Retaining Walls Meadow Springs

Walls on a planned estate

Meadow Springs is in Mandurah's north, inland from the coast road, and was developed largely as a planned estate around a golf course. Like many estates of its kind, the land was shaped during development, with lots cut and filled to create level pads, so neighbouring blocks often sit at different heights.

That is why boundary walls are such a feature here. Many were built by the developer or the house builder; others were added later by owners. Some are holding up well; some are showing their age.

Typical jobs in Meadow Springs

New boundary walls where a lot was left with a batter (a slope) instead of a wall, or where an owner wants more usable yard.
Raising or extending existing walls to create a level lawn or patio.
Pool walls, where the ground has to be held back around a new pool and its fence.
Limestone garden beds and planters to soften front yards and alfresco areas.
Fixing settling fill behind walls where the ground has sunk or the wall has started to lean.

Ground conditions

Meadow Springs sits on sand. Where lots were built up with fill, the quality of that fill and how well it was compacted affects every wall built on it. A contractor will want to know whether your wall line is on natural ground or fill, and may test it by digging.

Sand drains well, but water from reticulation, downpipes and paved areas often ends up running along the back of boundary walls. Make sure your downpipes discharge to soak wells rather than along the wall, and that the wall has a drainage pipe with somewhere for water to go.

Concrete sleepers or limestone?

For straight boundary runs with a fence on top, concrete sleeper walls are the common choice here. They are slim, quick to build, and the posts can be extended for a fence. Make sure the post size and footing depth suit the height, and that geotextile fabric is behind the sleepers.

For gardens, terraces and anywhere the look matters more, limestone is the traditional option. For a tall boundary wall, or one supporting a driveway or a pool, an engineered block wall may be needed.

Working with the neighbour

Boundary walls involve two properties. Before work starts:

Tell your neighbour what you plan, and when.
Agree on access, as some work may need to be done from their side.
Agree on the fence on top, if there is one.
Agree on cost sharing in writing, if you are sharing it.

Permits

Meadow Springs falls under the City of Mandurah. Walls retaining more than about 500 mm of ground commonly need a building permit, and the Residential Design Codes deal with walls and fill near boundaries. Some walls also need an engineer's design. The City makes the call, so check before work starts.

Getting a quote in Meadow Springs

Call (08) 9515 3332 or use the form below with the length and highest point of the wall, a photo from each side, and whether a fence or pool is involved. See the cost guide for planning prices.

Wall types quoted in Meadow Springs

Limestone Retaining Walls Reconstituted and natural limestone block walls, the classic Peel-region choice for sandy front and back yards, planter beds and boundary steps.

Concrete Sleeper Walls Steel posts set in concrete footings with concrete sleepers dropped between them, for straight runs along fences, pools and level changes.

Timber Retaining Walls Treated pine or hardwood sleeper walls for low garden terraces and edging, where budget and a softer look matter more than a long life.

Block & Masonry Walls Core-filled concrete block, segmental interlocking block and rendered masonry walls for taller cuts, driveways and engineered jobs.

Wall Repairs & Rebuilds Leaning, bulging or sand-leaking walls assessed, re-set or rebuilt, with the drainage problem that caused the failure fixed at the same time.

Site Prep & Earthworks Levelling, cut and fill, compaction and footing prep with small machines before a wall goes in, so the wall sits on ground that will not move.

Questions people ask before they commit

My lot is higher than my neighbour's. Who builds the boundary wall?

On many estates the developer or builder put in boundary walls when the lots were created. Where a new wall is needed, who pays is usually agreed between neighbours, and responsibility often depends on who changed the levels. Talk to your neighbour before work starts and get advice if you cannot agree.

The ground behind my wall is sinking. Why?

On built-up lots, the most likely cause is fill that was not fully compacted, or sand washing out through the wall because there is no fabric behind it. Water from reticulation or downpipes along the wall line can make it worse. Have the wall and the backfill checked before the gap grows.

Can I add a pool near an existing retaining wall?

Possibly, but a pool adds load and excavation close to the wall. The existing wall may not have been designed for that. Ask the pool builder and an engineer to look at the wall before you commit to the pool position.

Do boundary walls in Meadow Springs need approval?

Often. The City of Mandurah commonly requires a building permit for walls retaining more than about 500 mm of ground, and the Residential Design Codes deal with retaining and fill near boundaries. Confirm with the City before work starts.

Retaining Walls in Meadow Springs