Do You Need Civil Works for Modular Builds? Here’s When and Why

One of the appealing promises of modular construction is speed and simplicity – deliver a pre-fab building, drop it in place and you’re done. It’s true that modular builds drastically cut on-site construction time. However, a common misconception is that modular projects don’t require any civil works or site infrastructure. In reality, civil works are often essential for modular building projects, especially in remote Western Australia where site conditions can be challenging. In this article, we’ll explore when and why civil works are needed for modular builds and how an integrated approach (like RGWA’s) ensures these critical tasks aren’t overlooked.

What Do We Mean by “Civil Works”?

“Civil works” refers to the construction activities that prepare and service the site around the building itself. This can include:

Earthworks: clearing, grading, leveling and compacting the ground.
Foundations and Footings: concrete slabs, strip footings, piers or ground anchors to support the modular units.
In-ground Services: trenches and installation for utilities like water pipes, sewer lines (or septic systems), power cables, stormwater drainage.
Roads and Access: building access roads, laydown areas, parking pads, pedestrian footpaths and site fencing.
Other Site Infrastructure: things like retaining walls, culverts, or hardstands (e.g. concrete pads for fuel or equipment) if the project requires.

In a traditional build, civil works might be a huge undertaking (think: months of site prep before you even pour a slab). For modular projects, the scale of civil works is usually smaller – but not zero. Essentially, if your modular building needs a flat and stable spot to sit, power to run, water to drink, or safe access, then some civil construction is needed to make that happen.

When Do Modular Projects Require Civil Works?

Almost always, to some degree. The extent of civil works depends on the project’s scope and the site’s starting conditions. Here are some scenarios:

Greenfield Remote Site: If you’re installing a modular camp on an untouched site in, say, the Pilbara, you’ll likely need substantial civil work. The area may need to be cleared of scrub, levelled out and access roads built from the main highway. Pad preparation (usually compacted earth or gravel) is fundamental to create a stable base for accommodation units or offices. At a mining village expansion like Sunrise Dam, RGWA’s scope included civil earthworks to prepare for dozens of new accommodation units and associated facilities. They had to ensure ground stability and even integrate bushfire clearing around the camp for safety.
Existing Sites (Expansions or Upgrades): If you are adding modules to an existing facility (for example, an extra wing to a camp or a new modular kitchen alongside an older one), some civil works are still needed to connect the dots. You might tie into existing infrastructure – but that often means trenching to extend utilities or pouring small concrete pads to link to existing footpaths. At Boomers Village in Laverton, when RGWA added 14 new accommodation units and amenities, they also constructed access pathways, verandas and service connections as part of the expansion. These are civil works that ensure the new buildings were safely and conveniently integrated with the camp.
Temporary or Portable Installations: For a short-term install (like a mobile office on a construction site for 6 months), you might minimize civil works – e.g. use timber or steel supports on a compacted level ground without full concrete footings. But even then, you’ll need to prep the ground to be level and support the structure and possibly provide basic drainage so water doesn’t pool under the building. Skipping this can lead to an unsafe, unsteady building. So even “temporary” setups need some civil preparation.
Larger Facilities and Turnkey Camps: The bigger the facility, the more civil work it entails. A full turnkey mining camp isn’t just bedrooms in boxes – it’s the interconnecting infrastructure: driveways, car parks, sewage treatment areas, fire water tanks, etc. For instance, at the Castle Hill project, RGWA delivered not just modular workshops but also hardstands, paths, fencing and even an explosives compound. They performed on-site concrete batching and extensive civil prep to meet the spec. Without those works, you’d have buildings with nowhere to walk or drive between them and potentially non-compliance with mining regulations.

In summary, the need for civil works in modular builds ranges from basic to extensive, but it is almost always present. The only time you might avoid civil works is if a site is already perfectly prepared – which is rare, especially in remote WA.

Why Civil Works Matter for Modular Construction

Some might think, “Why can’t I just drop the module on the ground and save cost?” Here’s why civil works are critical:

Structural Stability & Safety: Modular buildings still rely on proper support. A level, well-compacted foundation prevents future settling or movement. In cyclone-prone areas of WA (e.g. the North West), anchoring modules to footings can be lifesaving – it keeps the building from shifting or overturning in extreme winds. Civil works provide those anchors and stability.
Longevity: Proper site prep protects your asset. Drainage works (swales, drains, culverts) channel water away so your building’s footings don’t erode or rot. Think of civil works as giving your modular build a healthy “site infrastructure” to sit on, which in turn extends the building’s life with less maintenance.
Utility Integration: Without civil works, your building is an island. You need trenches and underground works to hook into power generators, water sources (or tanks), septic systems or treatment plants and communications. For example, in the Laverton Caravan Park upgrade, RGWA’s scope included everything from plumbing and electrical works to fencing. They didn’t just place the cabins; they connected them to make a functioning facility. If you skipped those works, you’d have nice cabins with no lights or flushing toilets – not very useful!
Regulatory Compliance: WA’s building codes and occupational safety rules often mandate certain civil features. For instance, any inhabited building might require an all-weather emergency access road for fire trucks, or a minimum number of accessible parking spaces, or a graded ramp for disabled access – all are civil works. In resources sector projects, complying with mine safety standards means proper crib room foundations, bunded fuel storage areas and so on. If these elements aren’t planned as part of the modular project, you could fail inspections or have to halt operations to fix issues later.
Fit-for-Purpose Operations: Civil works make the difference between a building that’s just there and a building that works in its context. Imagine a field office without a connecting footpath – after a week of desert rain (yes, it does rain in the outback occasionally), the area turns to mud and you’re trudging through sludge to get to the office. A simple gravel path or raised walkway, done as part of civil works, prevents that operational headache. It’s about making the site user-friendly and appropriate for daily use.

Integrated Planning: Avoiding the “Forgotten” Scope

It’s clear that civil works and modular installs are intertwined, but problems arise when they’re treated separately. A common pitfall is hiring one contractor to supply/install the modular buildings and another to do site prep – and then discovering gaps or misaligned schedules. For instance, the building might arrive before the power trench is finished, leading to delays, or the footing layout might not match the module’s footings exactly if two different teams didn’t coordinate.

The solution is integrated planning. Remote Group WA tackles this by offering all trades and services in-house as a turnkey package. Their team covers “from civil scope through to commissioning entire camps and all activity in between”. In practice, that means when RGWA takes on a modular project, they handle site works, foundations and the building installation in one seamless sequence. The civil crew, electricians and installation team work under one project manager, so timing and design align perfectly. If an unexpected issue arises – say harder rock is encountered when digging footings – they can quickly adapt the plan without a blame game between contractors.

A good practice is to involve civil engineers in the early design of the modular project. Even though the building itself is pre-designed, the civil engineer will input on how high the finished floor level should be (to allow proper drainage or flood safety), what ground improvement is needed and where to best route services. That way, before anything is delivered, you have a holistic plan.

Real-World Example: Civil Works in Action

Let’s illustrate with a concrete example (pun intended!). Sunrise Dam Village Expansion: AngloGold Ashanti’s Sunrise Dam gold mine needed to expand its FIFO accommodation. RGWA was contracted to deliver 26 new single-person quarters (SPQs), a laundry building and associated infrastructure. The term “associated infrastructure” is key – it wasn’t just dropping in modules. RGWA’s scope included significant civil components: clearing and leveling a new section of village area, installing all the concrete foundations and footpaths, extending the fire water pipeline around the new units and managing stormwater in an area prone to heavy rain runoff. They also had to incorporate bushfire compliance, which meant clearing vegetation around new buildings and installing fire hose reels and pumps meeting Australian standards.

Had civil works been ignored or skimped on, the expansion could have been non-compliant and unsafe. Instead, because RGWA handled every aspect, the project was delivered on time with all groundwork and finishing complete – ready for immediate occupancy. The miners moved into their new rooms without encountering mud pits, power issues, or incomplete footpaths and the mine’s operations continued without a hitch.

When Might Civil Works Be Minimal?

It’s worth noting there are cases where civil works are minor. If you’re placing a single modular office on a well-prepared urban site (say a city block that’s already paved and has utility hookups), you might just need to crane it in and connect services a few meters. Or if the modular building is truly temporary, like a mobile classroom on an existing school oval, you might get away with timber footings on the grass for a short period (still, you’d want a levelled spot and maybe some pavement for accessibility). These situations are more the exception than the rule, especially in regional WA.

Even then, it’s wise to plan for eventual removal – which is another aspect of civil works: making good the site after the building is gone. For temporary setups, part of civil planning is how you will restore the site (fill in service trenches, replant vegetation, etc.). That’s thinking ahead, but it differentiates a professional approach.

Conclusion: Civil Works – The Unsung Hero of Modular Success

In the rush to capitalize on the speed of modular construction, don’t forget the groundwork (literally). Civil works are the backbone that makes your modular building functional and lasting. In remote WA, factors like harsh soil conditions, extreme weather and isolation amplify the importance of doing civil works right – there’s no hardware store down the road if something goes wrong, so you build it robustly from the start.

The bottom line: Yes, you do need civil works for modular builds in most cases. Understanding when and why helps you budget and plan properly. By engaging a contractor like Remote Group WA that can deliver an integrated solution – covering earthworks, concrete, plumbing, electrical and more – you ensure that nothing is left out. RGWA’s all-trades model means the same team that lays your foundations also sets your building and connects the last pipe, with no gaps in between. This comprehensive approach not only avoids surprises but also upholds quality and compliance across the project. So, when planning that next modular building in WA, think beyond the box – think about the ground it stands on and choose partners who can build from the ground up.