Retaining Walls in Belconnen

The town centre suburb

Wikipedia says Belconnen is the innermost suburb of the larger Belconnen district, and that it contains the Belconnen Town Centre and Lake Ginninderra as well as its own residential areas. It is bounded by Ginninderra Drive, Aikman Drive, Eastern Valley Way, Belconnen Way and Coulter Drive. It says the planning allows sunset views from the Brindabellas on the western side. A suburb that is mostly town centre has few traditional backyards, so retaining walls here are often part of larger developments.

Mostly apartments

The demographics section says 74.9 per cent of dwellings were units or apartments and 24.7 per cent were semi-detached, row or terrace houses or townhouses. That leaves little room for a classic detached house with a sloping yard. For a unit or townhouse, a wall may belong to an owners corporation, so ask who holds responsibility before you ask for a quote. We cannot give legal advice.

Emu Ridge and Ginninderra Heights

The residential section describes Emu Ridge in the south-east, bounded by Benjamin Way, College Street, Eastern Valley Way and Belconnen Way, with low to medium density housing only, and Ginninderra Heights in the north-west, a medium-density development around Totterdell Street. Wikipedia says Eastern Valley Oval lies on the lower slope of Emu Ridge. Ridge slopes are where townhouse terraces and courtyards step down, so the lower walls may be shared with neighbours.

The lake foreshore

The article names parks on the foreshores of Lake Ginninderra, including Diddams Close Park and John Knight Memorial Park. Ground near a lake can be wet, and Yakka Labour names water as the main reason retaining walls fail. A wall near the foreshore needs drainage that works in wet weather, so ask each builder how they will keep water from building up behind it and where it will leave.

Tradie services close by

Wikipedia says the service and trades area is in the west of the suburb, with car dealers, repairers, petrol stations and hardware stores. For a small job that is handy for materials, though it tells us nothing about who will quote. Access Canberra keeps the register where you can check a builder's licence, and ACT Planning says licence holders must show their insurance to a client.

Where to start

For a tall or heavily loaded wall in a townhouse or unit block, read our engineered walls guide. For a courtyard wall in block, read the block guide.

Are most Belconnen homes apartments?

Wikipedia says 74.9 per cent of dwellings in the suburb were units or apartments. Retaining walls here are often shared, so check who owns yours.

What are Emu Ridge and Ginninderra Heights?

Wikipedia describes Emu Ridge as low to medium-density housing in the south-east and Ginninderra Heights as a medium-density development in the north-west.

Is the ground near Lake Ginninderra wetter?

We cannot say. Wikipedia names parks on the foreshore. Ask each builder how they would drain a wall near water.