Renewable energy zone projects need beds for a construction workforce, site offices, crib rooms, ablutions and laundries, all ready before the main civil and electrical works peak. Most of these buildings are needed for the build phase only, so they must be quick to approve, quick to install and able to be relocated or reused. Engineered steel modules made in an offsite factory suit this well because the buildings arrive finished and can be lifted out again later.
The buyers are the principal contractors, camp operators and transmission builders working in places like the Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone in NSW. EnergyCo has set up a workers’ camp and site office at Merotherie Road for that zone. The problem is the same on every zone: the workforce arrives in waves, local rental housing is thin, and the camp has to be in place before the peak, not halfway through it.
Why modular fits a renewable energy zone
A zone build runs for years but each site moves. A wind farm, a solar farm and a substation may each need a compound, and the transmission line moves across the country as it goes. Volumetric modules can be installed on screw piles or simple footings, connected and then decommissioned without demolition.
The rooms, offices and ablutions are fitted out in the factory. That keeps trades off a remote site where accommodation for those trades is itself the problem.
What EcoPrestige supplies
- Accommodation modules with ensuite rooms, typically Class 1b or 3, confirmed by your building surveyor.
- Site office, meeting room and first aid modules, typically Class 5 or 10a, confirmed by your building surveyor.
- Crib rooms, kitchens, laundries and toilet modules for the compound.
- Covered walkways and connection details so modules join into a village layout.
We supply the modules to your builder, who carries the head contract and the site. See our site office range and our notes on modular accommodation buildings in NSW.
What does not fit
Very short hires of a few months are often better served by rental portable buildings. Large central kitchens with heavy plant, and sites the trucks cannot reach, may need a different approach. If road access or crane set-down is poor, we will say so early rather than after the order.
The approval path in NSW
EcoPrestige coordinates the module design with your consultants; permit drawings are issued by the registered or licensed practitioner the state requires. In NSW, Class 3 buildings need a registered design practitioner and registered engineer under the Design and Building Practitioners Act, until the Building (Approvals and Practitioners) Act 2026 commences. Class 5 and Class 10 buildings have no designer registration. A registered certifier certifies. Confirm with your building surveyor or certifier.
The new NSW Act, which received assent on 14 Aug 2026, brings the manufacture, supply, transport and installation of prefabricated buildings into the approvals system. Our page on the NSW prefabricated building law explains what is known so far.
The programme
Planning and approvals run while modules are made in the factory. Footings, services and the access road are built on site at the same time. Modules then arrive finished and are lifted into place, so time on site is shorter and the camp can open in stages as each block is connected. Our installation and crane guide covers set-down and lifting.
What to send us
- 1. The zone, site address and access route for trucks.
- 2. Peak workforce numbers and how long the camp is needed.
- 3. The mix of rooms, offices, crib rooms and ablutions.
- 4. Whether the buildings must be relocated at the end of the project.
- 5. Your builder, surveyor or certifier and any drawings to date.
Renewable energy zone camps: FAQ
Is there an existing workers’ camp in the Central-West Orana zone?
Yes. EnergyCo reported a workers’ camp and site office at Merotherie Road for the Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone.
What NCC class is a worker camp?
Workforce accommodation is typically Class 1b or 3, and site offices are typically Class 5 or 10a, confirmed by your building surveyor.
Can the modules be moved to the next project?
Yes, if that is planned from the start. Footings, connections and approvals are set up so the modules can be lifted out and reused.
Does EcoPrestige build the camp?
No. EcoPrestige supplies the modules. Your builder carries the head contract and the site, and a registered certifier certifies.
Who signs the design in NSW?
For Class 3 accommodation, a registered design practitioner and registered engineer under the Design and Building Practitioners Act, until the 2026 Act commences. Confirm with your certifier.
Planning a camp or site compound for a renewable energy zone?
Send the site, the use and any drawings to prebuilt@ecoprestige.com.au or download our technical brochures.