William Ager Park, Yamba
Clarence Valley Council needed a toilet building as part of their landscape upgrade at William Ager CWA Memorial Park, a clifftop park on Pacific Parade overlooking Pippi Beach.
Modus supplied a customised Burton-1, chosen mainly for its gable roof, which blends with an existing shelter on site, and finished with vinyl graphics that reflect the rich history of Yamba.
Our solution balanced a small footprint with low visual impact, so the building doesn't obstruct views for the homes opposite the beach.
A small footprint for a sensitive site
Originally, Clarence Valley Council were after a larger building, but blocking ocean views for homeowners opposite the beach turned out to be a major concern. As a result, we helped design and deliver a custom Burton-1 with a single Universal Access Cubicle.
The park is also heritage listed under Schedule 5 of the Clarence Valley LEP 2011, another reason keeping ocean views clear was a key focus.
History as seen on the walls
The council wanted a way to celebrate local history, and our vinyl graphics were the perfect solution. Working with the Port of Yamba Historical Society, Clarence Valley Council chose to feature a view of Yamba Point taken around 1915.
The image speaks to the park's namesake, William Ager, who was instrumental in stopping the sand drift that threatened to bury Yamba. By 1932, bare sand stretched about 2.5km from the southern end of Pippi Beach to the edge of town. It took Ager nine years to revegetate the dunes and finally stop the sand reaching Yamba.
Today, the toilet building wears a picture of the very landscape Ager transformed, a nod to the man who helped shape modern-day Yamba.
Roof and colours to match
Our Burton-style building was chosen specifically for its gable roof, which blends with an existing shelter on site. The roof, trims and steelwork were all finished in Colorbond Surfmist, chosen to keep the building coastal in style while matching the existing infrastructure. Wallaby was used for the powder-coated aluminium front planking and matching door, giving the building a warm contrast to the Surfmist and helping it further blend in with its surroundings.
Designed for the coast
With the building located metres from the beach, selecting corrosion-resistant materials was essential. This included:
- Aluminium cladding and elements: the louvres, cladding and front planking are all aluminium, so there's little risk of rust under constant salt spray. The powder-coat finish also adds an extra layer of protection.
- Colorbond Ultra roof: this coastal-grade steel is made specifically for harsh coastal environments. As the most exposed part of the building, the roof needed the toughest protection.
- Aluminium composite internal walls: smooth and non-porous, so sand, salt and grime hose or wipe off easily.
- Epoxy floor: while not strictly more corrosion-resistant than concrete, epoxy provides a smooth surface, so sand and salt can be completely cleaned away without residue.
- Protected steel: the steel frame is hot-dip galvanised, and exposed steel is treated with 2-pack epoxy paint for an extra layer of protection in saline environments.
A great result for the community and council
The low-maintenance toilet building fits perfectly in its environment, serves the local community, celebrates Yamba's local history and is built to handle the coast for years to come. It was a pleasure working with Clarence Valley Council on this project, and we're proud to have played a part in the park's upgrade.