The following are special considerations that may want to be taken into account at the time of preparing your application.

Retaining Walls

The general rule is that a retaining wall is required where the original land level has been altered either by filling or excavation. The retaining wall must be of a height equal to the extent of the filling or excarvation.
The responsibility for maintaining the wall passes on to the people who buy the property.

If both adjoining owners have altered the land at the boundary to some extent, then each party will be responsible for the construction and maintenance of the wall to the extent of the alteration caused by each owner.
If retaining walls are needed, then it would be necessary that you include the retaining wall documentation with your application for the dwelling or other building as the case may be.

If the aggregate height of a retaining wall exceeds 500mm, then the retaining wall/s must be designed and certified by a practicing structural engineer and lodgment of a Building Application is required.

Retaining walls must be constructed from a durable material. Masonry being brickwork, concrete limestone or the like material would be regarded as being a durable material. (Timber sleepers etc are not regarded as being a durable material).

More information?

Floor level subject to water level

If you are building a dwelling or other habitable building in suburbs or locations zoned as Rural or Special Rural, it may be necessary that you contact Council's Health Department and Planning Department to establish the minimum floor level based on the high water table.

Generally the floor level should be not less than 2M over the high water table.

Upon submission of the plans, after contacting the Planning Department, it may be necessary that you bore a hole in the location of your proposal. An officer will then take a measurement of the water table and make an adjustment relative to the time of when the measurement was taken to establish the minimum floor level. Contact a Planning Officer on 94390200.

The water table may also affect the septic system which inadvertently may influence the pad height for the dwelling. See a Council Health officer for further information regarding this matter on 94390200.

Some Requirements Specific to Suburbs

Bertram

Non reflective materials must be selected including your roofing material. Contact a Planning Officer on 94390200.

Marri Park and some lots in Anketell, Wandi and Wellard

Building Envelopes. All building work must be contained within the building envelope. This is a special area set aside for building located within the cadastral boundaries. Contact a Planning Officer on 94390200.
Other than Marri Park, Water tanks may be needed and if so needed, be located within the building envelope.

Homestead Ridge

Building Envelopes. All building work must be contained within the building envelope. This is a special area set aside for building located within the cadastral boundaries. Contact a Planning Officer on 94390200.
Non reflective materials must be selected including your roofing material. See a Planning Officer.

NOTE: Additionally refer to the scheme requirements under the Planning sections for further information.