Picton Memorial Park

Modus Australia delivered a custom Yarra 3 toilet building for Picton Memorial Park, replacing an outdated 1980s facility with a modern, accessible amenity featuring parent room facilities, CPTED security principles, and distinctive memorial graphics.

Principal:: Modus Australia
Client:: Lismore City Council
Head Contractor:: Benett Constructions
Product/s:: Yarra, Atlantis, Noosa, Byron
Year:: 2025

Picton Memorial Park, located along Argyle Street in central Picton, serves as both a war memorial honouring those who served in World War II and the Vietnam War, and a popular community space with playground equipment, BBQ facilities, and picnic areas. With its central location near local shops and the Picton Bowling Club, the park attracts steady foot traffic from families and visitors. Wollondilly Shire Council partnered with Modus Australia to replace an ageing toilet facility that no longer met the community's needs or modern standards.

Challenges and Project Needs

Consultations with Wollondilly Shire Council's project team, including Project Lead Brett Milton and Parks Manager Daniel Grimson, revealed several critical issues with the existing facility. The old brick building, dating back to the 1980s, had been continually patched and refurbished rather than replaced, ultimately costing the council more in ongoing maintenance than a replacement would have. The facility suffered from persistent odour problems, inadequate lighting, and a general lack of security features. Community complaints highlighted these ongoing issues, and the building failed to meet current compliance standards or Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design principles.

Refurb vs Replace: Is a patch-up costing you more?

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Our Response

The council needed a public toilet design that would address multiple priorities. Security was paramount, given the park's central location near shops and evening activity. The facility needed to respect the memorial's solemn purpose whilst remaining welcoming and functional for families visiting the playground and picnic areas. Accessibility and comfort for all users, including families with young children, required careful consideration. Finally, the solution needed to be durable and easy to maintain, avoiding the costly cycle of constant repairs that had plagued the previous building.

Our Solution

Modus Australia designed and constructed a custom Yarra 3 toilet building tailored specifically to the park's unique context. The prefabricated modular toilet block balances the memorial's dignified atmosphere with practical functionality for everyday use.

The facility includes one Universal Access Toilet customised as a parent room, featuring a child seat and baby change table to accommodate families visiting the playground. Two ambulant cubicles with handrails provide additional accessible options. The layout uses individual cubicles rather than separate male and female sections, addressing the common challenge parents face when accompanying children of the opposite gender to the restroom.

Working closely with the council, Modus developed a distinctive external treatment that reinforces the park's memorial character. The original plan for perforated metal panels on one wall evolved into vinyl graphics applied across all exterior walls. These graphics feature imagery of a soldier from Wollondilly who fought in the Vietnam War, creating visual continuity with the existing memorial infrastructure whilst delivering this enhanced design at the same cost as the single-wall option originally specified.

Picton Memorial Park Toilet Building | Public Amenity NSW

Security and CPTED Principles

The building incorporates several features that enhance safety whilst maintaining an open, welcoming character. Automated locking systems prevent unauthorised use during night hours, reducing vandalism risk and ensuring the facilities remain clean and functional for daytime visitors. The facility's positioning faces the playground rather than hidden corners, maximising natural surveillance from park users and passersby.

Mini-orb internal walls resist vandalism with their ribbed profile and are simple to maintain and repair if damaged. Gaps under the walls improve ventilation and visibility, supporting Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design principles. Solar wall lighting with motion sensors provides adequate illumination for security whilst supporting sustainable practices. Impact-resistant materials throughout the building ensure long-term durability under frequent public use.

An Outstanding Result

The new amenity building at Picton Memorial Park successfully balances the site's memorial purpose with practical functionality for the community. The facility's distinctive external graphics strengthen the visual connection to the park's commemorative role, whilst modern features address the security and maintenance challenges that plagued the previous facility. By replacing rather than continuing to refurbish an outdated structure, Wollondilly Shire Council has invested in a durable, compliant public toilet facility that will serve the community effectively for years to come.