Taree sits on the Manning River, and that river shapes almost every landscaping decision in town.

Low floodplain blocks, sandy coastal suburbs and wet summers all ask more of a retaining wall than a typical backyard job.

This guide covers what Taree homeowners, landscapers and builders should think about before they retain … and how RetainEase concrete sleepers fit the Manning Valley.

Living with the Manning River floodplain

The lower Manning floodplain is broad and low. Downstream of Taree, most land sits below 2 m AHD (Australian Height Datum), and the floodplain covers about 2,060 km².

Flood history matters here. The highest flood on record at Taree reached 5.6 m AHD at Macquarie Street in 1929. The 1978 and 1866 floods came close behind. More recently, March 2021 brought some of the worst flooding Taree had seen in 53 years.

For a retaining wall, that means three things:

• Materials must handle submersion.
  Timber that sits wet for days swells, softens and rots. Steel-reinforced concrete doesn’t.
• Drainage is non-negotiable.
  Saturated soil behind a wall is far heavier than dry soil. Ag pipe, free-draining gravel and geotextile fabric keep that pressure down.
• Check your flood status first.
  If your lot is flood-prone, a wall that changes how water moves across the land may need council approval.

Rain and wet summers

Taree Airport records a mean of about 1,198 mm of rain a year, with March the wettest month at roughly 190 mm. Long wet spells soak the ground behind walls and expose any weakness in footings or drainage.

Concrete sleepers set into galvanised steel channels, with concreted footings, hold their line through those cycles. They won’t warp, twist or lose strength as they get wet and dry.

Coastal sites: Old Bar and Manning Point

Head east to the coast and conditions change. MidCoast Council lists Old Bar and Manning Point as one of two NSW coastal erosion hotspots in its area, and is preparing a dedicated coastal management program for the stretch from Wallabi Point to Crowdy Head.

On sandy coastal blocks, retaining walls often do double duty … holding level garden space while resisting salt air and wind-blown sand. Concrete sleepers suit this well. For walls near the water’s edge, ask about RetainEase sea wall solutions, and check with council before any work on or near the foreshore.

Do you need council approval in Taree?

Taree falls under MidCoast Council. In NSW, many low retaining walls can be built as exempt development under the State Environmental Planning Policy (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) 2008, generally where the wall is no higher than 600 mm and meets the policy’s other conditions.

Taller walls, walls on flood-prone land, or walls near boundaries usually need a complying development certificate or a development application. When in doubt, call MidCoast Council or ask your installer before you dig.

Every RetainEase sleeper is engineer designed, and a generic drawing and design statement are available on request. That makes approvals easier when you need them.

Choosing a sleeper for your Taree property

Common Taree projects

• Raising garden beds and lawns on low floodplain blocks to create usable, better-draining space.
• Levelling sloping blocks in the hillier pockets around the valley for patios, sheds and pools.
• Under-fence sleepers that hold soil along boundary fences where neighbouring yards sit at different heights.
• Rural fencing using RetainEase concrete post and rail, built for decades in the paddock.

Supply and installation

RetainEase manufactures in Cardiff, Lake Macquarie, and supplies the full system … reinforced sleepers, galvanised steel channels and post and rail. We don’t install, but we can connect you with experienced landscapers who work across the Manning Valley.

Get a quote for your Taree retaining wall

Tell us about your site and we’ll recommend the right sleeper, size and system for the job. Request a Taree quote or call (02) 4956 5269.