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Walls

Positioning

Best practice guidance for the placement and arrangement of embellishments

Site setout

  • Timber is not preferred but may be appropriate for walls in remote locations where carting of heavy materials is challenging.
  • Planter box rock retaining wall should only be used where it is not feasible to install a garden and there is no alternative. They harbour pests, attract rubbish and require frequent watering.
  • Planter boxes are not recommended for tree planting as they can constrain root systems and render the tree unstable.

Orientation

  • Installation of walls under the drip line of mature trees is not recommended. If there is no option, construction is to be carried out under the supervision of a qualified arborist.
  • Skate deterrent devices are to be installed on top of walls where there is a risk of damage from skate board use.

Safety

  • Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles apply.

Clearances

See the following for further guidance:

  • LIM Seats
  • Table 2: Positioning guidance offsets.

Table 2: Positioning guidance offsets
Embellishment
Distance from
Minimum distance
Reason
Retaining walls
underground services
Nominated distance
refer to service provider

Seating on walls 

(free-standing)

surface level

450 mm–520 mm high


to provide seating for an average height adult
Seating wall 
activity areas
safety clearances
Retaining and free-standing wall bases
any other items
2.5 m
for deck mower clearance (where possible).


Safety barriers

  • Refer AS 2156 – Walking tracks, to identify barrier requirements adjacent to a retaining wall.

See the following for further guidance:


Figure 6: Identify barrier type/retaining wall barrier with handrail

Note: The risk assessment for each site is as per the WH&S Risk Calculator (AS/NZS ISO31000)

Method to identify barrier requirements adjacent to a retaining wall

  1. Identify track classification AS 2156.1 - (class 1 illustrated)
  2. Assess impact surface type (sand) AS 2156.2 table 3 - hi=0 (favourable fall surface illustrated)
  3. Calculate actual fall height - heff=(hf+hi) 1278 mm=(1278 mm+0)
  4. Identify allowable barrier type for effective fall height AS 2156.2 table 2 (type A illustrated)

* AS 1428.1 - 30% luminance contrast is required between barrier and the background it is viewed against

*Accredited access consultant advice.

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Sunshine Coast Open Space Landscape Infrastructure Manual (LIM) DISCLAIMER

Disclaimer

Information contained in this document may change without notice and you should use the current material available from Council’s website and not rely on material previously printed or stored by you.

All figures and diagrams are intended to be used as an aid to design and include Council’s preferred elements but they are not intended to be prescriptive and may need to be varied as dictated by site specific factors. While Council has exercised reasonable care in preparing this document, it does not warrant or represent that it is accurate or complete. The Council will not accept responsibility for any loss, damage, cost or expense that you may incur as a result of the use of or reliance upon any material contained in this document.

This document is produced to convey general information and is not intended to constitute advice whether professional or legal. Any reference to legislation in this document is not an interpretation of the law. It is to be used as a guide only. Consult relevant authority websites for current documents, revisions and amendments.

Where a particular product or supplier is profiled in this document, Council is NOT nominating this product or supplier as the selected choice. Product/supplier information has been provided to allow users to source products which contain the correct elements required for Council embellishments. Each product profiled states ‘or equivalent’ which means that different products may be supplied provided they satisfy the identified performance criteria, recommended standards, equal access guidance and product specifications.

Product design, manufacture and installation requires appropriately qualified people to provide site specific solutions to ensure the embellishment is appropriately adapted to local conditions and data.

This document does not override requirements stipulated in a development approval. Project specific variations may be appropriate as a result of site, environmental or other constraints. Any variations to these standards must be approved in writing by council prior to commencement of variation works. Components of this document may be used within a contract document but users should undertake their own investigations to confirm the information is suitable for this purpose.

Drawings contained in this document are NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION.

Details in this document are deemed to be the minimum standard and the user may wish to apply a higher standard subject to approval by council.

Acknowledgements

Council wishes to thank all contributors and stakeholders involved in the development of this document.

Copyright

Sunshine Coast Regional Council (Council) supports and encourages the distribution of its material however, copyright protects this document. Council has no objection to this material being reproduced but only if council is recognised as the owner of the copyright and this material remains unaltered.

https://www.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au[email protected]07 5475 7272

Sunshine Coast Open Space Landscape Infrastructure Manual (LIM)

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© LIM 2024 – 2026

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Version 0.0.38.beta

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Last Updated: 01/04/2026 12:27 AM

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