Real 2026 rates, not made-up averages

Concreting prices in Rockhampton, 2026 guide

Concreting in Rockhampton ranges from about $90/m² for a plain broom-finished slab on stable ground to $200/m² for premium exposed aggregate. A typical 54m² (6m by 9m) shed slab, reinforced and finished, lands around $7,500 to $10,500. Reactive black-soil footings add 15 to 30 per cent.

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Below are realistic 2026 supplied-and-finished rates for the Rockhampton and Capricorn region. Every quote includes site preparation, formwork, reinforcement, the pour and the finish. The exact number depends on your ground and access, so use the quote form for a firm price.

Typical 2026 concreting prices in Rockhampton

Real ranges from our books across the Capricorn region. Every quote we issue is itemised against the work below.

Service	Typical range (AU 2026)	What’s included
Plain slab / path, stable ground (per m²)	$90 - $130 per m²	Broom finish, mesh, vapour barrier.
House / extension slab (per m²)	$90 - $140 per m²	Waffle or raft, engineered to AS 2870.
Shed slab, thickened edge (per m²)	$110 - $160 per m²	Bolt-down set-out, heavy mesh.
Driveway, plain or broom (per m²)	$90 - $130 per m²	Correct falls, control joints.
Exposed aggregate (per m²)	$130 - $200 per m²	Decorative stone, washed, sealed.
Coloured / oxide concrete (per m²)	$120 - $180 per m²	Through-coloured, sealed.
Stencil / stamped concrete (per m²)	$130 - $190 per m²	Patterned, coloured, sealed.
Reactive black-soil footings (uplift)	+15% - +30%	Deeper beams + extra steel, M/H sites.
Soil test & site classification	$450 - $850	Required for structural slabs.
Engineered slab design	$650 - $1,400	AS 2870 footing & slab drawings.
Certifier building approval	$600 - $1,600	Private certifier, structural slabs.
Demolish existing slab / driveway (per m²)	$40 - $80 per m²	Plus tip disposal.
Concrete pump (difficult access)	$650 - $1,500	Line or boom pump, per pour.
Penetrating / topical sealer (per m²)	$12 - $30 per m²	UV protection, re-coat every few years.

Prices indicative for Rockhampton in 2026. The final number depends on your site, soil and access. Use the quote form for an exact figure.

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What changes the price on your Rockhampton job

The ranges above are the starting point. These five factors move a quote up or down within, and sometimes outside, those bands.

Finish: plain broom is cheapest, coloured mid, exposed aggregate and stamped are premium.
Soil: reactive black soil needs engineered footings and more steel, which adds cost.
Size: small pours carry a fixed-cost premium per m²; larger pours get better rates.
Access: tight blocks needing a concrete pump or wheelbarrowing add labour and plant.
Demolition: removing an existing slab or driveway is an extra line, plus tip fees.

For the full breakdown see our concreting cost guide, or read up on slab prep on reactive soil before you compare quotes.

Red flags to watch for in concreting quotes

We see these patterns every week from operators we’d never recommend. If a quote you’ve received contains one of these, ask before you sign.

A structural slab quoted on reactive black soil with no soil test mentioned, cracking risk and no warranty.
Slab thickness or mesh not stated. A 75mm slab where 100mm is needed fails under load.
No mention of curing. A slab not cured in the Rockhampton heat will craze and dust.
Cash job with no certifier approval on a house or shed slab, a problem at insurance and resale.
No control or expansion joints on a driveway, which guarantees random cracking.

Frequently asked questions

What is the cheapest concreting in Rockhampton?

A plain, broom-finished slab or path on stable, level ground is the cheapest at around $90 to $110 per square metre. Decorative finishes, reactive-soil footings and difficult access all add to that base rate.

Why is exposed aggregate dearer than plain concrete?

Exposed aggregate uses a select decorative stone mix, takes more labour to wash back or polish to the right reveal, and is sealed. That extra material and finishing time puts it around $130 to $200 per square metre against $90 to $130 for plain.

How long before I can drive on a new driveway?

Foot traffic after about 24 to 48 hours, light vehicles after 7 days, and heavy vehicles or a loaded trailer after 28 days when the concrete has reached full design strength. We will tell you the exact times for your pour and weather.

Does black soil add to the price?

Yes. Reactive black-soil sites classed M, H1 or H2 under AS 2870 need deeper edge beams, internal stiffening beams and more steel, which typically adds 15 to 30 per cent over a slab on stable ground. The soil test confirms the classification before we quote firm.

Do you remove the old slab or driveway?

We can. Demolition and disposal of an existing slab or driveway runs around $40 to $80 per square metre depending on thickness, reinforcement and tip access. We itemise it separately on the quote.

Is the quote fixed?

Once we have measured on site and have the soil classification, the written quote is fixed for the scope described. The only variations are if the ground turns out different to the test or you change the scope, and we talk those through before any extra cost.

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