The Australian Flexible Pavement Association releases its key insights from the 2024 Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Forum.
The 2024 Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Forum, held on October 22-23 at Sydney’s Bicentennial Park, brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including local and state government representatives, industry leaders, and technical experts. The forum aimed to tackle Australia’s pressing road maintenance challenges amid intensifying weather patterns, increased traffic, and financial constraints that strain infrastructure. It served as a vital platform for exchanging knowledge, exploring innovative solutions, and discussing sustainable practices essential for the future of Australia’s road networks.
Forums like this play a critical role in aligning public policy with industry capabilities, fostering cross-sector collaboration, and driving future-oriented strategies for infrastructure management. This year’s forum placed a strong emphasis on sustainability and resilience, equipping attendees with actionable insights to effectively confront the evolving challenges facing Australia’s road networks. As climate pressures intensify and infrastructure demands grow, events like these are essential for uniting efforts across public and private sectors.
Urgent call for proactive solutions
The opening keynote by Tony Aloisio of the Australian Flexible Pavement Association underscored the vulnerabilities of Australia’s road infrastructure, particularly along the eastern seaboard. Heavy vehicle loads, delayed maintenance, and climate-driven events such as flooding and extreme heat jeopardise road safety and inflate costs. He advocated for a circular economy approach to recycling materials, emphasising the need to extend pavement life and reduce expenses.
A theme of preventative maintenance resonated throughout the event. Deferred repairs were likened to neglecting dental health – small issues can escalate into costly problems if not addressed timely. Timely investment in maintenance is crucial for ensuring safe, sustainable infrastructure. The discussions emphasised that the cost of neglect is not merely financial; it compromises safety and long-term viability.
Climate resilience emerged as a significant topic, with discussions centred on how extreme weather increases the demand for durable infrastructure. A pressing issue highlighted was the funding gap, especially in rural areas where local governments often lack resources for essential maintenance. Speakers stressed the need for federal and state support to facilitate proactive repairs, emphasising that investing in maintenance now can prevent significant future costs – a crucial consideration for budget-constrained regions.
As natural disasters become more frequent and severe, enhancing the resilience of road infrastructure has become a top priority. Derek McCarthy from the NSW Reconstruction Authority presented the State Disaster Mitigation Plan (SDMP), a framework aimed at bolstering infrastructure resilience against disasters such as floods and bushfires. He emphasised the necessity of resilience planning at regional and local levels, encouraging councils to formulate disaster adaptation plans that align with broader state and federal initiatives.
Key elements of the SDMP include early damage assessment and rapid documentation of road conditions following severe weather events, which are crucial for securing recovery funding. By streamlining response and repair processes, the SDMP aims to minimise infrastructure disruption and accelerate recovery. This session underscored the importance of a collaborative, multi-stakeholder approach to resilience planning, showcasing how co-ordinated efforts can mitigate the impact of climate-driven events on road infrastructure and community safety.
Advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and data technology are transforming road maintenance, making it more precise, efficient, and predictive. Justin Fischer of Shepherd Services introduced AI-based inspection tools that automate the process of defect detection, significantly reducing the need for labour-intensive manual inspections. These tools provide governments with real-time, accurate data on road conditions, enabling them to prioritise repairs based on actual conditions rather than estimates.
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The Queensland AI Technical Working Group has conducted trials in automated road assessments that demonstrated substantial cost savings, improved safety for inspectors, and streamlined maintenance schedules. By capturing a detailed, up-to-date view of road conditions across networks, AI-based systems support a proactive maintenance approach, allowing for early intervention before small issues escalate.
A highly engaging session led by Trevor Distin of Colas focused on practical strategies for maintaining sealed roads, which constitute a significant portion of Australia’s road network.
The session examined common road defects and their underlying causes, stressing that while surface wear may seem minor, it often signals deeper structural weaknesses that, if left unaddressed, can result in larger failures.
This presentation covered various defect types, their causes, and available treatment options. It emphasised the need for effective treatments for each type of defect, advocating for early intervention methods like crack sealing, pothole filling, and edge reinforcement to prevent more extensive damage.
By addressing these issues promptly, road managers can extend the lifespan of pavements, avoid costly reconstructions, and improve overall safety. This practical insight resonated strongly with attendees, particularly those from local governments responsible for managing regional road networks and seeking efficient, cost-effective maintenance solutions.
The session highlighted the sustainability benefits of insitu stabilisation, noting its ability to recycle existing pavement materials, conserve natural resources, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This method minimises heavy vehicle movements on local roads, providing a fast and efficient construction process that allows for upgrading more roads within budget constraints. Overall, insitu stabilisation presents a modern, sustainable solution for addressing infrastructure needs.
Hamidreza Sahebzamani from SAMI introduced innovations in bitumen emulsions, which offer an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional asphalt by requiring lower application temperatures.
This reduction in energy usage and emissions makes bitumen emulsions a versatile, sustainable solution for various climates and road conditions. The Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Forum showcased the invaluable role of collaborative events in addressing complex, evolving infrastructure needs. By uniting government staff, industry experts, and technology innovators, the forum fostered a shared understanding of current challenges and encouraged the exploration of scalable, resilient solutions. Participants gained insights into emerging technologies, practical maintenance strategies, and policy implications, helping to bridge knowledge gaps and align resources for more cohesive road management approaches.
As climate pressures grow and infrastructure demands continue to rise, forums like these are essential for uniting efforts across public and private sectors, driving the adoption of forward-looking practices, and building a resilient road network that can withstand future challenges.
The event underscored how cross-sector collaboration, shared expertise, and innovative technologies can lay the foundation for a sustainable infrastructure system that serves Australia’s communities for decades to come.
This article was originally published in the December edition of our magazine. To read the magazine, click here.