We're building on a fairly flat block, 15m frontage and kind of triangular with 35m along the perpendicular border. We engaged a custom builder due to the strange shape of the block, to fully utilise the space - my intention was to plan everything right from the start to not have issues later, which is where my current issue has arisen, and I'm hoping to get some opinions of advice to help me identify some options.
The block needed a little cut and fill for the slab, and our builder recommended retaining both sides. There are pre-existing fences on both sides, so I imagined retaining wall right up near the slab when we were planning it (I'm not familiar with the process or limitations), but unfortunately the 35m straight border has been retained 700mm in from the existing fence towards the slab (retaining wall 500mm high and slab on land below), and the triangular side has been retained 600-800mm away from the fence, at most places about 800mm high, which has left a gully between the retaining wall and the pre-existing fence. Because of the long length of this side of the block, this gully is about 26m long.
I talked to the builders and apparently this was all they could do with these pre-existing fences in order to lay the slab. They also said they have done a wall 200mm away from a pre-existing fence to give more usable land, but it was impossible to maintain beween the gap.
We discussed my concerns of a high fall from the wall (for children or small dogs) could be mitigated with hedging along the top of the wall, and the gully could be made maintenance-free by weedmatting and putting pebbles in.
But I am still worried about a couple of things... so I'm hoping someone could give me some suggestions?
- Along straight border I was planning bins to be kept along side of house, but retaining extends to the front corner of the house and has narrowed the space to around 700mm - and there is a tap on the side of this wall which has narrowed this space further. I can't have the bins visible from the street in this suburb.
> Can the retaining wall be successfully cut away from a section here? In order to open up a bit of width towards the front of the house?
- Are there any suggestions of a way to make these areas look nice? I am thinking along the straight boundary planting a garden in the retaining wall, but on the other side maintenance and access would be an issue.