2026 MBA NSW Award WinnerContract Homes $1.9M–$2M, Southern RegionsSloping Block Builders in Wollongong
CKS Projects designs and builds split-level, stepped and cantilevered homes on steep Illawarra blocks. Geotechnical, retaining, stormwater and bushfire requirements are resolved before your price is fixed, as on the award-winning Wombarra clifftop.
Free, no-obligation on-site consultation. We walk your block and tell you what it allows.
Wombarra Clifftops, Wombarra: same sloping clifftop block, new split-level home. 2026 MBA NSW award winner. Tap a photo to enlarge.
- 2026 MBA NSW WinnerSplit-level clifftop rebuild
- Licence 258735CNSW contractor licence, builder
- BAL-40 experienceEscarpment home, Woonona
- 5.0 Google rating26 reviews
Background: The Barn Woonona, three cantilevered levels on a steep BAL-40 escarpment block. Before and after: Wombarra Clifftops, a split-level knockdown rebuild on a clifftop slip area.
Wombarra Clifftops: the old cottage on a clifftop slip area, and the split-level CKS Projects knockdown rebuild that won its category at the 2026 MBA NSW Southern Regions awards.
Book my site assessmentFrom Site Condition to Design Response
On a sloping block, every major design decision traces back to the land. These are the conditions CKS Projects has resolved on completed Illawarra homes.
| Site condition | Design response | Completed example |
|---|---|---|
| Steep fall toward the coast | Split-level and stepped plans that follow the contour, reducing excavation | Wombarra Clifftops |
| Very steep escarpment block | Three cantilevered levels, each extending over the one below, with the structure socketed into the mountain | The Barn Woonona |
| Slip area and subterranean water | Engineering and stormwater management designed for the slip classification before construction | Wombarra Clifftops |
| Natural spring through the site | Careful engineering, plus adjustable stumps so the home can be relevelled if needed | The Barn Woonona |
| Bushfire-prone land (BAL-40) | Flexible exterior cladding chosen to meet bushfire safety rules | The Barn Woonona |
| Views across ocean and escarpment | Three floors oriented to the northeast aspect, with living spaces placed for light and outlook | Sandhurst Bulli |
Most Project Builders Shy Away From Slopes. We Don't.
A slope changes the footings, the retaining, the drainage, the access and often the approval pathway. Getting those right at the start is what keeps the price fixed. CKS Projects knows how to:
- Navigate council requirements for escarpment and bushfire-prone land.
- Engineer your site for slope stability.
- Design to minimise excavation and cost.
- Incorporate retaining walls and water management.
- Deliver a home that's built to last, and built to impress.
CKS Projects' builders and project managers work with residential architects and designers, structural and geotechnical engineers, landscape designers and independent certifiers and planners, so the design is resolved as one before construction starts.
Told your block is too steep? Get a builder's view before you rule it out.
Our Sloping Block Design and Build Process
Six stages, from the first walk around your block to the keys.
Free on-site consultation
We walk your property, assess the soil conditions, and talk through your vision, lifestyle and design preferences.
Design and engineering
A split-level or stepped layout tailored to your land's gradient, with architectural design and structural engineering that maximise space, views and natural light.
Council approvals
DA or CDC, BASIX certification, the Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) assessment and NCC compliance, all managed for you.
Pre-construction
Access set-up, retaining solutions, excavation planning and site preparation: the essential steps for a safe, efficient build on a slope.
Construction
Experienced local trades and CKS Projects' project management team oversee the build, with regular communication.
Move-in ready handover
Final inspections, certification and the keys to your new home.
Recent Homes on Steep Illawarra Blocks
Three escarpment and clifftop sites, three different answers to the slope.
Wombarra Clifftops
A knockdown rebuild on a clifftop slip area close to a main road. The split-level design resolved complex engineering, stormwater and slope challenges, and won Contract Homes $1.9M–$2M at the MBA NSW 2026 Southern Regions Excellence in Building Awards.
View Wombarra Clifftops
The Barn Woonona
Three full levels on a steep escarpment block, each cantilevering over the one below: a parents' retreat on top, living in the middle, the kids' level below. BAL-40 zone, natural spring, and a structure socketed into the mountain.
View The Barn WoononaSandhurst Bulli
A new family home built over three floors, designed around the northeast aspect for light and views across the ocean and escarpment.
View Sandhurst BulliCouncil Controls, Bushfire Rules and What a Slope Costs
NSW & Wollongong requirements · confirm for your site
- Escarpment land: Wollongong DCP 2009, Chapter B6 controls development in the Illawarra Escarpment. The design usually starts with a geotechnical report.
- Bushfire-prone land: development must meet the NSW RFS Planning for Bush Fire Protection 2019. The Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) rating affects cladding, glazing and decking.
- Approval pathway: a CDC where the home meets the state standards, or a DA to Wollongong City Council. Bushfire-prone land often means a DA.
- BASIX: required for every new home.
What drives cost. Engineered footings, retaining and drainage, the amount of excavation, access for machinery and materials on a steep driveway, and the number of levels. The slope affects cost, so CKS Projects prices it before design rather than after.
As a guide, CKS Projects allows about $10,000–$20,000 of site works on a flat block, $40,000–$70,000 on a moderate slope and $80,000–$120,000 on a steep escarpment block. See the design options and the full cost table in 7 sloping block house designs from our builds.
Sources: NSW RFS, building in a bush fire area · Wollongong City Council, DCP · NSW Planning, complying development.
A Builder Who Starts With the Land
CKS Projects is an Unanderra-based builder with over a decade of experience on complex terrain across the Illawarra, Wollongong and the Shoalhaven. Managing Director Keiron Moore walks each block personally, looking at the slope, soil indicators, access and orientation before any design work starts.
That's why the slope is understood and priced before the design is locked in, rather than discovered during construction.
Read more about CKS Projects and Keiron Moore, or check the licence and insurance details on the verified credentials page.
“All who toured the home were amazed at the attention to detail and quality of the construction.”
John and Renee, The Barn Woonona (BAL-40 escarpment block)
| Business | CKS Projects (CKS Projects Aust Pty Ltd) |
|---|---|
| Managing Director | Keiron Moore, 25+ years in residential building. NSW Qualified Supervisor Certificate 69005S |
| NSW Contractor Licence | 258735C (Builder) |
| Award | Winner, Contract Homes $1.9M–$2M, 2026 MBA NSW Southern Regions Excellence in Building Awards (Wombarra Clifftops) |
| Memberships | Master Builders Association · Association of Professional Builders |
| Office | Unit 45/7 Waynote Place, Unanderra NSW 2526 Mon–Fri 8:00am–4:30pm, by appointment |
| Phone | 02 4271 5132 |
Sloping Block Homes Across the Illawarra
Most sloping blocks in CKS Projects' service area are in the escarpment suburbs of the northern Illawarra, from Stanwell Park to Woonona, but steep sites occur throughout the published service area below. See how conditions and councils change from suburb to suburb on the Wollongong and Illawarra service areas page.
Wollongong City Council
- Stanwell Park
- Scarborough
- Clifton
- Wombarra
- Coledale
- Austinmer
- Thirroul
- Bulli
- Woonona
- Towradgi
- Wollongong
- Port Kembla
- Windang
Shellharbour City Council
- Warilla
Kiama Municipal Council
- Kiama
- Gerringong
- Gerroa
Shoalhaven City Council
- Berry
- Huskisson
Wingecarribee Shire Council
- Bowral
- Burradoo
- Moss Vale
Sloping Block FAQs
Can you build on a steep block in Wollongong?
Yes. CKS Projects has built split-level and cantilevered homes on steep escarpment and clifftop blocks, including Wombarra Clifftops and The Barn Woonona. The design starts with the geotechnical report and the fall of the land.
What is a split-level home?
A split-level home has floors at staggered heights, connected by short flights of stairs. On a sloping block the levels follow the natural contour, which reduces excavation and creates distinct living zones.
How does a slope affect construction cost?
Slope adds engineered footings, retaining, drainage and sometimes extra levels, and a steep driveway makes machinery and deliveries harder. As a guide, site works run about $40,000–$70,000 on a moderate slope and $80,000–$120,000 on a steep escarpment block, against $10,000–$20,000 on a flat block. CKS Projects prices the slope before design is locked in, so it's part of the fixed price rather than a surprise.
Do I need a geotechnical report for a sloping block?
On most steep Illawarra blocks, yes. It tells the engineer how the ground will behave and shapes the footings, retaining and drainage. On escarpment land, Wollongong DCP 2009 Chapter B6 also applies.
What if my sloping block is bushfire-prone?
Development on bushfire-prone land must meet the NSW RFS Planning for Bush Fire Protection 2019, and the Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) rating affects cladding, glazing and decking. CKS Projects built The Barn Woonona in a BAL-40 zone.
Can I knock down and rebuild on a sloping block?
Yes. Wombarra Clifftops was a knockdown rebuild on a clifftop slip area. Demolition access, stormwater and engineering were resolved before construction.
Why choose a sloping block builder rather than a project builder?
A slope changes footings, retaining, drainage, access and often the approval pathway. A builder experienced with complex terrain designs around the land from the start, which keeps excavation and cost under control and the price fixed.
How do I get started?
Book a free on-site consultation through the contact page or phone 02 4271 5132. We’ll walk your block, assess the soil and discuss what the land allows.
See What We Can Build on Your Block
Tell us where your block is and what you'd like to build. We'll walk the site, explain what the slope allows, and show you how the design, approvals and fixed price come together.
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