In Plettenberg Bay, the Ebenezer Estate Phase 3 Portion 2 project required a practical solution for steep, challenging terrain. The municipal initiati
In Plettenberg Bay, the Ebenezer Estate Phase 3 Portion 2 project required a practical solution for steep, challenging terrain. The municipal initiative focuses on low-cost housing development, including erf platforms, surfaced roads, sewer and water reticulation, stormwater systems and retaining walls capable of supporting essential infrastructure.
According to Terraforce’ s Karin Johns, the site’s slopes reached heights that presented significant engineering challenges. Walls up to 5,5 meters were required to create safe functional platforms for housing and infrastructure. Under these circumstances conventional methods were not sufficient to meet the structural and durability requirements.
Terraforce retaining walls were selected and supplied by Mossel Bay manufacturer Mobicast to address these challenges. Engineering designs by iX Engineers Cape Town, implemented on-site by Lyners & Associates George, specified approximately 30 000 L11 blocks for the project. The blocks were reinforced with S120 Kaytape geogrid, anchored with concrete keys and backfilled with specialized infill to ensure structural stability. Terraforce 4×4 Step blocks were incorporated to provide safe and practical access points within the walls.
“Installation required careful planning and execution. The process involved systematic placement of geogrid reinforcement with precise block cutting where necessary and the coordination of the fill materials. Strategic intervals of Kaytape reinforcement ensured that the walls could support the pressures imposed by the steep slopes.
The completed walls created stable platforms that now support residential erven, roads and municipal services. The project demonstrates the capability of Terraforce systems to deliver effective retaining solutions for large-scale municipal developments and the collaboration between Norland Construction, Mobicast and the engineering teams ensured the project met both structural and functional requirements.
