engineering design for apartment buildings and larger residential developments.
These projects typically require more complex stormwater management, water quality modelling and coordination with basement structures and site infrastructure.
Typical services include:
Stormwater drainage and detention systems
Water quality modelling (MUSIC)
Basement drainage design
Site grading and finished levels
Access and driveway coordination
Commercial & Industrial Developments
Civil engineering services for commercial buildings, warehouses and industrial developments.
These projects often involve large roof catchments, extensive pavement areas and complex stormwater management requirements.
Typical services include:
Stormwater drainage design
On-site detention systems
Pavement design for vehicle loading
Car park layouts and access design
Infrastructure servicing and site grading
Subdivisions & Land Developments
Civil engineering design to support land subdivision and development of new residential areas.
Our engineers assist with the planning and design of civil infrastructure required to service subdivided land and support future development.
Typical services include:
Stormwater drainage infrastructure
Road and pavement design
Site grading and bulk earthworks
Infrastructure coordination
Stormwater quality treatment systems
Education, Government & Institutional Projects
Civil engineering services for schools, public buildings and government infrastructure projects.
These developments often require coordination with multiple consultants and compliance with specific government design standards.
Typical services include:
Stormwater management systems
Site grading and drainage design
Car park and access design
Pavement design for service vehicles
Infrastructure coordination
Existing Site Upgrades & Redevelopments
Civil engineering design for upgrades to existing sites where drainage, infrastructure or pavement improvements are required.
These projects often involve working within site constraints and integrating new infrastructure with existing systems.
Typical projects include:
Stormwater drainage upgrades
Car park reconstructions
Site redevelopment projects
Infrastructure upgrades
How We Approach Civil Engineering Projects
We follow a structured civil engineering process to understand site constraints, develop practical drainage and infrastructure solutions, and support projects through planning approvals and construction.
Initial Review
Understanding the site, development objectives and planning requirements.
We review available site information including surveys, architectural drawings, planning controls and council requirements. This helps identify key civil engineering considerations such as drainage discharge points, site levels, stormwater management requirements and infrastructure constraints.
Site Constraints & Information Review
Gathering the information required to develop a civil engineering strategy.
This may include reviewing survey information, flood mapping, council drainage infrastructure, servicing constraints and planning controls. Understanding these factors early helps inform stormwater design and site layout decisions.
Stormwater & Site Development Strategy
Developing a practical civil engineering approach for the site.
At this stage we establish the stormwater management strategy, including drainage layout, on-site detention requirements and water quality treatment where required. We also review site grading, overland flow paths and infrastructure servicing to ensure the development can function effectively.
Civil Engineering Design
Preparation of detailed civil engineering design documentation.
This includes stormwater drainage design, on-site detention (OSD) systems, MUSIC modelling for water quality compliance, site grading and earthworks design, and pavement design for driveways and car parks. Designs are prepared to meet council requirements and support development approvals and construction.
Documentation & Construction Support
Supporting development approvals and project delivery.
We provide clear civil engineering drawings, calculations and supporting documentation required for Development Applications, Complying Development Certificates and construction. Our team can also assist project teams during construction where clarification of civil design documentation is required.
Areas of Service
Based in Sydney, NSW, our engineers hold Design and Building Practitioner (DBP) registration and are also registered to undertake civil engineering work in other jurisdictions including Queensland, Victoria and the ACT.
We regularly support projects across Australia, providing civil engineering design services for development approvals, infrastructure planning and construction documentation.
reeca provides civil engineering services for residential, commercial and infrastructure projects across Sydney, NSW and Australia. Our team specialises in stormwater drainage design, on-site detention (OSD) design, MUSIC modelling for water quality compliance, site grading and earthworks design, pavement design and parking layout planning.
We regularly support development applications and construction documentation by preparing civil engineering drawings, drainage calculations, stormwater management strategies and site development plans. Our civil engineers work closely with architects, planners and builders to deliver practical engineering solutions that meet council requirements and development approval conditions.
Our civil engineering services support projects throughout Sydney, the Central Coast, Newcastle, Wollongong and regional NSW, and we also assist projects across Australia requiring specialist stormwater modelling, civil infrastructure design and site development engineering.
NSW Based
As a Sydney-based civil engineering consultancy, our team regularly supports projects across New South Wales. We provide civil engineering design services supporting development approvals and construction documentation, with a focus on stormwater design, site grading and development servicing.
Our service areas include:
Sydney and Greater Sydney
Central Coast (Gosford, Erina and surrounding areas)
Newcastle and the Hunter Region
Wollongong and the Illawarra
Southern Highlands
Regional NSW
We regularly assist homeowners, builders, architects and developers seeking civil engineering design for development applications and construction works. Our services commonly include stormwater drainage design, on-site detention (OSD) systems, water quality modelling (MUSIC), site grading and earthworks design, pavement design and parking layout coordination.
Australia Wide Focus
Our engineers are also registered to undertake civil engineering work in several Australian jurisdictions, including Queensland, Victoria and the ACT. We have supported projects throughout Australia where specialist civil engineering design or modelling is required.
Projects have included work in:
Victoria
Queensland
Australian Capital Territory
South Australia
Northern Territory
Our team regularly provides civil engineering design for projects outside NSW where specialist expertise in stormwater management, drainage modelling, site development and civil infrastructure coordination is required.
FAQs
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Do I need a civil engineer for my development?
Most developments require civil engineering input to address stormwater drainage, site levels and infrastructure connections. Civil engineering documentation is commonly required to support Development Applications (DA), Complying Development Certificates (CDC) and subdivision approvals.
Our engineers prepare stormwater drainage designs, on-site detention (OSD) systems, water quality modelling and site grading plans to ensure developments comply with council requirements and Australian standards.
What is included in a civil engineering design?
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Civil engineering design typically includes the planning and documentation of site infrastructure required to support a development.
This may include:
Stormwater drainage design
On-site detention (OSD) systems
Water quality modelling (MUSIC)
Site grading and finished surface levels
Earthworks and bulk excavation volumes
Pavement design
Car park layout and access design
These designs form part of the documentation used for development approvals and construction.
What is stormwater drainage design?
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Stormwater drainage design ensures rainfall runoff is safely collected and discharged from a site without causing flooding or damage to surrounding properties.
This typically includes the design of:
Stormwater pipes and pits
Overland flow paths
Drainage connections to council infrastructure
Detention systems to control peak flows
Stormwater systems must be designed to comply with council drainage requirements and relevant Australian standards.
What is On-Site Detention (OSD)?
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On-Site Detention (OSD) systems temporarily store stormwater during rainfall events and release it slowly into the council drainage network.
Many councils require OSD systems for new developments to prevent increased stormwater flows entering public drainage systems.
OSD systems may include:
Underground tanks
Surface detention basins
Storage integrated into landscaping or car parks
Our engineers design OSD systems and prepare the supporting calculations required for approval.
What is MUSIC modelling?
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MUSIC (Model for Urban Stormwater Improvement Conceptualisation) modelling is used to demonstrate compliance with water quality requirements for developments.
The modelling simulates how stormwater treatment measures improve water quality before runoff enters waterways.
Typical treatment measures include:
Bio-retention systems
Rain gardens
Sedimentation basins
Gross pollutant traps
MUSIC modelling is often required by councils as part of a Stormwater Management Plan.
What is site grading and earthworks design?
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Site grading ensures a development drains correctly while providing suitable levels for buildings, roads and landscaping.
Earthworks design typically includes:
Cut and fill calculations
Finished surface levels
Retaining wall interfaces
Overland stormwater flow paths
Proper grading is critical to avoid drainage issues and reduce construction costs.
How long does civil engineering design take?
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Timeframes vary depending on project complexity and available survey and all relevant information.
Typical timeframes are:
Simple residential stormwater design: 3–7 days
Developments requiring OSD and MUSIC modelling: 1–3 weeks
Larger projects with complex site grading or infrastructure: 3–6 weeks
Early civil engineering involvement can help streamline development approvals and reduce redesign during construction.
Do I need stormwater design for DA or CDC?
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If your works are going to modify the impervious and pervious surface areas of the site, change the volume or intensity of stormwater run-off, or redirects or intercepts stormwater, then it is likely that a stormwater design will be required.
At DA (Development Application) stage, this is usually a ‘concept stormwater plan’. Depending on the complexity of the works, this could be a simple plan showing pipes, or it could involve water cycle analysis and on-site detention (OSD) and require a written report on how stormwater is to be managed.
For a CDC (Complying Development Application), which allows the commencement of construction, you would normally require construction level stormwater designs.
Do you prepare flood reports or flood impact assessments?
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Yes, we have expertise and experience in the preparation of flood reports and flood impact assessments, to help address the flood risks associated with your development.
For further details, refer to a Flood Services Page.
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