Balgowlah sits on the lower Northern Beaches of Sydney, on land shaped by sandstone ridges, undulating blocks and older housing on lots that rarely follow the neat flat layout of newer suburban development. Getting a fence built here is rarely the simple job it looks like at the start, and the complications that surface mid-project are almost always the ones that a bit of early thinking would have made entirely predictable.
What the Terrain Actually Means for the Fence?
The inherent nature of Balgowlah land parcels makes for problems not always discernible at first glance. Most land parcels have a cross fall on the line itself. This means the level of the ground on each side of the intended fence will be visibly higher or lower than the other. The stepped style of fence takes the dips in the land and puts them into distinct levels. The raked style tilts the upper bar in tandem with the slope under the fence. Both styles have their own merits depending on the land and material involved, and choosing the wrong style ends up looking unsightly and wears out prematurely.
Sandstone is a prevalent soil type in this region of the Northern Beaches area. Placing posts in sandstone requires core drilling machinery and the correct technique; a regular posthole digger would encounter resistance quite early on. Roots from existing trees along boundaries, especially on older Balgowlah lots with a number of years of unrestrained growth, can add to the specificities of the site.
Why Timber Works Best in This Environment?
Timber is overwhelmingly the most popular material for fencing on the Northern Beaches, but the reasons for this run much deeper than mere taste. It is adaptable enough to be cut on-site to account for varying ground levels and odd-shaped boundary lines in a way pre-fabricated panel systems cannot match. Timber blends naturally into the sandstone and bushland environment of Balgowlah and can be fixed piecemeal rather than replacing entire panels when an individual section becomes faulty.
When it comes to fencing needs focused on privacy, experienced Ballgowlah fence builders understand how to adapt timber height to the constraints of the NSW exempt development rules. Residential side and rear boundary fences can go up to 1.8 metres high without needing to be registered as a development project. There are additional restrictions on the heights of masonry and concrete fences, making timber the obvious choice for someone who needs fencing for privacy purposes.
When a Retaining Wall Enters the Picture?
A sloped lot often calls for the construction of a retaining wall as part of the fence itself rather than a separate project. If there is a significant difference in ground level along the boundary line, the fence and the retaining element have to be regarded as one single structure. In other words, what the actual retaining construction consists of will depend on the particular location and the ground profile of the boundary itself.
The NSW Dividing Fences Act 1991 states that adjoining landowners have to share the cost of constructing a standard dividing fence equally. When your neighbour refuses to contribute, you have to serve a formal Fencing Notice before proceeding to work. The notice should indicate the boundary line and the proposed type and cost of the fence construction.
What NSW Rules Apply Before Work Begins?
In accordance with the NSW exempt development rules, the maximum heights of side and rear boundary fences in residential zones are set at 1.8 metres. The maximum height of front boundary fences and road setbacks is limited to 1.2 metres. For properties in bushfire-prone land overlay areas, which include portions of the Northern Beaches LGA, the construction material should either be non-combustible or hardwood regardless of the fence height. Construction beyond these parameters requires a development application to the Northern Beaches Council.
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