Do retaining walls need to be shown on the DA plans?
Yes, if retaining walls are part of the proposed works and relevant to the DA, they should be shown on the plans.
This is particularly important where retaining walls are associated with excavation, filling, changes to site levels, boundaries, driveways or the way the proposed building sits on the land.
The drawings should provide enough information to understand the proposed earthworks and retaining arrangement. Depending on the project, this could be shown on the site plan, sections and/or a fill plan. ACT Planning defines a Fill Plan as showing the land contours and where fill is proposed, while Section Plans show relevant ground and floor levels.
For example, if a dual occupancy requires a retaining wall along the side of the proposed driveway because of a change in ground level, the wall and associated levels should be represented in the DA documentation where they are relevant to assessing the proposal.
Referral: Before you apply ? Prepare your documents, supported by Development Application Naming Conventions ? Fill Plan and Section Plan – https://www.planning.act.gov.au/applications-and-assessments/development-applications/before-you-apply/naming-conventions
Short Answer
Yes, proposed retaining walls should be shown on the DA plans where they form part of the development or are relevant to its assessment. They should be documented sufficiently to show their location, extent, height and relationship to existing and proposed ground levels. Not every retaining wall requires DA approval in its own right, as some may qualify as exempt development.
Detailed Explanation
ACT Planning requires DA documentation to address each relevant Territory Plan provision and include all supporting plans necessary for assessment. The application is checked against the applicable Minimum DA Documentation Requirements, and additional information can be required where necessary to assess the proposal.
For retaining walls, the relevant information may be distributed across several drawings:
- Site Plan – to establish the wall's location in relation to the proposed development and block.
- Section Plan – to demonstrate the relationship between the structure and ground levels, floor levels and other relevant levels.
- Fill Plan – where filling is proposed, showing the contours of the land and where fill is proposed.
There is also an important distinction between showing a retaining wall as part of a DA proposal and whether that retaining wall independently requires DA approval. Under the Planning (Exempt Development) Regulation 2023, Schedule 1, Division 1.4.2, s 1.50, certain fill, cut-in and combination retaining walls can be DA-exempt if they satisfy the applicable exemption criteria.
Therefore, a retaining wall that is integral to the proposed development should not simply be omitted from the DA drawings because the wall might otherwise qualify as exempt development. Where it is necessary to explain the proposed site levels, earthworks or overall development, it should be represented in the relevant DA documentation.
No minimum block size does not remove the need for planning assessment.
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