FAQ
Common questions
Can't see your question? Call 0477 700 825 or email scott@ddes.biz. We reply within 1 business day.
- Are your prices fixed?
- Yes. Each advisory package has a fixed fee for the listed scope, including the revision rounds stated on the package. If the scope changes materially, we tell you before doing any extra work and quote the change in writing. Larger engagements are quoted fixed after a scoping call, so you know the cost before we start.
- Where do you work?
- Most advisory work is done remotely, so location is rarely a barrier. DDES is based in Goondiwindi and works across the Darling Downs, South West and South East Queensland, and northern NSW. Site visits are available, with travel and time billed.
- Do you price tenders, or only review them?
- Both. Through our estimating service we build estimates and tender pricing from first principles. Through Advisory, the fixed-price Estimate Review checks an estimate you've already built before you submit it.
- What experience is behind the work?
- DDES is led by Scott McGlashan, who has worked in civil, agricultural and infrastructure earthworks since 2009, as a plant operator, leading hand, supervisor and project manager. Your documents and advice come from someone who has done the work on site.
- What's in the WHS Starter Pack?
- Five SWMS for your highest-risk activities, three SOPs, four toolbox talks, sign-off sheets and a document register, with two rounds of revision, in Word and PDF. It's $2,850 ex GST, delivered within 10 business days.
- Will the documents pass an audit?
- We write to the standard principal contractors and councils expect, tailored to your operations. No one can promise an audit outcome: the auditor decides, and a system only holds up if it's used on site. That's why we write documents crews actually use. If an auditor raises something within the scope we delivered, we'll work through it with you.
- Do you offer ongoing support?
- Yes. The Contractor Support Retainer is $1,200 a month for up to 4 hours (3-month minimum), or $2,900 a month for up to 12 hours with a 4-business-hour response (6-month minimum). After the minimum term it rolls monthly.
- Is incident response available after hours?
- No. Incident response runs Monday to Friday, 7am to 6pm AEST, and is not an emergency service. If anyone is injured or in danger, call 000. If an incident is notifiable, you must notify Workplace Health and Safety Queensland immediately, whether or not you have contacted us.
- How do payments work?
- We send a payment link with each invoice, and bank transfer is also available. One-off work is invoiced as a 50% deposit on commencement and 50% on delivery. Retainers are invoiced monthly.
- I'm a small owner-operator. Is this for me?
- Yes. The Estimate Review ($1,450) and the WHS Starter Pack ($2,850) were designed with small and mid-sized contractors in mind: fixed prices, a set scope, and documents sized for your business, not a large head contractor's.
- Can I see examples of your work?
- Client work isn't published without the client's permission. On a call, we're happy to talk through relevant experience and show redacted examples. The Projects page lists jobs Scott has worked on.
- How do I get started?
- Choose the package or service that fits and use the form on that page, or contact us directly. We'll reply within 1 business day.