Retaining Walls & Pool Structural Engineering

Retaining walls and swimming pool structures are among the most common engineering items requiring structural certification around Australia.

Despite their frequency, they are often under-engineered — leading to failures, council non-compliance, and costly rectification.

Thitchener Consulting provides design and certification for retaining walls and pool structures to a standard that stands up to council scrutiny and performs for the long term.

Retaining Wall Engineering

We design retaining walls in all common structural forms:

•       Reinforced concrete — cantilever walls, counterfort walls, mass gravity walls

•       Masonry — reinforced blockwork, stone and heritage-style retaining

•       Steel sheet piling and soldier pile walls

•       Timber — for lower-height applications with appropriate durability specifications

Our retaining wall documentation includes structural drawings, footing design, drainage requirements and, where required by council, a geotechnical response to the retained soil conditions. We understand the specific requirements of local government authorities for retaining wall certification.

Swimming Pool Structural Engineering

Swimming pool structures on difficult sites — sloping blocks, rock, reactive soils, or in proximity to building footings — require careful structural design. We provide:

•       Pool shell structural design (reinforced concrete)

•       Footing and sub-grade assessment

•       Structural certification for council and certifier submission

•       Coordination with pool builders on construction methodology

Council Certification Requirements

Both Central Coast Council and Northern Beaches Council require engineering certification for retaining walls above certain heights and for all swimming pools. We are familiar with the documentation requirements of both councils and can produce certification packages suitable for Development Application, Construction Certificate, and Occupation Certificate stages.