Domestic Engineering
Retaining Walls on difficult sites
Retaining walls are generally standard and quite easy to specify, however some sites may cause problems. These problems can include:
Retaining walls along or over easements.
Where an allowance must be made for excavation in the easement at a future date. This may mean a different type of wall other than a steel post/concrete sleeper wall (such as a gravity block wall that can be dismantled, if required), or longer than standard sleepers to span over the easement.
If your retaining wall is going to be built over an SA Water easement, it must not impede SA Water’s access to the easement, or have an impact upon any SA Water services.
Refer: Proposed Encroachment over SA Water Easements
Rock on site.
Retaining a rock wall may require a steel post/concrete sleeper wall bored and cast into the rock or a different type of wall.
As expensive as rock boring is, with the proper equipment this may be the best and cheapest option.
Alternatively, a steel-reinforced, concrete-filled blockwork wall on a concrete slab footing may suit”.
Meningie Jetty, Vessel Mooring Facility
Magryn have been engaged by Coorong Council to review the design and installation of the piling and framing associated with the new vessel mooring facility located at the outer end of the main Meningie Jetty.
This facility is a fixed jetty (not floating pontoons) constructed of aluminium framing with fibreglass decking.
The facility is now complete.
Bamera Jetty Inspection
Two of our engineers have recently undertaken an inspection (above and below water) of the Bamera jetty in Lake Bonney, for the Berri Barmera Council.
This is always challenging work, as River Murray water is very muddy, and the below water inspection needs to be done “by feel”.
Planning when relocating Buildings will save you money.
We get a lot of enquiries from members of the public who have purchased an existing shed or building from another person, and re-erected it on their property.
Council then becomes involved and ask them to seek development approval retrospectively for the works.
This retrospective work is difficult to undertake and costly, and also may involve remedial works on the structure to ensure that it complies with current standards and appropriate loads.
We always recommend that people looking to relocate existing buildings obtain council development approval prior to undertaking the works to avoid this retrospective work and costly surprises down the track.
If you are considering purchasing and relocating a shed or other buildings, contact Magryn first to avoid any unexpected costs or surprises from your local Council.
Holy Family Catholic School New Learning Hub building, Parafield Gardens
Construction has now started on the Holy Family Catholic School New Learning Hub building at their Parafield Gardens campus.
The concrete footings for the building is currently being poured.
Magryn Team at Charity Golf day.
A team of intrepid golfers from Magryn joined a charity golf day run by MGA Whittles last Friday, in aid of Heart Kids SA and MND.
A good time was had by all, but they didn’t win. I think they “paused” at the on-course gin stand and lost their “drive”!
COASTAL EROSION ON NSW CENTRAL COAST
Could it happen in South Australia?
The severe beach erosion of the last few days on the Central Coast of NSW was well publicised, with graphic photos and videos of houses teetering on the edge of cliffs, with combined high tides and large swell crashing into the beach below, stripping away the soil under the houses as the owners look on in fear of their multi-million dollar properties falling into the ocean.
Image courtesy of The Guardian
Could this Coastal Erosion happen to us in South Australia?
Yes, but not to the same extent.
Sydney and the NSW coast in general fronts onto a high energy beach, which is often pounded directly by ocean swell. Much of the coastal development in South Australia is in the two main gulfs, Spencer and St Vincents, and the wave action in these is not as extreme as on an open ocean beach. Other development along the coast is often in semi-enclosed bays.
Also, Sydney and some areas of the NSW coast are more heavily populated, bringing more pressure to bear on building very close to the beach.
The coastline of Adelaide is in St Vincents Gulf and hence is more protected than an ocean beach, but has also generally been well armoured with rock revetment seawalls along much of its length, protecting it from on-going erosion.
Coastal Erosion control in South Australia
However, there are many spots around our coast which are a concern in regards coastal erosion impacting or threatening to destroy development. This is often shacks or groups of shacks built very close to the beach, but can also include infrastructure such as pipelines or roads.
These images show the pre-treatment beach erosion, then after the installation of an erosion control rock revetment wall. The batter above the wall can now be re-vegetated.
The before and after photos above are typical of rock seawall protection Magryn can design and arrange installation for to protect properties against the erosion threat which may damage or destroy buildings adjacent the beach.
Please don’t hesitate to call us should you be concerned about the safety of your assets.
Magryn often deals with coastal erosion control to protect these assets, and we have designed works to counteract this threat.
Cowell Marina
These photos show the current stage of a marine project at the Cowell Marina designed by Magryn Engineering
Currently, the marina basin is being excavated to a suitable depth and constructing breakwaters around it, then rock armouring them.
The marina is sized for about 28 vessels on floating pontoon berths with a wharf area, vessel sewerage pump-out and other services.
Whyalla Jetty nearing completion
Stunning drone photos of the Whyalla Jetty project nearing completion provided by SA Drone Services
Read more about the Whyalla Jetty Project: