Deep Basements In Melbourne Siltstone

With the growth in renewal of city developments, basements in the Melbourne CBD environs are getting deeper in response to limitations imposed on building heights, surface infrastructure and space constraints, and planning scheme controls. Increasingly, many sites are being re-developed in close proximity to heritage listed or movement sensitive assets, hence the performance of ground retention systems in controlling displacements is of paramount importance. Because of the cost premium of below ground works, construction of deep basements is a significant consideration in any project costing and economic imperatives are driving alternative design solutions, but what are the risks?