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 Permit 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).
Further 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.
The water table may also affect the septic system which inadvertently may influence the pad height for the dwelling. Contact a Health Officer for further information regarding this matter on 9439 0200.
Requirements Specific to Suburbs
Bertram
Non reflective materials must be selected including your roofing material.
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. 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. Non reflective materials must be selected including your roofing material.