New Build – Sunrise Avenue, Murrays Bay

Nestled on a gently sloping site in Murrays Bay , this new build turned out to be less about just following the drawings, and more about listening to what the land had to say — especially when it rained.

For Lots 1 & 2, the original plan was to tuck Aquacomb tanks — a tidy solution on paper, but not exactly DIY-friendly if anyone ever needed to check or clean them. So, we switched gears: moving to chunky under-deck “Fat Sam” tanks instead. Same water storage, easier to access, and a happier future for plumbers and homeowners alike — all while trimming a bit off the budget.

Lot 4 had its own little surprise. The single-level retaining wall looked perfectly fine on the plans, but heavy downpours quickly proved it wasn’t quite enough to hold back the water. Rather than just throwing more concrete at the problem, we took a greener route and added a rain garden. Now, instead of rushing off, rainwater politely filters through landscaped planting — a win for drainage, compliance, and the local birdlife.

This job was about staying flexible, paying attention to what the site was really telling us, and coming up with solutions that are smarter, greener, and — let’s be honest — make everyone’s life easier in the long run.