Decking in Banksia Grove
Northern Decking Co builds composite and BAL-rated decks in Banksia Grove, a City of Wanneroo estate suburb developed from 2005 and growing on narrow lots. Most decks here are low composite platforms off the alfresco, built to the BAL level where the DFES map applies. Every Wanneroo deck needs a building permit; the contractor quotes free after a site visit.
- Postcode
- 6031
- Council
- City of Wanneroo
- Coastal lot rules
- Not usually
- Last reviewed
- October 2026
Decks that suit Banksia Grove homes
Banksia Grove was part of Neerabup until the late 1990s and did not become a suburb until 2005, when the Banksia Grove Joint Venture began laying out around 3,300 homes across 338 hectares. The estate is still being finished: the Coda precinct, released from late 2018, is built on narrow lots with two-storey homes. Houses here were sold with their side and rear fencing already up and the front yard landscaped, which left the back yard as the one part of the block for the owner to finish. For a lot of Banksia Grove homes, the deck is how that happens.
Low decks off the alfresco
The standard arrangement is an alfresco under the main roof and a strip of lawn behind it. A low deck level with the alfresco slab carries the outdoor area past the roofline without a step, and on a block that is only a few years old it is the first deck the house has had. Stumps go into sand, the frame is kept off the ground to breathe, and the boards are usually composite: no oiling, no splinters, and a colour that holds in the sun. Lighter tones stay cooler on a yard that faces north.
Fitting the fence
Because the fences went in before the owners did, the boundary is fixed and the deck has to answer to it. The City of Wanneroo says decks should be set back at least 900 mm from a boundary, or can go to the boundary if 900 mm is kept between the deck and the house, subject to overlooking rules. On a Coda lot with little spare width that rule decides whether the deck runs wall to wall or stops short of the fence, and the contractor sets it out with the rule in hand. In the City of Wanneroo all decking requires a building permit, regardless of height or floor area, so the permit is planned from the start, with the quote stating who lodges it.
Bushland on the doorstep
Banksia Grove sits beside bushland. We do not say whether any suburb is or is not bushfire prone; the DFES Map of Bush Fire Prone Areas does that, lot by lot, and it is revised. If your address is inside a mapped area, the deck is designed to the BAL level of your assessment under AS 3959, with the board, the gaps, the supports and the space beneath all detailed to suit, and the assessment goes in with the permit application.
Eight kilometres from the sea
The suburb is about 8 km east of the coast, so this is not a salt-air build. That does not make the hardware an afterthought. Hot-dipped galvanised is the minimum, stainless is the better choice on a deck that will be hosed and walked on for decades, and the contractor recommends what fits the spot.
What to know before you build in Banksia Grove
City of Wanneroo
- All decking requires a building permit, regardless of height or floor area.
- Planning approval may be required for decking over 500 mm above natural ground level.
- Decking over 500 mm is treated like a balcony, with a 7.5 m setback to side and rear boundaries unless a reduced setback is approved.
The ground
Coastal sand, as across most of the corridor. There is no suburb-specific ground record for Banksia Grove, and the first footing hole confirms what the contractor expects.
Bushfire map
Check your lot on the DFES Map of Bush Fire Prone Areas. If it is inside a mapped area the deck is built to the BAL requirements of AS 3959. We do not say here whether Banksia Grove is or is not bushfire prone, because the map runs through suburbs and is revised.
How it goes in
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Footings
Stumps go into footings in the sand. Some sites in the far north hit limestone close to the surface and need core drilling.
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Joists
Joists go across the bearers at the centres the board maker specifies, typically 450 mm for hardwood and tighter for composite.
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Boards
Boards are laid from the house out with an even gap, fixed with screws or hidden clips.
Questions from Banksia Grove
Do I need a building permit for a deck in Banksia Grove?
Yes, whatever its size. In the City of Wanneroo all decking requires a building permit, regardless of height or floor area. Ask for the quote to say who prepares the drawings and who lodges the application, so it is not a step left for you to chase.
Can I fit a deck on a narrow Coda lot?
Yes. A narrow two-storey lot has a short back yard, so the deck is usually a low platform level with the alfresco that runs the width of the house. The City of Wanneroo says decks should be set back at least 900 mm from a boundary, or can go to the boundary if 900 mm is kept between the deck and the house, subject to overlooking rules, and that rule decides how far across the yard it goes.
Is Banksia Grove bushfire prone?
We do not say that about any suburb. Banksia Grove sits beside bushland, and whether your lot is inside a mapped area depends on the DFES Map of Bush Fire Prone Areas, which is revised and runs through suburbs. Look up your address. If the lot is mapped, the deck is built to the BAL requirements of AS 3959, and some composite boards are tested for specific BAL levels, so the contractor checks the product's own report before quoting.
Why composite rather than timber in Banksia Grove?
Mostly upkeep. A new estate home comes with a yard to establish and no shortage of jobs, and composite needs a hose rather than an oiling. The suburb is also about 8 km from the coast, so salt air does not decide the board the way it does by the water; the choice comes down to maintenance and feel.
Nearby areas we cover
Read about bal-rated decking and composite decking, or our guide to what affects the cost of a deck. All areas.
Get a free quote in Banksia Grove
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