Retaining wall construction by Australian Trenching and Excavations

Case Studies

Retaining Wall Projects

Two completed projects across Central Victoria — each with unique challenges, documented from start to finish.

Project 01Avenel, VIC

Flood Management & Structural Retaining

This Avenel property sits at the base of a hill and was experiencing significant flooding — surface water running down the slope had nowhere to go and was pooling across the property, causing ongoing damage with every rain event. A serious, long-term solution was required.

CJ and the team designed a comprehensive drainage and retaining system tailored to how water was moving across the site. A network of subsurface drainage was strategically installed around the property to intercept water before it could build up. With the ground already open, the opportunity was taken to add conduit runs for power, communications, and water — future-proofing the property in a single mobilisation.

Retaining walls were installed to direct water flow, stabilise the slope, and create structure across the property. Garden edges were constructed from sleeper and galvanised posts, adding a clean aesthetic to what had been an unmanaged bank. Crushed rock was laid on the pads and compacted to prevent surface runoff from feeding back into the drainage.

A raked driveway and garden edge was installed to seamlessly follow the grade of the ground — no abrupt steps, just a clean flowing line that works with the natural slope. The end result completely alleviated the flooding issue the client had been dealing with.

Scope of Works

Subsurface drainage network — strategically placed to intercept hillside runoff
Additional conduit runs for power, communications, and water
Retaining walls to direct water flow and stabilise slope
Sleeper and galvanised post garden edges
Crushed rock pads, compacted to prevent runoff
Raked driveway and garden edge to natural grade

Retaining wall and drainage project in Avenel, VIC

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Project 02Diamond Creek, VIC

Colorbond Retaining Wall on Extreme Slope

This Diamond Creek project presented a technically challenging combination — a building pad on an extreme slope requiring both structural retaining and a comprehensive drainage solution, with Colorbond infill fencing integrated into the wall structure.

The steep gradient meant drainage couldn't be an afterthought. The team designed a structured, planned drainage approach that funnelled all water from the slope to a single, controlled pickup point — eliminating uncontrolled runoff across the property and protecting the wall from hydrostatic pressure over time.

The Colorbond infill panels were integrated with the retaining wall posts to create a combined boundary and retaining solution — one structure performing two functions cleanly. The finished result manages both the slope and the drainage while adding a sharp aesthetic that complements the property.