top of page

Looking to undertake a residential development?

How do you know what you are building on? Is your site suitable for what you want to build? Who can help you better understand what you’ll need to consider before you start?


A geotechnical assessment is crucial for understanding the hazards that are present at a property. This can range from earthquake induced liquefaction in silty sandy soils to shrinking and swelling of clays. Most councils will insist you get a geotechnical report during the consenting process to confirm that the site is suitable for your proposed development.


But what does a geotechnical report look like?

A geotechnical report will commonly start with getting an understanding of your site and what you propose to build through a desk-based assessment. This will allow the engineer to understand what hazards need to be assessed.


Following the desk-based assessment, a ground investigation can be undertaken. This can comprise visiting the site to undertake intrusive points allowing the engineer to review what soils/rock are present beneath the ground surface and obtain samples for laboratory testing, if required.


Now the engineer has a good understanding of the project alongside site specific information from the ground investigation, they can provide a geotechnical assessment. This should confirm the geotechnical hazards that will need consideration and provide some potential solutions that can be adopted during the development. These can then be provided to architects, structural and civil engineers who should incorporate this advice into your detailed design.



bottom of page