341+
Dams Built
24
Years Experience
Yes
Price Guarantee
15+
Awards

We are the multi-award winning dam design, construction and repair company

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Our Latest Awards

The Strategist 2025 Top 100 companies
The Global 100 Best Dam Building Co
The Global 100 Innovation in dam design
The Global 100 Top 100 Construction CEO

DESIGNED WATER

Clean lines. Organic shapes. Inviting vistas

Big Ditch Aquatecture outstretched hand over dam

Site inspections

For just $500, I will to do a full 90 minute on-site inspection and assessment of your new dam site, or your dam repair.

That small investment will save you thousands of dollars

You get knowledge, experience and expertise gained from 24 years experience doing one thing – building earth dams – from someone who has built more than 341 of them since 2002.

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Andrew Gorman
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Don’t get anyone else! Great work and great support if there are any problems. Make sure you drop in next time you’re passing through Angus! Thanks again, really appreciate your work!!
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Sarah B
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Angus was incredibly helpful in diagnosing the issues with our dam. He provided clear, practical insight into why it was leaking, explaining things in a way that was easy to understand without oversimplifying the problem. His knowledge and experience were obvious, and he took the time to walk us through the causes and potential solutions. Thanks to Angus, we now have a much better understanding of what’s going on and how to address it. I’d highly recommend him to anyone needing honest, knowledgeable advice.
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Alexis Michelides
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Angus took the time to run through in detail what could be done to help me seal a newly constructed dam. This was despite the fact that the dam in question was outside of the area where he operated. He was fully aware and still happy to help.
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shredder88888888
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Super helpful when we had a leak in our dam. We received genuine expert advice and we were very satisfied. Thanks so much :)
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liam long
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me and the boy find this in class thank you for brightening up our day
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Kate Thorsteinsen
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My dad would have put the first cement overflow down in the 60's sometime, when he extended the existing smaller dam. In the 00's with water starting to significantly tunnel underneath, we put a further collar down - probably a metre deep - and that did hold until it then started tunnelling further up. Hence collar 2 - and some years later - same thing - tunnelling causing us to lose a LOT of water - a steady stream on the other side. Clearly, we needed advice - and luckily came across the Big Ditch website. A phone call to Angus and we set up a video call so we could discuss what to do. Angus gave us several options, but our decision was to remove ALL the cement, pack it with clay base, cover that with soil and put in seed and reeds to prevent erosion when (if) we finally got rain. Hired a bloke with an excavator (luckily our nephew who had lots of experience - thanks Colin), and the cement was gone - on to the downside to help the erosion there. All was going well until we got late heavy rains in October and early November - which suddenly brought the water levels up. Concerned because the seed hadn't established well due to the drought, we bought squares of Buffalo grass from Bunnings and covered the spill way. More reeds and then temporary fencing to protect the lush green grass from marauding wildlife and determined stock! (despite the paddock being fenced off!) The whole way along this journey, Angus was able to offer clear suggestions and alternatives looking specifically at what we had, and what we were able to work with. He has been fabulous at getting back to us via phone or email and helping us decide what to do. We're now in the middle of summer and our dam hasn't held this well for YEARS. Thankfully we've never previously run out of water but the relief of having a significant supply at this time of year is immense. We couldn't recommend Angus highly enough. Thank you so much Angus. Kate and Dave Mt Crawford, SA
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Louie Semrani
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Spoke with Angus from Big Ditch for nearly an hour about a leaking dam that’s been filled with debris rather than natural clay. I’m based in Sydney and he’s in Melbourne, yet he generously gave his time free of charge. Absolute legend. He clearly explained the issue, recommended the right product, where to buy it, what it should cost, and even offered to talk me through how to apply it. Old-school service, genuine knowledge, and zero sales pressure. Restored my faith in people. If I could give 10 stars instead of 5, I would. Thank mate… Lou from Wallacia in Sydney
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Temporary Things
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After 7 years of hearing 'fill it in and start again' we have every confidence that Angus will be able to turn the rather large well that we inherited (see photo) into a functional and beautiful dam. You get what you pay for and Angus clearly has the knowledge to fix our 'leakage' problem while at the same time adding some important technical and aesthetic shifts that we hadn't considered.
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James Osborn
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Angus was very knowledgeable upon first inspection & has worked out a solution for our commercial farm. I look forward to working with him upon construction.
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Big Ditch Aquatecture Dambuilders without borders

HAVE A PROJECT IN MIND?

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BEFORE YOU BUY A DAM SEALER

Our advice on polymer sealers like Water$ave

Pour-in polymer sealers are sold as an easy fix for a leaking dam. In our experience they don’t stop leaks in earth dams, and the money is better spent finding out why the dam is leaking.

We’ve published our independent assessment of Water$ave. Its supplier has twice threatened legal action over it, and we stand by every word, because dam owners deserve straight advice.

Read our assessment Book a $500 site inspection

What makes us special?

We are the only professional dam builders in Australia who offer fixed price contracts.

We pioneered fixed price contracts because we’ve never heard of a contractor who charges by the hour – come in under budget 

Charging by the hour is advantageous to contractors. Not you

Fixed price?  No problem

  • $500 inc GST site inspection & assessment
  • $2,750 + GST dam design
  • $12,000 + GST per megalitre (up to 3 mgl)
  • $8,000 + GST per megalitre (over 3 to 5 mgl)
  • $7,000 + GST per megalitre (over 5 to 10 mgl)
  • $6,000 + GST per megalitre (over 10 to 20 mgl)
  • $5,000 + GST per megalitre (over 20 mgl)
  • Megalitre rates exclude mobilisation and fuel surcharge
  • Transition rates apply just above each size break, so a larger dam never costs less
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Big Ditch Dam Design

 

Complete Design Service

You’re going to be looking at your water feature for the next 30 years, and that water feature should bring a smile to your face every time you look at it.

A bog standard round dam is not going to achieve that, so we only take on work where the client wants to create something extraordinary.

We have a very strong competitor – ourselves. Because we compete with our ourselves and our ability to create magic on every project

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BLOG

How Climate Change Is Making Evaporation Worse in Australia

Climate change and evaporation: how 1.51°C of warming and more heatwaves raise farm dam losses in Australia, and what owners can do now.

Evaporation in Mining and Industrial Water Storage in Australia

Evaporation in mining drains process and tailings dams, concentrates contaminants and complicates water balances. Controls that work at scale.

What Is Evaporation? Causes, Rates and Costs for Australian Dams

What is evaporation, what drives it and why Australian farm dams lose so much water to it. Plain explanation with UniSQ and BOM figures.

Evaporation in Agriculture: How Water Is Lost and How to Stop It

Evaporation in agriculture takes water from dams, channels, sprinklers and soil. See where Australian farms lose the most and the fixes that pay back.

Bore vs Farm Dam: Choosing Your Property’s Water Supply

Bore vs farm dam: compare tested supply, water quality, storage and whole-system costs. Book a Big Ditch site inspection before committing to earthworks.

Shade Balls vs Floating Covers: Which Cuts Dam Evaporation?

Shade balls vs floating covers, suspended shade cloth and chemical films compared on evaporation saved, cost per square metre and cost per megalitre, using University of Southern Queensland figures.

Decommissioning a Dam: Removal and Site Rehabilitation

Decommissioning a dam needs approval checks, controlled water management and site rehabilitation. Plan the next steps with a Big Ditch site inspection.

Sell Water From Farm Dam Storage: Legal Checks

Sell water from farm dam storage only after checking supply rights, buyer use and delivery risks. Plan a practical site assessment with Big Ditch.

Farm Dam Bushfire Water Supply: Access and Readiness

Farm dam bushfire water supply needs reliable summer water, safe access and suitable connections. Plan a practical site assessment with Big Ditch.

Dam Wall Monitoring Instruments: When Piezometers Help

Dam wall monitoring instruments reveal pressure and movement trends. Compare piezometers and plan a site-specific assessment with Big Ditch.

Farm Dam Grants Finance Eligible Works: A Funding Guide

Farm dam grants finance eligible works, not every bill. Compare Queensland grants and NSW loans, then plan your dam scope with Big Ditch.

Aboriginal Heritage Assessment Dam Owners Need

Aboriginal heritage assessment dam owners need before digging: check NSW and Queensland duties, records and work areas. Plan your site visit with Big Ditch.

Big Ditch Aquatecture_Completed Dam Project_200417_365
Projects

Last month, the photos of our projects were viewed 29,755 times*

We not only build stunning water features, we take pretty pictures of them too

*Google verified

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Australia’s Evaporation Specialists

Big Ditch Aquatecture. Sienna Grange Dam Restoration front entrance

CORPORATE CONSULTATIONS

When Australian Unity needed  water design advice

THEY TALKED TO US

 

Visual water design for corporate brands

Australian Unity operate 19 upmarket resort style retirement communities up and down the east coast of Australia.

Their residents are sophisticated and stylish people who appreciate the serenity of beautiful water features.

When the installation at Sienna Grange needed an upgrade, we worked closely with senior management on the opportunity to create spectacular visual highlight for their landscape design.

And it all starts with the mood board that defines what success looks like.

 

 

Big Ditch Aquatecture. Sienna Grange dam design mood board
DESIGN PORTFOLIO
Big Ditch Aquatecture. Sienna Grange original dam

Australia Unity | Sienna Grange

Before

 

Big Ditch Aquatecture. Sienna Grange dam design concept

Australia Unity | Sienna Grange

Proposed

 

Big Ditch Aquatecture. Robert Oatley Olives olive groves at Gulgong before dam 1500px

CORPORATE CONSULTATIONS

Robert Oatley Olives are obsessed with perfection

SO THEY TALKED TO US

 

Robert Oatley Olives make the world’s best olive oil

The Oatley family own Hamilton Island, so they know quality.

And their Olive Oil operation at Gulgong NSW continues that heritage.

When they wanted their old leaking dam to be something they were proud of, we pushed the design boundaries of what was capable in the harsh surrounding geography that is so suitable for growing premium olives.

 

Big Ditch Aquatecture. Robert Oatley Olives promo ad
design portfolio
Big Ditch Aquatecture. Original dam at Robert Oatley Olives

Robert Oatley Olives | Gulgong NSW

Before

 

Big Ditch Aquatecture. Dam concept for Robert Oatley Olives

Robert Oatley Olives | Gulgong NSW

Proposed

 

Big Ditch Aquatecture D10 dozer

WINNER

2021 INTERNATIONAL M&A AWARDS

BEST GLOBAL DAM BUILDING COMPANY

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BET ON EXPERIENCE

To be great at something, you must do it every day

We have 24 years experience in dam building, and we are the industry leader in the art of earth dam construction

24
Years of experience

 

341
Dam engagements

 

31,800
Machine Hours