At a time when the spotlight is increasingly being thrown on the standard – and number – of rest areas next to Australia’s highways and byways, new facilities in Victoria are perhaps offering a glimpse into a brighter future.
Two attractive rest areas on either side of Victoria’s Geelong Ring Road have just been honoured by the Australian Institute of Architects. Made from ribbed prefabricated concrete panels, steel and coloured glass, the toilet blocks are striking enough from the outside, the toilet blocks are literally a breath of fresh air inside. Instead of the usual drab and grey interior the graffiti-proof glazed bricks are bright, cheerful and welcoming. They’re blue and white for for the males and orange and yellow for the women.
The area is well landscaped
Experts say the blocks’ glass-topped turrets not only allow light to filter down but they draw smells out. Fresh air is apparently drawn into each building via slots cut in the concrete fabric, into a cavity, through a floor grid and then drawn up and out through the chimneys.
The entre rest areas is beautifully landscaped and there is covered picnic shelter with wood benches and table. A block of solar panels generate all the power for each toilet block.
A series of underground concrete tanks store water collected from the roof to feed the toilet cisterns and hand basins. An onsite septic treatment has also been used, which provides treated water for landscape irrigation.
Each of the areas holds four truck holding bays, nine truck parking bays and 13 car parking bays, including two disability parking spaces.
Designed by BKK Architects and built by MMAP Constructions as part of the Waurn Ponds section of the Geelong Ring Road. It is intended to provide amenities to tourists heading to the Surf Coast and Great Ocean Road, as well as truckies.
“We’re incredibly proud of this functional, environmentally sustainable and visually appealing design,” VicRoads Project Director, Tony Hedley, told Australian Trucking News. “All power is generated from solar panels, providing lighting and power for pumps and generators. Automatic lighting is also activated by movement which helps reduce the amount of power needed.”
VicRoads’ research shows that some 20% of fatal road accidents in Victoria involve driver fatigue, and is the single most significant cause of road crashes involving heavy vehicles.
I haven’t tried these, but look forward to. Beautiful.
Yes we need a lot more in Victoria ,a great idea.
service stations between sydney and queensland please
some rest areas in northern Western Australia also have free wifi hotspots.