Wash Bay & Operations Hub
About Hertz Australia
Hertz Australia is the local arm of The Hertz Corporation, supplying passenger and commercial vehicles to leisure travellers, corporate customers and insurance replacement clients. With branches at major airports and in metropolitan centres across the country, the business supports everyday travel — from holidays and business trips to organisations needing reliable transport access.
Behind the counter, the work goes well beyond simply handing over keys. Vehicles move through cleaning, inspection and maintenance checks before being returned to service, with the focus on keeping the fleet safe, compliant and consistently available when customers need it.
The Problem
At the existing depot, vehicles were processed sequentially. As the fleet grew, turnaround times lengthened and vehicles began queueing for cleaning and inspection. Staff were effectively working around site limitations rather than operating within a defined workflow, creating delays in vehicle availability and reduced operational efficiency.
A compliant wash facility also introduced environmental obligations. Washdown activities generate trade wastewater containing oils, detergents and suspended solids, and discharging untreated water would breach local council environmental requirements. The Emerald site added further complexity: extended material lead times, limited regional trade resources and constrained site access — compounded by concurrent council road and stormwater works that periodically restricted entry during construction.
The Solution
CBC delivered the project under a design-and-construct model, taking responsibility for both construction and operational performance. Planning began with workflow mapping — how vehicles are received, washed, inspected and returned to service — and the washbay and operations hub were arranged around those real processes. The layout supports simultaneous vehicle preparation and provides defined working areas rather than shared space.
Environmental compliance was a core requirement. Working with hydraulic engineers and specialist consultants, CBC installed a compliant trade-waste system comprising a stormwater upgrade, 2,000 L oil-water separator, 140 m² TrueGrid filtration system and controlled drainage to manage runoff prior to discharge.
The facility was also built for lifecycle durability, not just handover. Measures included 180 m² of chemical-resistant epoxy flooring to protect the slab, 175 mm heavy-vehicle concrete crossovers, a 3,300 m² engineered road-base hardstand and 250 m of kerbing for drainage and traffic control.
Scope extended beyond the washbay structure. Civil works delivered the hardstand, road base and access crossovers; plumbing and environmental works installed the stormwater and trade-waste systems; and construction included the washbay shed with storage, operational office and accessible amenities. Electrical works provided a security CCTV network and remote monitoring capability to support day-to-day operations.
To manage regional constraints, CBC applied structured project controls, forward procurement sequencing and close coordination with architects, engineers and trades. A dedicated on-site supervisor oversaw delivery, enabling issues to be resolved quickly and ensuring the facility was ready for operation immediately upon completion.
Planning a similar building upgrade? See our commercial construction and refurbishment services.
"CBC understood that this project was about improving how our fleet operates day to day. Their team worked closely with us to design and deliver a facility that enables faster vehicle turnaround and a more efficient workflow."
Muhammad Ashraf | Project & Facilities Manager | Hertz
Performance Risk Reduction
Issue / Operational Capability |
Risk Before Project |
Measurable Outcome |
Result |
|
Fleet Turnaround Capacity |
Vehicles processed sequentially; queues for cleaning and inspection |
Parallel vehicle processing capability implemented |
Faster fleet turnaround and improved vehicle availability |
|
Vehicle Cleaning Throughput |
One vehicle at a time |
Multiple vehicles cleaned simultaneously |
Reduced fleet downtime and increased utilisation |
|
Operational Workflow |
Staff working around space constraints |
Dedicated processing hub and structured workflow |
More efficient operations and reduced staff pressure |
|
Fleet Readiness |
Delayed vehicle preparation |
Continuous processing capability |
Vehicles returned to service sooner |
|
Environmental Trade-Waste Management |
Risk of regulatory breach from untreated washdown water |
Compliant discharge system with oil-water separation and filtration |
Achieved council compliance and avoided operational shutdown |
|
Regulatory Compliance |
Potential penalties and reputational damage |
Trade-waste certification prior to shutdown period |
Uninterrupted operations |
|
Construction Delivery (regional logistics) |
Programme delays, cost escalation, access restrictions |
Structured project controls and dedicated supervision |
Completed before critical shutdown deadline |
|
Asset Durability |
Concrete deterioration from chemicals and water exposure |
Chemical-resistant epoxy flooring |
Maintenance shifts from reactive repair to routine inspection |
|
Workplace Safety |
Slip hazards and frequent repairs |
Engineered hardstand, drainage control and sealed surfaces |
Safer operating environment and reduced downtime |
The Outcome
CBC delivered a multi-vehicle washbay and integrated operations workspace on a greenfield site, establishing new operational infrastructure from the ground up. The layout was designed around real preparation processes, enabling parallel vehicle processing rather than a single-line workflow and improving fleet turnaround and vehicle availability.
The facility achieved council trade-waste discharge approval and certification prior to the Christmas shutdown period, allowing uninterrupted operations. An epoxy-sealed slab protects against chemical ingress and long-term deterioration, shifting maintenance from reactive repair to routine cleaning and inspection.
Clear communication supported delivery. The client received weekly progress reports, site photography and forward planning updates, and additional works requested during construction were incorporated without extending the programme. A Certificate of Occupancy was secured before the shutdown deadline.
The completed project transformed undeveloped land into a fully operational fleet turnaround facility capable of supporting growing regional demand. Beyond the building itself, the project provides operational infrastructure: faster vehicle processing, compliant environmental management and a workspace aligned to day-to-day workflows. It demonstrates CBC Group’s capability to deliver design-led construction, regulatory coordination and operationally focused infrastructure in regional, live operational environments.
Our Project Team
Adrian Vedelago | Contract Manager
