What IBP Paving does in South Perth
South Perth is about 19 km south of our Landsdale base, on the far side of the Narrows from the city. It is not part of our regular northern round, so IBP Paving takes work here by arrangement and asks for the details first: what you want paved, the rough area, how we get in, and a few photos. With that we can tell you quickly whether and when the job fits. We build driveways, courtyards and terraces in brick and natural stone, relay older paving and lay out drainage to suit the City of South Perth's precinct rules. Every job carries a lifetime workmanship warranty and over 20 years in the trade.
Foreshore ground on Perth Water
The suburb fronts Perth Water along the South Perth Esplanade and Sir James Mitchell Park. Away from the river the ground is typically Spearwood sand and drains freely. Nearer the water it changes. The foreshore is usually river alluvium or reclaimed ground, the water table on those flats is shallow, and within about 250 metres of the estuary the groundwater carries a saltwater wedge. That is why the City treats its foreshore streets differently from the rest.
In the Mill Point precinct, and in the Hurlingham, Western Foreshore and Salter Point precincts, new buildings may not use soakwells for their stormwater. The exceptions are lots at the extremities of a precinct, or sites where the soakwell base can be installed at least 0.5 metres above the annual maximum groundwater level.
So for a new build or a major extension on Mill Point, the drainage design comes before the paving design. We work from the approved plan, set grated drains and pipework beneath the paving where soakwells are ruled out, and grade every surface so it falls toward them.
Sizing a soakwell in the South Perth precinct
Away from those foreshore precincts, the City's guidelines group South Perth with Como and Manning, and there new buildings should preferably drain to soakwells. A private drainage connection is accepted only where a high water table makes soakwells unfeasible. Stormwater drainage approval is required, with a drainage plan and an engineering statement if one is asked for, and the requirements differ across the City's eight drainage precincts.
| Condition | What the City requires |
|---|---|
| Volume | Not less than 0.02 cubic metres per square metre of impervious area serviced, for Type 1 residential or minor additions, unless otherwise demonstrated |
| Impervious area | Every surface except a well mulched, well maintained garden bed |
| Base level | More than 500 mm above the historical maximum groundwater level in the Perth Groundwater Atlas |
| Shape | Depth no more than twice the diameter, to a maximum of 2.4 metres |
| Position | Never closer to foundations than 1.5 times the soakwell depth |
| Lid | Trafficable in any trafficable area |
Source: City of South Perth, Stormwater Drainage for Proposed Buildings Design Guidelines (Policy M354) and Lodge a Stormwater Application (April 2026).
The 0.02 figure is 20 litres per square metre, a little more than the City of Wanneroo's one cubic metre per 60 square metres. A house with 250 square metres of roof, driveway and terrace needs at least 5 cubic metres. Our Perth soakwell requirements page shows how this compares with other councils.
Older homes, mansions and apartment podiums
South Perth was settled from the 1830s and had elegant homes by the 1890s. Its streets now hold large mansions, older houses and townhouses, with high rise apartments close to the foreshore. Character homes suit courtyards and paths in materials that match their age. The larger houses tend to ask for statement driveways and entertaining terraces, often in travertine or another natural stone. Townhouse groups and apartment buildings bring strata work such as common driveways, entry paths and podium areas, which we quote to the body corporate through our commercial and strata paving service.
Verge paving and policy P210
Brick or concrete paving on a South Perth verge needs a written application and the City's approval before it goes in. Under policy P210 Street Verges the City charges an inspection, administration and approval fee of $201 including GST for each application. Synthetic turf and inorganic mulches such as gravel or crushed brick are not permitted. The City is responsible for all street trees on verges, and its guidelines ask that trees and their roots be protected during verge works, so any verge paving we lay is planned around the tree rather than through its roots.
Source: City of South Perth, Verges web page, Greening Our Streets Street Verge Landscape Guidelines and Trees and Verges page.
The Old Mill and the neighbouring suburbs
The heritage listed Old Mill on Mill Point Road can be seen from the Narrows Bridge, and it is a good reminder that this side of the river has been built on for a long time. Kensington is close by and we take enquiries there on the same basis. Neighbouring pages cover Como, Victoria Park, East Victoria Park and Applecross, and the whole list is on areas we service.
