Mathew James Dean — Licensed Landscaper (Queensland)
Licence Details
| Licence Number | 15530471 |
|---|---|
| Licence Class | Structural Landscaping (Trade) |
| Status | Active |
| Financial Category | Self Certification - Builder/Trade |
| Source | QBCC |
This data is sourced from public government registers and may not reflect real-time changes. Always confirm licence details with Queensland Building and Construction Commission directly. Full disclaimer.
What a Landscaper Licence Means in Queensland
Landscapers design, construct, and maintain outdoor living spaces, transforming backyards, front gardens, and commercial grounds into functional and attractive environments. In Australia, the trade encompasses both "soft" landscaping — planting, turfing, garden bed design, and irrigation installation — and "hard" landscaping (hardscaping) including paving, retaining walls, decking, pergolas, outdoor kitchens, and drainage solutions. A licensed landscaper coordinates these elements into a cohesive design that suits the Australian climate, complies with local water restrictions, and works with the site's soil type, slope, and aspect. Homeowners most commonly engage a landscaper for full backyard makeovers, front garden redesigns, retaining wall construction, paving and driveway edging, irrigation system installation, and garden lighting.
Hiring a licensed landscaper means you are protected by the state's regulatory framework. Licensed tradespersons must comply with industry standards, maintain appropriate insurance, and can be held accountable through the licensing body's complaint and disciplinary processes.
The Self Certification - Builder/Trade financial category assigned to this licence determines the maximum value of work the licensee can have under contract at any one time. This category is set by Queensland Building and Construction Commission based on the licensee's assessed financial capacity.
Hiring a Licensed Landscaper in QLD
Before hiring any landscaper in Queensland, use this five-point checklist to protect yourself and ensure you're working with a properly licensed and insured professional.
- Confirm their licence covers structural landscape work — In Queensland, structural landscaping (retaining walls, paving, drainage) over $3,300 (inc. GST) requires a QBCC licence. NSW requires a licence for landscape work over $5,000. A landscaper who only does planting and turfing may not be licensed for hardscaping. Verify the licence class matches the scope of your project.
- Ask about their drainage and stormwater management approach — Poor drainage is the number-one cause of landscaping failure in Australia. Ask how the landscaper will manage stormwater runoff, whether they will install subsoil drainage behind retaining walls, and how they will prevent water pooling against the house. A landscaper who does not discuss drainage upfront is missing a critical step.
- Request a scaled design plan before work begins — A professional landscaper should provide a scaled plan showing hardscape layout, planting locations, levels and fall directions, drainage points, and irrigation zones. Without a plan, you cannot verify the design will work on paper before thousands of dollars of materials are installed in the ground.
- Check their plant knowledge suits Australian conditions — Ask the landscaper about plant selection for your climate zone, soil type, and aspect (sun/shade). A good landscaper will recommend drought-tolerant natives or climate-appropriate species, not water-hungry exotics that will struggle through an Australian summer. Knowledge of local water restrictions is essential.
- Ask whether retaining walls require engineering design — Retaining walls over approximately 800 mm in height generally require engineering design and a building permit. Ask whether the landscaper will engage a structural engineer for walls above this height and whether they factor council approval timelines into the project schedule. Building unpermitted retaining walls can result in demolition orders.
Red Flags to Watch For
- No drainage plan for areas adjacent to the house — Landscaping that directs water toward the house rather than away from it causes rising damp, foundation movement, and subfloor moisture. A landscaper who builds garden beds, paving, or retaining walls without a clear drainage strategy is creating a long-term problem. All surfaces near the house should fall away at a minimum gradient of 1:50.
- Builds retaining walls over 1 metre without engineering or permits — Retaining walls over approximately 800 mm–1 m (depending on the state) are structural elements requiring engineering design and a building permit. A landscaper who builds tall retaining walls without engineering input risks wall failure — especially concerning when the wall retains a neighbour's property or is near a structure.
- Selects plants inappropriate for the climate and soil conditions — A landscaper who proposes tropical plants in Melbourne or water-hungry English garden species in drought-prone Western Australia demonstrates poor horticultural knowledge. Inappropriate plant selection leads to plant death, wasted money, and excessive water use. Plant choices should suit your climate zone, soil pH, and available sunlight.
Typical Landscaper Costs in Queensland
| Hourly Rate | $55 – $95 |
|---|---|
| Callout Fee | $60 – $100 |
| Garden bed installation | $500 – $2000 |
| Retaining wall (timber, per metre) | $150 – $350 |
| Turf laying (per sqm) | $15 – $35 |
Your Rights — Complaints & Disputes in Queensland
Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC)
How to Lodge a Complaint
- 1 Write to the tradesperson detailing the issue and requesting rectification within a reasonable timeframe (usually 14 days)
- 2 If unresolved, lodge a complaint online via the QBCC website or call 139 333
- 3 QBCC will assess the complaint and may arrange an inspection