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FOR
AT
48 MURVALE DRIVE
BUCKLANDS BEACH
AUCKLAND
For
Reference: D298
Date: 9 October 2018
9 October 2018
Dear Sir,
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING INVESTIGATION
FOR PROPOSED RESIDENTIAL DWELLINGS
48 MURVALE DRIVE, BUCKLANDS BEACH
1. INTRODUCTION
Yang Engineering Consultants Limited has been engaged to undertake a geotechnical engineering
investigation for proposed residential dwellings at the above address. The property is legally described
as Lot 69 DP 80800.
The purpose of the investigation is to evaluate ground subsurface soil conditions at the proposed
development area to support building consent application to Auckland Council.
Field investigation has been carried out and involved drilling of hand auger boreholes and undertaking
Scala penetrometer tests. This report presents the results of the field investigation, assessment of design
drawings of the proposed dwellings, comments and recommendations on design and construction of
foundation and ground retention structures of the proposed development.
2. PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT
The proposed development comprises building of four three-storey residential dwellings following removal
of the existing house on the site. We have been supplied with preliminary architectural design drawings
prepared by Ingram Architecture. The drawings supplied include site plan, floor plans and elevations,
dated 11/9/2018. The site plan is attached to this report.
The dwellings are proposed to be built on levelled building platforms by cut and fill operations with depths
up to approximately 3.1m and 0.8m respectively, measured from existing ground surface level based on
site plan supplied. The dwellings are proposed with concrete slab foundation.
It is understood that excavation slopes for forming the building platforms are to be retained by exterior
walls and/or foundation walls of the proposed dwellings.
The East Coast Bays Formation comprises greenish grey, alternative muddy sandstone and mudstone
with occasional inter-bedded lenses of grit. This material is characterised by a clay mantle derived from
and grading into rock within approximate 10m below ground surface.
4. SITE DESCRIPTION
The property at 48 Murvale Drive, Bucklands Beach, lies to the east of Murvale Drive. It is quadrilateral in
shape with area of approximately 868 square metres. Site access is directly off Murvale Drive. A single
storey dwelling with a double garage is currently located on the site.
The proposed development site is on gentle sloping ground falling from the south-eastern corner to the
northwest with gradients up to approximately 14º (1v: 4h).
Several timber and Keystone block retaining walls are observed on the site. The retaining walls are up to
0.7m in height. The timber retaining walls are in general working conditions but the Keystone retaining
walls are in marginal working conditions with cracks observed.
A masonry block retaining wall is on the western part of the southern boundary, with retaining height up
to approximately 1.6m. It is in marginal working conditions.
Public stormwater and sewer lines are running near and along the western boundaries of the site.
Soil creep movements are likely occurring on the site. A cut off drain is observed on the northern boundary.
5. SITE INVESTIGATION
Site investigation was carried out between 28 September and 1 October 2018 by geotechnical engineers
of this office. Four hand auger boreholes were drilled near the proposed dwelling area to approximately
5.0m maximum depth below existing ground levels. Scala penetrometer tests were carried out from the
base of some boreholes at the downslope area.
Hand auger borehole and Scala penetrometer logs are attached to this report. Test locations are plotted
on attached the site plan D298-1.
Topsoil – Topsoil was encountered in the boreholes with depth between 0.2m and 0.3m below existing
ground level. The topsoil contains organic silt.
Fill – Fill was encountered in boreholes HA1 and HA3 with depth extending to the depth between
approximately 0.4m and 0.7m below existing ground level. The fill consisted of silts and organics, reddish
brown / dark brown, very dense, moist to wet, slightly plastic.
Measured peak and residual shear strengths were 154kPa and 57kPa respectively.
Waitemata Group Soils – residual East Coast Bays Formation of Waitemata Group deposits were
encountered in all boreholes with depth to the end of the boreholes. The soils consisted of silts, clays and
sands, reddish brown / light grey / dark grey, very dense, moist, slightly plastic.
Measured peak shear strengths were between 113kPa and 221+kPa, and residual shear strengths
between 48kPa and 127kPa.
It should be noted that groundwater levels and flows are transient. It can be anticipated that the ground
water level may change due to prolonged or heavy rainfall.
6. SLOPE STABILITY
Our site inspection identified no apparent sign of major deep-seated slope instability at the proposed
development area. Minor soil creep movement may occur on the site.
It is understood that the proposed development involves cutting into and filling over the existing sloping
ground to form building platforms. Proposed cut and fill for the development will be retained by engineer
designed retaining walls. Subsoil drains should be placed behind the proposed retaining walls.
Slope stability of the site with the proposed development were assessed and considered satisfactory due
to the gentle slopes on proposed development areas, cut slopes are to be retained by engineer designed
retaining walls and soil strengths measured.
8. CONCLUSIONS
Based on our geotechnical engineering investigation including field tests and assessment of the available
design drawings, we are of the professional opinion that the geotechnical engineering aspects of the
proposed dwellings on the site are appropriate provided that the recommendations presented in section
7 above are considered in foundation and retaining wall design and construction.
D298 - 48 Murvale Drive, Bucklands Beach Page 9 of 10
9. LIMITATIONS
This report has been prepared solely for the benefit of our client, 48 Murvale Drive Ltd, and its professional
advisers to be submitted to the Auckland Council to support building consent application for the proposed
dwelling development on the subject site. It is based on field investigation data at discrete locations.
Should conditions encountered differ to those outlined in this report, the conditions shall be reviewed for
the continued applicability of our conclusions and recommendations.
This report has been prepared based on the specific project and client brief and it should not be relied on
by other parties for purposes other than for which it was originally intended. In particular, the findings of
this report should not be extrapolated beyond the boundaries of the specifically described areas. Yang
Engineering Consultants Limited accepts no liability to any matters arising from the use of the information
given in this report by any other person / organisation for any other purposes without referring to us.
It is up to the contractor / owner to adopt the above construction methodology to ensure temporary
excavation slope stability during construction. Any liability of temporary slope stability failure during
construction shall lie with the contractor / owner if the construction methodology presented in the report
are not implemented during construction.
Should you have any query regarding this please feel free to contact the undersigned.
Yours Faithfully
Yang Engineering Consultants Limited
Lawrence Yang
BE, ME, MIPENZ, IntPE(NZ)
Chartered Professional Engineer
Scala S1 S2
Within Borehole HA1 HA2
Depth start below existing
3.9 4.8
ground level (m)
D298 - Scala
Drawing D298 - 1: Site Plan with Test Locations
Drawing P809 - 02: and Cross Section A – A’– B’
: Drawing P806 - 03: Buttress Drain Details B