Community forum focuses on retaining walls in new estates

Proposed restrictions on retaining walls in new residential estates will be the focus of a community forum this week.

Since releasing its draft design guidelines for new and infill developments in Baw Baw Shire, council has increasingly been questioned on the guidelines surround retaining walls.

The design guidelines, prepared by council and Tract Consultants, are currently on public exhibition for community feedback.

Officers and consultants recently held a series of online forums with developers who largely raised concerns about the impact of retaining wall restrictions on future subdivisions and affordability for buyers.

A community forum will be held on Friday afternoon to provide key stakeholders and community members with a better understanding of retaining wall requirements across the shire.

Mayor Danny Goss will host the forum and outline guidelines and requirements for retaining walls that will impact the streetscape of future residential neighbourhoods in Warragul and Drouin.

A panel of experts will be available for a question and answer discussion, in which community members will be invited to ask questions.

The forum will include a presentation from council regarding the updated requirements on retaining walls including height guidelines, definitions, and their purpose.

Slope design guidelines proposed by council focus on addressing challenges to design new houses to respond to sloping land and avoiding the need for substantial retaining walls.

The report stated 37 per cent of urban growth land in Warragul was categorised as steep or very steep sloping land.  In Drouin it’s 18 per cent.

Steep land is classed as a 10 to 15 per cent gradients while very steep is 15 to 20 per cent.

“These areas will require careful design to ensure attractive neighbourhoods are delivered with a level of amenity for residents,” the report said.

The draft report states the guidelines aim to “ensure retaining walls do not dominate streetscape and views to new residential areas.”

Under the proposed guidelines, developers or property owners will be required to provide a slope management plan.

The guidelines address street layout and design of subdivisions; lot and building design; and, earthworks and retaining walls.

If adopted, retaining walls will be restricted to one metre high.

The draft document states where more than one retaining one is required they should be staggered with a minimum of one metre distance between each stagger to allow for landscaping.

The guidelines state retaining walls over one metre “should be avoided” and will require a building permit.

“Where extensive retaining walls are required in new estates, they should be installed by land developers to provide a cohesive treatment for retaining walls across streetscapes,” the report states.

Mayor Danny Goss said the 2014 Warragul and Drouin Precinct Structure Plans included requirements and guidelines for retaining walls.

“This forum is an educational session to inform the wider community of these requirements and allow the opportunity for the community to raise any questions or concerns they may have to our panel of experts.

“I know our community have strong opinions on retaining wall matters and this is the time to raise them,” he said.

The forum will be held from 1pm to 3pm on Friday at the West Gippsland Arts Centre Fountain Room. Bookings are essential for the forum and can be made via the Eventbrite page.