Toilet Buildings for Roadside Rest Stops

Durable, off-grid prefab toilet buildings engineered for remote roadside locations. Vandal-resistant finishes, solar power, rainwater harvesting, and on-site waste systems - delivered site-ready, no mains required.

Isolated sites, by their nature, do not have passive surveillance. This means there are greater opportunities for people to vandalise the facility and indulge in anti-social behaviour.
Remote Australia regularly means harsh weather, including intense heat, dust, and severe storms. This demands specific material choices to ensure long-term structural integrity.
Maintenance visits to remote areas are significantly more expensive; the way to control this cost is robust, low-maintenance finishes and standardised components.
Remote facilities usually lack access to town sewer, power, and water. This requires the design and approval of a fully self-sufficient infrastructure even before a single component is delivered.
Many key locations for roadside rest stops are effectively off the grid. This means engineers must prioritise integrated, self-sufficient solutions for solar power, rainwater harvesting, and septic waste management.

Modus buildings use tamper-proof fixtures, have anti-graffiti surfaces, and are specified with robust stainless steel fittings. Facilities are inherently designed to withstand repeated misuse with minimal intervention.
Harsh UV, coastal salt, extreme heat, strong winds and heavy rainfall require materials and finishes that hold up without constant attention. We design Modus toilet amenities to endure the worst the local climates — even cyclonic conditions.
Remote locations make every maintenance visit expensive. Modus buildings are designed to minimise how often you need to go back and to make it fast and simple when you do.
From solar power and rainwater harvesting to compliant on-site waste systems, Modus buildings can be fully configured for sites with no access to town sewer, power, or water.

CPTED principles designed in
Strong ribbed surface for internal walls
Easy-to-replace cladding if major damage
Steel-clad timer controlled doors
Easy-to-clean durable stainless steel fixtures

Our Approach to Vandalism

Coastal resilient and finishes
Hot dip galvanized framing, finished to colour
Proven cyclone, flood and bushfire resilient
Wood-look LoCAl aluminium as timber alternative

Our Approach to Durability

Hose-down finishes, no products needed
Replaceable Cladding - Swap damaged panels in minutes
Gaps under walls aids easy washdown
Durable Powdercoat aluminium finishes
Hidden fixings resist corrosion and tampering

Our Approach to Durability

We offer all off-grid options, tailored to your site

What kind of waste system for off-grid sites?

When town sewerage is unavailable, you must implement a compliant on-site effluent solution. Choosing the right system is a fit-for-purpose decision that depends on whether you have a reliable water source, if soil discharge is permitted by local regulations, as well as your team’s long-term maintenance capacity.

We suggest that the best way to determine the most viable option for your project is to ask the following questions:

Does the site have a town sewer? If it does, use a standard sewer connection. If not, you will have to examine alternatives.
Is there a reliable water source? If there is no reliable water source, we would suggest Long Drop (pit latrine) or Composting toilet.
Is discharge into the soil permitted? If this is not permitted, we would recommend a holding tank (pump-out only). But if it is permitted, use a Septic Tank (or an ATU where the soil conditions are difficult).

System Type	Best For	Key Requirements	Maintenance Needs
Septic System	Moderate usage and standard site conditions	Needs space for a leach field and suitable soil for drainage	Requires periodic pumping every 3–5 years
Aerobic Treatment Unit (ATU)	Challenging conditions like dense clay or high groundwater	Requires a constant electricity supply to run aerators and pumps	Demands meticulous annual inspections and sludge removal
Holding Tank	Sensitive environments (e.g., National Parks) where no soil discharge is permitted	Must have reliable access for waste tankers to haul effluent away	Frequent pump-outs; level sensors are recommended to prevent overflow
Long-Drop (Pit Latrine)	Very remote locations with no water or power	Sited directly under the building; requires engineered certification	Low mechanical maintenance, but needs proper ventilation to manage odours.
Composting Toilet	Environmentally focused sites with minimal water access	Requires a disciplined team willing to handle waste/material balancing	High operational input; requires regular raking and carbon additions

Secure $5M in Rest Area Funding - Closes 30 April

The HVRA grant funds new and upgraded rest areas across Australia to improve road safety for heavy vehicle drivers. Applications close 30 April. The department rarely accepts late evidence, so download the guide now to confirm your eligibility and start building your submission.

Public Toilet Planning Guide and Checklist

Past Roadside Projects

Newell Highway Rest Stop, NSW

Yarra 2 toilet building with complementary seaside park shelters and accessible table settings in pale eucalyptus
Off-grid solar power, holding tank septic system, and 8,000-litre rainwater tanks
Vandal-resistant mini-orb cladding, stainless steel fixtures, and solid core steel-clad doors
Two Universal Access Toilets with baby change facilities for families and truck drivers
Prefabricated modular construction for fast installation at a remote Newell Highway location

Cranbrook Truck Bay Rest Stop, WA

Atlantis building with integrated shelter, table settings, showers and toilet facilities
Off-grid solar, septic, and rainwater tank system
Vandal-resistant fixtures and durable internal finishes
Main Roads WA compliant layout for driver fatigue
Robust design engineered for high-use roadside rest areas

Mar 31, 2025 Positive

Great rest stop. Clean shower and facilities. Australia needs more like this. Quite a lot of mosquitos

May 28, 2023 Positive

Huge rest stop. Clean too. No truckie pee bottles all over the place like all other truck rest areas. Someone looks after this place. Kootoes.

Apr 6, 2023 Positive

Great free overnight parking with toilets and free hot showers! We were the only campervan parked up, trucks would come and go. Very peaceful at night despite being near a road.

Newell Highway Rest Stop, NSW

Cranbrook Truck Bay Rest Stop, WA

Ouse, TAS

Greens Beach, TAS

“Modus delivered outstanding, durable facilities for the Newell Highway. Their efficient modular expertise significantly improved road safety and the travel experience for all NSW motorists.”

Director, Major Infrastructure

Projects, Fulton Hogan