Vol 4 No 14

ACN 132 670 261

VOL. 4 NO. 14 - February 2012

ABN 52 132 670 261

PRINT POST NO. PP424022/2324

ALL ENQUIRIES PHONE: (07) 5499 4441 EMAIL ENQUIRIES: admin@amrcn.com.au www.amrcn.com.au

Circulated to key personnel within all State Departments of Road and Infrastructure throughout Australia including their Regional Directors and Metropolitan Project Directors including their top personnel throughout their State. Key Civil Engineering personnel from all Australian Road Civil Engineering companies. Key Road Personnel within every Australian Local Government Council each issue

Facelift for Australia’s most iconic Bridge STORY PAGES 4-9

14th International Flexible Pavements Conference For Full Wrap Up See Pages 4-6 Above: Sergio Cinerari (AAPA Chairman also COO Downer Australia), Michael Bushby Chief Executive of the NSW RTA (opened the Conference); Dr Helen Murphy (Director of Sustainability in VicRoads and key note speaker); John Lambert

New bridge faithfully replicates art deco era INNISFAIL in North Queensland is famed for its architectural buildings and structures. Its CBD has Australia’s largest concentration of art deco buildings, featuring examples of Spanish, Sicilian, Moroccan, Italian and Anglo Saxon art deco design facades.

Innisfail’s landmark Jubilee Bridge was built in 1923, and provided an important link between East Innisfail and the CBD, carrying up to 10,000 motorists a day. Crossing the South Johnstone River, the bridge carried all services – electricity, sewerage and water. By May 2010, the bridge had aged to such an extent that the Cassowary Coast Regional Council was forced to close it off to all vehicular traffic.

Engineering tests found the bridge had deteriorated rapidly, with major cracking and scouring of the piles. With the bridge closed, residents had to undertake a six kilometre detour.

When the Council decided to replace the Jubilee Bridge, the recreation of its art deco style was a critical factor in the design of the new bridge. Other important considerations for the new bridge were cost effectiveness and speed of construction. The rapid replacement of the bridge was critical.

In supplying precast for the bridge, Humes played a key role in helping to maintain

Circulated to key personnel within all State Departments of Road and Infrastructure throughout Australia including their Regional Directors and Metropolitan Project Directors including their top personnel throughout their State. Key Civil Engineering personnel from all Australian Road Civil Engineering companies. Key Road Personnel within every Australian Local Government Council each issue

Innisfail’s reputation as the art deco Capital of Australia.

Humes delivered a tailor-made decorative precast solution to ensure the new bridge faithfully represented the art deco style.

Specially made moulds were used to create the 108 decorative precast plinths and 112 decorative precast infill panels. As well, 12 precast arch facades were supplied, the spans of which were built to imitate the original arches. All elements in the new Jubilee Bridge met stringent load standards set down by the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads.

The precast solution that was delivered, ensured that BMD was able to meet an extremely tight construction program and minimise onsite labour works, which helped to keep costs down and make the bridge’s completion less susceptible to weather conditions.

The end result authentically recreates the art deco style of the original Jubilee Bridge, while delivering a solution that will serve the town of Innisfail for many years to come.

Client: Cassowary Coast Regional Council Building contractor: Joint venture between BMD and Albem Engineer: GHD Precast manufacturer: Humes Article courtesy of National Precast Concrete Association Australia

Publisher: AUSTRALIAN MAIN ROADS CONSTRUCTION NEWS PTY LTD ACN 132 670 261 ABN 52 132 670 261 Publisher:

Tom Cook

For All General Enquiries - (07) 5478 9432 Email: admin@amrcn.com.au All Advertising Enquiries - Phone: (07) 5499 4441 Email: advertise@amrcn.com.au

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We also publishe Australia’s Leading Power Industry Newspaper

Editorial Contributions Civil Engineering, Local Government Councils including all State Road Authorities are invited to submit editorial, photo input on any intermediate or major road infrastructure projects that they are involved with or are nearing completion, to appear in a future issue of the Australian Main Roads Construction News, free of charge to allow and inform our national readership of the many diverse road infrastructure projects currently being undertaken throughout Australia.

In the first instance, please contact the publisher, Tom Cook for further details on: (07) 5478 9432 or email: admin@amrcn.com.au Web: www.amrcn.com.au Page 2 - Australian Main Roads Construction News

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In this issue: • Manage your water with Polymer

Innovations Page 3 • Facelift for Australia’s most iconic Bridge Page 4-9 • Citywide’s diversity matched by Sustainable Solutions Pages 10-14 • Dingley Arterial connects Westall Road to Dandenong Bypass Page 15 • Western Australian Road Builder meets challenges head on Kwinana Freeway Widening and Upgrade Pages 16-19 • Spotlight Fuchs turn asphalt green Page 20 • Occupational Health and Safety in Construction Page 21 • Federal Updates on Road Infrastructure Page 22 • Safer M80 with Moonee Ponds Creek Bridge coming soon Page 23 • Stepping up to the sustainability plate: Government and Industry working together Page 24

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Manage your water with Polymer Innovations P

olymer Innovations works closely with industries to help them maintain safe working environments that assist with the health and safety of workers, their families and local residents.

Many of these heavy industries such as mining and construction are located in remote locations and utilise dirt or unsealed roads constantly.

Due to the huge amounts of stress these roads regularly receive they soon lose stability and erode.

Spilling and leaching toxic dirt, mud and water pollution into nearby land and waterways affects employees, residents and the local environment.

Road stabilisation is important in maintaining our landscapes integrity by stopping the leaching of water based and airborne pollution, preventing hard panning and increased salt content of soils, protect native land and increase the strength of roads and embankments.

Road stabilisation, soil erosion and dust pollution problems are dealt with quickly

by Polymer Innovations specific polymer products. These products are easy to apply, are cost effective, biodegradable, non-toxic and environmentally friendly.

Water$ave Flobind is a polymer that is used for soil erosion control, road stablisation, dust suppression, dam sealing and hydroseeding.

Water$ave Flobind is extremely versatile and can assist with all water and pollution issues.

It flocculates suspended fine soil particles and stabilises existing soil structure. Flobind is also ideal for smaller applications where powder or emulsion dosing systems are not practical.

This polymer gives us an even greater ability to customise a solution for your water and pollution problems. Whether it is used on its own or mixed with other blends our ability to cater a solution for you is assured.

Suppressing dust and light soil in the air is important in many ways. Such as keeping people and animals free from allergies and asthma, reducing soil erosion, ecological damage and

airborne pollution. Also, reducing wear and tear on nearby expensive equipment.

Finding ways to effectively control dust and air born pollution in a simple and cost effective manner is beneficial for everyone. Polymer Innovations meets this demand with a specific and extremely cost effective polymer blend for dust pollution control Water$ave DS Dust Suppression.

Water$ave DS is an effective dust stabilising agent for soil waste and mineral dumps; civil and commercial construction sites; open cut and underground mines; coal stock pile management; quarries and landfills; unpaved roads; parking lots and open areas; dirt roads; airstrips and other dust prone areas.

Water$ave DS offers a quick, safe and cost effective solution that reduces the amount and the frequency of cart watering. No matter the scale Polymer Innovations staff will provide the best dust suppressant solution to keep your environment clear and it’s inhabitants breathing easier.

Polymer Innovations develops specific polymer blends that address the unique requirements of industries exposed to hazardous

or toxic slimes and sludges. Toxic water slurries that are too thick to pump or too watery to shovel up, can be thickened quickly by adding SAP, allowing for fast and easy removal.

Our SAP Range absorb large quantities of toxins in water and hold them stable for removal for mining, construction and governments roadways; dredging and other industrial waste water affected areas. Water ingress issues are dealt with quickly by our SAP polymer blends.

SAP reduces damage to the surrounding environment and removes hazardous material from the work area that can be caused by water and mud slurries. This ability to cater to the unique requirements of our clients allows us to control water based pollution from some of Australia’s most pristine environments and productive industries.

Polymer Innovations Water$ave PT Plantation is effective in the revegetation and reforestation of roadside trees, bushes, tube stock and saplings. Water$ave PT can reduce the mortality rate caused by transplant shock and enhance root development, encouraging more rapid growth and production. Water$ave PT reduces the leaching of any introduced fertilizer, minimising evaporation from the soil whilst improving porosity and aeration.

Hydroseeding is used to seed grass on commercial sites, highways or motorways, parks and golf courses, heavily damaged or burnt land, lawns and areas too large, inaccessible or unsuitable for conventional methods. Once it is applied to the soil, it enhances growth by providing an ideal environment for seed germination.

Water$ave HY Hydro can be efficiently applied for hydroseeding operations in

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mountainous areas or road embankments. It maximises plant establishment and holds the components together preventing loss of material through wind and water erosion.

Water$ave HY Hydro prevents cellulose mulch from becoming hardpan during a dry spell. The mulch remains aerated allowing the seeds to sprout quickly. Water$ave HY also reduces the amount of mulch needed. Polymer Innovations Water$ave HY Hydro is highly effective in the young regrowth of trees, shrubs, bushes and saplings to assist in revegetation and reforestation.

Water$ave TF Turf - is a special polymer formulation that can be used throughout the growth cycle of lawns and sods, ensuring good germination and fast root development for the even growth of lawns.

The rooting of the sod is faster, increasing growth efficiency. Water$ave TF polymers reduces labour and water costs, as well as providing relief for difficult growth areas and hot spots that are vulnerable to drying out and going brown.

TF is widely used in turf landscaping for decorative lawns, golf courses, bowling greens, parks and gardens.

Water$ave PL Plug is the best polymer based reservoir sealant that is 100% customisable to your specific environment via our specific dam sealing blends Plug, Seep and Bomb. Whether the leak is in the base, wall, through rock or in any soil type we have the specific Water$ave PL dam sealant to put an end to your water loss.

Water$ave PL locates the leak and seals it.

Even if you don’t know exactly where the leak is our polymers will locate the outflow and stop it!

Polymer Innovations sales and support staff will tailor the best solution for your road stabilisation projects.

For more information please visit the website: www.polymerinnovations.com.au or call 02 6571 5177.

Australian Main Roads Construction News - Page 3

The Sydney Harbour Bridge is one of the world’s most internationally recognised icons.

Facelift for Australia’s most iconic Bridge

PHOTOGRAHY CREDIT: GEOFF WARD

T

HE STEEL structure was opened on 19 March 1932 after almost a decade of work.

The Bridge was recently closed for two weekends to allow a major upgrade to be carried out ahead of its 80 year anniversary.

The Bridge was closed from 10pm Friday to 5am Monday, the first time such lengthy closures had ever been implemented on the corridor, which is the busiest in Australia, with 160,000 vehicles using it each week day.

January was chosen as traffic volumes are at their lowest, with about 30,000 fewer vehicles per day than other months.

The $3.5 million project was fairly straight forward and involved applying a waterproof membrane under a new asphalt surface to promote longevity of the bridge deck and reduce the risk of corrosion.

Ensuring motorists who would normally use the Bridge at the weekend to take alternative routes, delay travel or use public transport required an extensive media and communication campaign.

This campaign extended to local, interstate and international media to ensure as many people as possible were aware of the closures.

Coverage across print and broadcast media was extensive and captured an estimated audience of around 25 million across the three month campaign. The basic messages were to leave the car at home and catch a bus or a train.

While some delays were experienced for traffic heading into the Sydney Harbour Tunnel, most people changed their travel habits and avoided the Bridge during the work.

Page 4 - Australian Main Roads Construction News

It had been more than 20 years since the last major resurfacing of the Bridge had been carried out. It was the first time in the Bridge’s 80-year history it was stripped back to the original concrete deck.

Work was planned for two weekends -13 to 16 January and 20 to 23 January. Despite heavy rain across both weekends delaying work, the teams on site pulled together to complete the project 10 hours ahead of schedule, with the Bridge opening to traffic around 7pm on the Sunday night of 22 January.

The Bridge was designed by Dr John Bradfield and built by Dorman Long and Co. It took nine years to build at a cost close to £10 million or $3 billion in today’s money. Around 1400 workers helped put the structure together.

When it opened, about 11,000 vehicles crossed the bridge each day. Today that’s grown to more than 160,000.

More than 20 staff were involved in creating an alliance to help manage the project to ensure every detail was covered and every contingency planned for.

On each weekend more than 450 workers were inducted to the worksite from a variety of industry partners including three asphalt profiling companies, two asphalt suppliers, two asphalt paving organisations, bituminous sealing crews, traffic management crews, suppliers and applicators for the polymer based waterproofing material.

Due to the need to have a dry surface when waterproofing, two road heaters were also onsite to dry the deck as quickly as possible.

ABOUT THE BRIDGE •

It has 52,800 tonnes of steel

•

There are 6,000,000 rivets weighing 3200 tonnes

•

Around 95,000m³ of concrete was used in the original work

•

Workers used 272,000 litres of paint to give the bridge its first three coats

•

The Bridge’s highest point is 134 metres above sea level

•

The arch is 503 metres long

•

The main deck is 49 metres wide

•

There is 49 metres clearance underneath for shipping

•

The pylons are 89 metres high

•

The total length (including approaches) is 1149 metres

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Australian Main Roads Construction News - Page 5

CRS waterproofs the Sydney Harbour Bridge Formally opened on Saturday, 19th March 1932, the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge, affectionately referred to as the ‘coat hanger’ never takes a holiday.

It works non-stop all year round, carrying rail, vehicles, bicycles and pedestrian traffic between the Sydney CBD and the North Shore.

However, this impressive arch shaped, steel structure still requires maintenance and Concrete Remedial Services (CRS) was recently given the difficult task of waterproofing parts of this magnificent bridge.

T

HE NSW State Government’s Roads and Maritime Services commissioned this important maintenance project which also included asphalt resurfacing and it was the first time in 80 years that the road service has been stripped back and waterproofing applied.

CRS was engaged as the principal contractor to apply the waterproofing which in simple terms, involved the application of a primer and a Poly Urea waterproof membrane. This process was followed by an application of an epoxy adhesive and pellet bonder. These areas were then resurfaced with asphalt.

However, although in principle it might sound like a straightforward operation, albeit extremely laborious, speed was of the essence. An enforced bridge closure is

never a popular option for motorists and of course, the bridge is a critical transport corridor but it does have to be maintained. To CRS’s great credit, although it was expected that the bridge would need to be closed for three weekends in early January 2012, the company helped to complete the work ahead

of schedule in just two weekends. This level of efficiency was achieved by all involved, despite the wet weather that prevailed at the time.

It’s even more remarkable when you consider the logistics and processes involved.

Firstly, the existing asphalt surface was

removed from the road surface and this task was performed over 6 lanes and included the entry and exit ramps at both ends of the bridge. The remaining 1930’s concrete surface which protects the supporting metal work on which the lanes sit was then cleaned.

CRS then applied a primer to the concrete surface of the approach ramps followed by a Poly Urea waterproof membrane. An epoxy adhesive was then sprayed on followed by a pellet bonder which helps to bond the asphalt layer. Then there is the critical drying process which takes several hours before the lanes can be used by motorists.

The application of the various processes

by CRS would have been extremely arduous to say the least as it was in effect a hands-on job to ensure that maximum benefit would be gained by the new waterproofing process.

CRS used 48 workers in 8 teams performing each of the 4 steps involved to cover ten thousand square metres of bridge surface.

The teams worked in two, long 24 hour shifts over the two weekends.

During the shifts the teams applied 4,350 Kg of a clear layer primer using rollers and sprayed on approximately 24,000 Kg of Poly Urea waterproofing. 6000 Kg of epoxy adhesive was applied by spray and using spreaders, 9,000 Kg of bonding pellets were also laid.

CRS used six, state of the art, Graco XP3 Reactors to assist in the application of the Poly Urea waterproof membrane and 5 Graco XP70 Plural Component Proportioners in the application of the primers and the epoxy adhesive.

The Sydney Harbour Bridge will celebrate its 80th birthday on March 19 this year and the waterproofing and resurfacing is an ideal present as it will rejuvenate the bridge and reduce the risk of corrosion and structural Continued next page

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SAT Civil proudly selected for bridge works SAT Civil Constructions Pty Ltd was contracted to supply two Wirtgen HM4500 Heater Machines and their crews, to perform the task of drying the exposed concrete bridge deck using the LPG powered infrared heater panels.

This process was carried out after the profiling stage and prior to the application of an epoxy waterproofing membrane.

Due to the very inclement weather on both designated work weekends, the Heater Machines were also used as a “contingency plan” to dry the rain effected deck repeatedly therefore helping towards a timely completion of this project.

CRS Waterproofs the Sydney Harbour Bridge damage in the future. The new surface will also reduce road noise by creating a smoother and more durable road surface.

Concrete Remedial Services (CRS) is based in Newcastle NSW and was established in 1982. The company specialises in concrete repair and protection and this high level of expertise includes the application of High Performance Polyurea Protective Coating and Lining Systems, as well as other forms of waterproofing. It’s a specialised skill that CRS has been developing over the last 28 years so its’ understandable that the company is highly respected in this particular field of endeavor and was selected for this critical Sydney Harbour project.

CRS has been highly active in the waterproofing treatment of civil infrastructure having applied Poly Urea liners to potable water reservoirs, sewer treatment plants, man holes, pump stations, chemical bunds, as well as earth, steel and concrete tanks.

The company’s waterproofing expertise and ability to repair concrete is also evident in a number of projects related to sealing joints, epoxy floor and wall coatings, structural concrete strengthening, spalling and pavement repairs.

Recently, the company was engaged by the Western Downs Regional Council to waterproof the Dalby Potable Water concrete reservoir which had developed serious leakage. CRS provided a full Poly Urea lining to the 9MI concrete reservoir and, in yet another demonstration of efficiency, the work was completed in just 6 weeks allowing the dam to be back in action before the onset of summer in 2011.

The CRS team was also on hand to provide vital repairs to the Higgins Potable Water Reservoir in the ACT. The managers of water and wastewater infrastructure in the

territory, ACTEWAGL called in CRS to apply a partial Poly Urea liner to the concrete reservoir to prevent leakage and allow the reservoir to be operated at full capacity. The team also repaired a number of spalls where the roof support columns had broken free of the walls.

In another case, despite a number of valiant attempts the Gunnedah Shire Council had been unable to stop the leakage in the Links Rd Potable Water Reservoir and so called in CRS. The company resealed and waterproofed the reservoir joints using a combination of Hypalon bandages and a Poly Urea waterproof membrane.

In a slightly different operation, a heritage building in Watt Street, Newcastle was suffering numerous instances of spalling concrete and ‘cancer’ in the reinforcing steel in the walls and roof of the building. CRS successfully carried out the repairs providing a new and longer life for the valuable building.

Three years ago the RAAF benefited greatly from CRS expertise when the company, in a major project, resealed the joints and made extensive concrete spall repairs to runways, taxiways and aprons at the Williamtown and Richmond RAAF bases. The work was conducted over a 15 month period and involved repairs to around 140,000 lineal metres.

In a world where the sustainability of any new civil infrastructure is paramount, Concrete Remedial Services is ensuring that existing concrete structures can be sustained beyond what might normally be considered a normal life span. With recent flooding activity, it’s also a reminder that the integrity of our dams and reservoirs must be maintained and the technology that CRS employs is playing an invaluable role in that important task.

in no vatio ns in ro ad re ha bi lit at io n At SAT Civil Constructions, we are committed to protecting the environment and natural resources by using Insitu-Stabilisation (Cold Recycling), Hot-In-Place-AsphaltRecycling (HIPAR), and Dry-Matting processes to rehabilitate and rejuvenate pavements.

As sub-contractors for government bodies, and private and public

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construction companies throughout Australia, we pride ourselves on utilising technologically advanced machines and methods.

We provide a distinctive service of the highest quality to our customers, adhering to the standards and safety measures required to fulfil our social and environmental responsibilities.

503 Sandy Creek Road Josephville QLD 4285 Phone: 07 5541 0057 Fax: 07 5541 0078 www.satcivil.com.au Australian Main Roads Construction News - Page 7

Continued from page 4

The aim was to complete three lanes each weekend. The other lanes were used for work vehicles, equipment and emergency vehicle access. One bus lane in each direction also remained open for bus lane traffic.

Warm, dry weather was needed to ensure the work could be carried out successfully with the waterproofing layer needing several hours to be laid and then several more to dry.

Once work started to mill off the old road surface, a process which would take more than 50 hours to complete was under way.

A number of activities were involved in the work with up to 60 workers on the deck during some stages.

At other times a minimal workforce was visible, particularly when heavy equipment activities such as removing the existing asphalt or curing of the waterproofing layer was taking place ahead of the new asphalt surface being laid.

The polymer based waterproofing material had been trialled on a section of the Sydney Harbour Bridge in May 2011.

This material is commonly used to waterproof dams and water catchment structures. It was applied in part by hand, to maximise the level of waterproofing. This

Facelift for Australia’s most iconic Bridge material was used on the approaches due to the larger deck movement which occurs on these spans and the longer term durability of this material. A more conventional rubber bitumen membrane was applied to the main deck of the bridge.

Extensive information about alternative routes and clearways was available in local papers, the internet, via electronic message signs, on Live Traffic and private motorway websites.

Media briefings were held throughout the upgrade to ensure the community was aware of the progress, with Premier, Barry O’Farrell arriving by train at a media conference on Observatory Hill on the first Saturday morning of the work.

During the work more than 2700 tonnes of asphalt was removed and replaced.

A dedicated asphalt plant and a backup plant ensured a constant asphalt supply was available for the two paving crews so the bridge could be resurfaced and reopened by 5am on the Monday morning.

Around 10,000 square metres of polymer waterproofing membrane and 11,600 square metres of bitumen seal were applied during the project, ensuring the steel deck is protected from water seepage.

QUOTED BY AN RMS SPOKESPERSON PHOTOGRAHY CREDIT: GEOFF WARD

Page 8 - Australian Main Roads Construction News

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Able Traffic on the Sydney Harbour Bridge A

BLE Roadwork Traffic Analysis Pty Ltd is a 100% Australian owned and managed company situated in the central location of Bankstown in Sydney.

The company was established in late 1994 and the initial focus was the supply of Traffic Controllers. The business has grown and developed substantially to encompass a full range of traffic management and traffic control solutions for the roadwork, Infrastructure Support & even Major Event industries.

Able Roadwork Traffic Analysis General Manager Brett Hanbridge said “It was once in a life time opportunity to be a part of a team working on a national icon; the Sydney Harbour Bridge”.

Able was invited to be a part of this project by Boral Asphalt and are privileged to be part of a project on such a scale where ‘Able’ could demonstrate its traffic control management and services. “I would like to congratulate the ‘Able’ team for their efficiency and professionalism for ensuring the traffic management and coordination of all traffic on the bridge deck went smoothly”.

Our management team acknowledges that our strength lies with the expertise, experience and dedication of our staff, and as such we strive to provide an exceptional work environment that allows our people to achieve extraordinary results.

Able is fully certified and compliant in Quality Assurance to ISO 9001:2008 and also in Occupational Health & Safety to AS/NZS 4801:2001.

Able also leads the way with innovative Traffic Control Vehicles. All vehicles have purpose built cages, Higher mounted Arrow Boards and orange lights providing greater visibility for approaching vehicles. All vehicles are fitted with reversing cameras and all vehicles use diesel fuel to reduce our carbon footprint.

Able was founded by Managing Director Michael Grima in a small depot in Padstow but have since outgrown this property and have moved into their expansive and largest depot yet in Bankstown.

The company continues to grow by providing traffic management services and facilities within the Sydney metro and surrounding regions. Able now provides traffic planning, permit sourcing, traffic management, traffic control and traffic equipment supply.

Able Roadwork Traffic Analysis P/L

Simply the best

PHONE:

1300 556 665 www.abletraffic.com.au

• Traffic Control Management • Traffic Control consultation and planning • Special event Traffic Control for sporting events, concerts and street fairs • Traffic Control Plans All staff are RTA accredited with New South Wales OHS General Induction for construction.

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Australian Main Roads Construction News - Page 9

Alpine Shire feature

Citywide’s diversity matched

by Sustainable Solutions C

ITYWIDE Service Solutions Pty Ltd (Citywide) was established in 1995 and provides the full range of civil infrastructure, open space and environmental services to a diverse range of local government and commercial clients in Australia.

With its head office based in Melbourne, the company’s operational reach extends across three states and all its operational activities are based on strict OH&S work practices with a strong underlying emphasis on providing its customers with environmentally sustainable solutions in the delivery of its services.

Citywide’s extensive client base is impressive and includes numerous tier one contractors, councils and state government entities such as Victorian Road Authority – VicRoads.

Citywide delivers a range of diverse projects and in recent times has successfully completed a major road initiative for Alpine Shire Council.

The Alpine Shire is a large regional municipality located in the upper north east corner of Victoria approximately 70 kilometres south of Albury/Wodonga. It incorporates three major townships, Mount Beauty, Bright and Myrtleford and while the local economy was built on agriculture, timber and forestry industries, the Shire’s main source of income is derived predominately from tourism. This is highlighted by the spectacular regional scenery which includes the renowned Alpine National Park.

The Alpine Shire’s road network is subject to the extremes of a cold winter climate, which can deliver heavy falls of snow and ice. This makes road maintenance a major Council priority. The Alpine Shire Council adopts a proactive approach to ensure that ratepayers and tourists are presented with the optimal road conditions across the length and breadth of the municipality and Citywide’s stabilisation team has been hard at work maintaining the Shire roads to ensure that they are safe and accessible.

Citywide’s skilled and experienced regional infrastructure maintenance crews undertake insitu stabilisation to restore the road pavement. The technology adopted throughout these road works is typical of the company’s environmental position it applies to all projects.

The extent of patching required on the Shire roads varied from 30 to 700 square metres and the stabilisation team used PolyCom Stabilising Aid which, along with insitu stabilisation, has numerous environmental advantages.

Insitu stabilisation, a form of recycling, makes use of existing onsite materials with a PolyCom additive which strengthens and improves the resilience of the restored pavement. This method dramatically increases the life expectancy of the road’s surface, and more importantly, it means that aggregate material does not have to be transported to the site. This reduces vehicle emissions associated with the works and minimises traffic disruption during road repairs. Insitu stabilisation represents a major benefit for road users, tourists and the environment.

The use of PolyCom has additional benefits in that it allows the road to be used almost immediately following treatment and is ideally suited to the region. Its application is suitable for a variety of road surfaces including rural tracks, access roads and standard road pavements. It also provides increased water resistance and additional strength which is obviously important with the extreme climatic conditions in the area.

The Alpine Shire Council was one of the first Councils to conduct road sealing trials using PolyCom. Prior to this project and according to the then Engineering and Assets Manager, Andrew Taylor, the trials were extremely successful. “PolyCom allows the road surface to compact very well resulting in less cracks and breaks. This results in the road requiring less maintenance and the Council saves money.”

Mr Taylor also stated that the new process meant that more unsealed roads were now being treated, resulting in improved quality of Alpine Shire roads.

This particular Alpine project was a ‘winwin’ situation according to Rob Thompson, Citywide’s Contract Manager. “We had a very cooperative and collaborative working relationship with the Alpine Shire Council.

In an area where roads need to be constantly maintained, PolyCom’s flexible properties made the job a lot easier and there’s no doubt that insitu stabilisation delivered significant cost benefits for Council and ratepayers.

This is an ideal solution that provided tangible environmental and financial benefits.

Once the road is repaired using this method, the length of road service interval is greatly increased reducing the ongoing need for repeated maintenance.”

A Citywide Social Conscience Citywide adopts a holistic approach in the delivery of essential services to its clients and the communities in which it operates.

It has an organisational philosophy and an operational strategy that ensures consistency in the efficient and effective delivery of a broad range of essential integrated services. This is based upon a genuine commitment to both its employees and the broader community.

The company actively supports various community programmes and charities which it has consistently done for a number of years.

These include Uniting Care Connections, a community welfare agency which supports children, young people, and families in need.

Under this programme, Citywide supported the development of a special Community Veggie Patch Project designed to turn a neglected garden in the Melbourne suburb of Croydon into a productive vegetable garden.

For the last 4 – 8 years Citywide has been an active supporter of the Family Life Open Garden day event. It’s an annual event where members of the Citywide Open Space team provide information sessions for Bayside locals on native plants and how to care for their garden in various climatic conditions. Money raised goes to Family Life, a not-for-profit community group supporting Bayside families at risk.

There are a number of other social commitments Citywide supports on an annual basis and many involve employees of the company who volunteer to provide specialist horticultural training for schools and social groups. Any profit generated from these activities is donated to those in the Victorian community who are less well off.

Citywide Divisions focus on Diversity To facilitate greater focus and target appropriate expertise to all its areas of operation, Citywide’s delivery arm has three main divisions. These are Infrastructure, Above: After Polycom application, patch is levelled and rolled.

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Continued on page 14

Citywide...

Working the roads less travelled

Responsible for maintaining over 3400 kilometres of regional arterial road network throughout Victoria, Citywide is a leading authority when it comes to providing civil infrastructure services to regional Victoria.

Offering regional customers a diverse scope of works, Citywide provides a diverse range of VHUYLFHV ZKLFK LQFOXGHV URDG VWDELOLVDWLRQ JUDYHO URDG UH VKHHWLQJ URDG SURÂżOLQJ WUHH SUXQLQJ WUDIÂżF PDQDJHPHQW DQG GUDLQDJH VROXWLRQV A trusted partner in the growth and development of government and business enterprises, contact Citywide today for more information on our regional civil infrastructure services.

7R ÂżQG RXW PRUH YLVLW XV DW www.citywide.com.au or call us on 1300 136 234

we shape sustainable landscapes

Infrastructure

Environmental www.amrcn.com.au

Open Space Australian Main Roads Construction News - Page 11

Alpine Shire feature

Across Australia, councils and shires are embracing Australian road maintenance and construction innovation *

*Copy supplied by Polycom Stabilising Aid

Right: Road patch of Alpine road material treated with PolyCom, tight strong road created from this material.

A

T THE September MWOA conference held in Bendigo, Victoria, delegates from councils and shires around Australia were talking about PolyCom Stabilising Aid. Asset managers, engineers, works supervisors and more exchanged information and experiences about the positive results they achieved when using PolyCom Stabilising Aid to manage their road assets. Recent weather events have caused extensive road damage and council and shire budgets are stretched to breaking point. By including PolyCom Stabilising Aid in standard road repair procedures, works crews are delivering more productivity and more cost effective road repairs.

PolyCom is a reliable and efficient way to construct, maintain and repair sealed and unsealed roads. It is used to repair road shoulders, maintaining and improving the seal and shoulder interface, and it is used for stabilising soft spots in sealed roads and for patching to create a longer lasting permanent repair. PolyCom is effective on hardstands and airstrips and is used extensively on mine haul and access roads.

Council crews talked about how easy PolyCom is to apply, it can be applied in dry form rather than using a water cart. Standard maintenance procedures apply, there is no need for special machinery and in most cases there is no need to import re-sheet material.

Sustainable road maintenance is becoming increasingly important to council and government road authorities. Listed with EcoBuy Victoria and with NSW Local Government Sustainable Purchasing, PolyCom Stabilising Aid has completed its first carbon footprint study with spectacular results.

STUDY: a common unsealed road in rural Victoria, 1km long by 6 metres wide over one year.

Historically this road needed maintenance grading four times a year on average and was scheduled to be re-sheeted with a 75mm layer of imported pit gravel sourced 20 km away from the site at the time of the study.

Instead of re-sheeting, the road was treated with PolyCom Stabilising Aid. Maintenance crews scarified the road to 100mm depth, blade mixed PolyCom treated water into the road material and compacted the road as per

• Overall reductions in plant and machinery use.

• The product is environmentally inert and is listed with Eco-Buy Victorian Centre for Environmental Purchasing, and NSW Local Government Sustainable Choice.

standard practice. No new gravel was imported to the site.

RESULTS • No intervention or maintenance was required for that road for one year • A water saving of 80 % was achieved over this period • CO2 emissions were reduced by 90% • Traditional method produces 7,217 kg of CO2-e per km • Polycom Stabilising Aid method produces 834 kg of CO2-e per km OTHER SIGNIFICANT BENEFITS • Significant cost reductions due to the elimination of quarry material in the maintenance process.

• Reduction of the damage en route to roads caused by transport and tipping of quarry material to the site.

Page 12 - Australian Main Roads Construction News

COLLATERAL BENEFITS

Above: Rory Hazeldine of Alpine Shire and Des of Citywide on site.

Below left: Patching works by Citywide at Alpine Shire.

Below right: Material in question is a mixed bag, PolyCom works well here with clayey gravels.

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• Polycom Stabilising Aid containers are fully recyclable (HDPE #2).

• Reduced corrugations of the road surface due to avoidance of intense traffic during transport of quarry material to and from the site.

• Material compacted with PolyCom Stabilising Aid reduces sediment run-off into storm water drains.

PolyCom Stabilising Aid is the future of sustainable, economic road construction, maintenance and repair.

An Australian innovation for innovative Australians

Repair Construct Maintain Stabilise Sealed and unsealed roads Patching works Sub-grade remediation Road shoulders

1800 790 907 www.roadmaker.com.au PolyCom Stabilising Aid

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Australian Main Roads Construction News - Page 13

Alpine Shire feature

Citywide’s diversity matched by Sustainable Solutions Continued from page 10

Open Space and Environmental Services. Each division delivers team a number of specialised services and is supported by highly experienced corporate personnel. To provide easy customer access and to quickly ascertain the appropriate response, the three divisions are integrated by advanced communications and operational systems.

Citywide Open Space Citywide’s Open Space Division provides innovative, sustainable garden design and management of public parks and space. The company believes it is essential that Australians are able to enjoy the great outdoors at its best.

The Open Space team is a group of skilled horticultural and arboriculture professionals who know how to put new life into public areas such as city parks, boulevards, sports grounds and riverside gardens. The team also provides maintenance and expert risk management to ensure that the investment made by government and taxpayers is cost effective.

A number of open spaces have benefited from this expertise including Melbourne’s world heritage listed gardens and Sydney’s iconic parks as well as major bushland revegetation and the production of street floral displays for special events.

Citywide Infrastructure Division Citywide’s Infrastructure Division delivers civil infrastructure and related services including project management and maintenance activities. It has an extensive fleet of modern plant and equipment, which provides a capability and a capacity to respond to any project requirement. It’s in-house expertise and its ability to remove construction risk by responding with strategic and innovative solutions ensures that the function, performance and the life of the asset will be maximised.

The infrastructure team provides consultancy services in design, engineering, feasibility and project evaluation and delivers the full scope of civil infrastructure and road maintenance and construction works.

All of its experienced and highly skilled teams are fully supported by an extensive resource base and have the capability and capacity to respond to emergency situations such as a major storm event or damage to civil infrastructure.

To further support the Infrastructure Division, Citywide has the most environmentally sensitive Asphalt Plant in the southern hemisphere strategically located in North Melbourne. This allows the company to supply innovative and quality asphalt products for projects in and around Melbourne with the second plant catering for projects in and around Melbourne including its revolutionary GreenPave Warm Asphalt Mix. Citywide Infrastructure provides a completely integrated service for major road works and reinstatement projects. The asphalt facility is capable of producing paving products for both large and small projects, whether for intricate city laneway systems or major projects such as metropolitan Melbourne’s CityLink network.

Above: Stabilising team consist of a three or four man crew plus traffic control. Citywide operates three Stabilising crews out of their Echuca depot.

Below: Iveco Twin Steer holds 3000l of emulsion and 5000l water.

Citywide Environmental Division Citywide Environmental Services delivers efficient waste management and street cleansing services. The team is responsible for cleaning and maintaining high profile public spaces, iconic boulevards and precincts.

Citywide’s waste management services extends beyond collecting waste and involves community education programmes, sustainable processing of waste material as well as ongoing research and development in world’s best practice waste management delivery solutions.

Citywide also pioneered the use of alternative fuel technology to reduce emissions and minimise environmental impacts. The company recently introduced an innovative GPS system which enables real-time tracking of vehicles and their movements.

This serves to optimise the deployment of waste and street cleaning vehicles and provides invaluable logistical analysis so that routes can be streamlined or modified to ensure greater efficiency and lessen negative environmental impacts in delivering waste collection services.

To find out more information, visit us at www.citywide.com.au or call on 1300 136 234.

Page 14 - Australian Main Roads Construction News

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Dingley Arterial connects Westall Road to Dandenong Bypass VicRoads awarded a contract to Fulton Hogan in October 2010 to design and construct the $74.6 million Dingley Arterial in Keysborough.

The divided four lane arterial road is expected to carry 30,000 vehicles per day when it opens in early 2013 and has been designed to allow for provisions to upgrade to a freeway if required in the future. The Dingley Arterial will connect Westall Road in Dingley Village to the Dandenong Bypass in Keysborough.

The project features a 3.3km road, major intersection upgrades and a 2 span bridge structure over Cheltenham Road in Keysborough.

To complete the Dingley Arterial the project will require over 57,000 tonnes of road pavement material and over 200,000 cubic metres of imported fill.

Drainage works are under way on five major culverts that consist of 271 crown units, 79 link

slabs and approximately 950 cubic metres of insitu concrete.

The bridge structure will consist of 180 precast RE walls, ranging up to 8.8 metres in height and weighing approximately 9 tonnes each. When completed, the bridge structure will span 53.6 metres in length and have a minimum clearance height of 5.6 metres.

When the Dingley Arterial opens in 2013 it will provide more efficient transport connections to the growing industrial hub at Keysborough, create better, safer and less congested travel for people living and working in Melbourne’s south-east and support and help attract investment in Greater Dandenong and along the EastLink corridor.

Reliable, well maintained equipment with fully qualified operators, experienced in all aspects of earthmoving.

TELEPHONE

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EQUIPMENT RANGE:

HEAD OFFICE

2A Karrakatta Street, Black Rock 3193 Victoria Fax: 03 9589 7807 ~ Mobile: 0418 391 977

• Articulated Dump Trucks (35 Tonne) • Dozers Swamp (D6T) • Excavators (20 – 50 Tonne)

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Australian Main Roads Construction News - Page 15

Kwinana Freeway Widening and Upgrade

Western Australian Road Builder meets challenges head on On the surface, the Kwinana Freeway widening project in Perth seems to be a straightforward expansion of an existing piece of infrastructure.

However, such a simple assessment fails to convey the sheer complexity of the project.

Whether blending the new with the old or dealing with a railway line on the median; the team from Highway Construction Pty Ltd has risen to the occasion - unfazed and on schedule to complete the task within the next few months.

T

he Kwinana Freeway is a major arterial road which extends south from the Perth CBD to link the city with the southern suburbs and ultimately the main centre of Mandurah, a distance of 78 kilometres. It’s a critical element within the north-south transport system with the Mitchell Freeway forming its northern counterpart.

improvement to overall road safety and a reduction in vehicle greenhouse emissions which increase when traffic is congested.

This particular expansion of the Kwinana Freeway will also reduce travel times for motorists travelling south from Perth.

The Kwinana Freeway caters for commuters, tourists, local traffic and heavy freight with this particular section between Leach and Roe Highways carrying around 107,000 vehicles per day. Main Roads Western Australia, (Main Roads WA) anticipates that by 2016 that figure will rise to around 113,000 and will continue to increase every year thereon. It’s clear that the current two lanes in each direction are incapable of handling such a load with major traffic congestion a common occurrence particularly during peak periods.

Furthermore, efficient access to the busy Port of Fremantle is paramount and Main Roads WA wants to ensure that there is no adverse impact on freight transport passage to and from the port. Freight transport is prohibited on the Leach Highway so the Kwinana Freeway between Leach Highway and Roe Highway is a critical conduit to the port.

Access to the Fiona Stanley Hospital which is currently under construction is also an important consideration along with

The expansion of the Kwinana Freeway is being jointly funded by the Federal and WA State Governments and the $58 million design and construct contract was awarded to Highway Construction Pty Ltd in 2010. The project team from Highway Construction commenced work on the site in July 2011.

Although in simple terms, Highway Construction Pty Ltd will design and construct an extra lane in each direction over a 4.5km stretch of the Kwinana Freeway, between Leach Highway and Roe Highway, the scope of the project is far more complex.

The design process itself required careful consideration due to a number of logistical factors. The new expanded section of the freeway must perfectly blend with the older section and the widening must align with the existing route. Beyond the road alignment there is also the current drainage system and any existing ‘oddities’ that prevail and of course, these must be accommodated with new and compatible drainage systems for the new section to ensure total alignment.

Although overall alignment is a normal

requirement for such a project, this particular section of the existing freeway occupies a very narrow corridor and the expanded route will travel underneath a number of road bridges. These elements restricted design options and required the installation of retaining walls to accommodate the existing bridge abutments.

To further complicate matters, occupying the median strip is the important Mandurah railway line and this undoubtedly, limited design options. The freeway expansion could not interfere with the railway in any way however, associated drainage systems needed to be taken into account.

The work site is also bordered by a number of residences and associated vegetation and utility services. Apart from a high number of environmental allowances and concerns, all these elements further restrict the work space and the latitude of the overall design.

Communication with local residences and service providers was a critical component in meeting all the design objectives and this

must have been a complex task to say the least. A Community Reference Group was established and jointly managed by Main Roads and Highway Construction which meets every month to discuss issues raised by all stakeholders. It also provides a forum to update the community on project progress, and explain design issues.

Residential noise attenuation was a critical factor for consideration by the construction and design teams as well as an understandable concern expressed by local residents.

Apart from extensive noise modelling, this required numerous discussions with residents as to what type of noise wall, adjacent to existing boundary fences, would best suit their circumstances. In some instances discussion took place to ascertain whether an upgrade to existing noise barriers would be more appropriate.

Of course any new, noise reduction structure would need to accommodate existing residential services including access to any utilities such as electricity. In some Continued page 18

HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION DESIGN SOLUTIONS

Clearing work Northbound

Page 16 - Australian Main Roads Construction News

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Ramp 558 - Construction of temporary ramp

Kwinana Freeway Widening and Upgrade

There’s no stopping HAS Earthmoving range of projects A

LTHOUGH HAS EARTHMOVING is a relatively young Western Australian company, it continues to impress with its dynamic and highly skilled approach to every construction task. Its extensive client list is growing rapidly with its capacity to provide a one-stop shop delivery of a broad range of projects, both large and small.

HAS Earthmoving recently conducted earthworks on behalf of Highway Construction for the important expansion of the Kwinana Freeway between Leach Highway and Roe Highway. The project, jointly funded by the Federal and Western Australian Governments, is critical for a number of reasons.

The freeway is the main transport route for motorists heading south from Perth and services commuters, local residents, tourists and heavy freight vehicles. However, as the road in this 4.5km section is currently only two lanes in each direction, traffic congestion is a frequent occurrence, particularly during peak periods.

The expansion will add an additional lane in each direction and will greatly ease that congestion. The extra lanes will also provide an efficient transport link for heavy freight to the busy Port of Fremantle and improve access to and from the new Fiona Stanley Hospital.

The project itself has a relatively short construction deadline, just ten months to complete what is a very complex task, given the very narrow site corridor and a number of logistical impediments.

The expansion route travels under a series of road bridges and the Mandurah railway line is located in the median. Then there are a number of residential properties located on the immediate boundary which required continued access. There’s also a complex drainage and utility system running under the railway line, the existing road and the houses.

Of course traffic flow needed to be maintained and on top of all this, record rainfall continually threatened the construction schedule during December 2011.

Due to the short time frame for delivery, the contribution made by HAS Earthmoving has been extremely helpful. The company provided additional plant and experienced operators to assist Highway Construction to fast track the progress of their site clearance and earthworks.

This included a handy 20 ton excavator with a tree grab, rake bucket, batter bucket, trench bucket and a rock breaker as well as a 299C CAT bobcat. HAS also had its Cat 12M grader on standby in the event of any sudden emergency.

The work itself was demanding due to the highly sensitive nature of the environment in the area. It was essential that HAS’s skilled, plant operators only cleared those areas that were required for the permanent works and

they had to ensure that all vegetation and topsoil cover could be recycled.

The limited width of the narrow site corridor required that the emergency shoulder needed to be incorporated during the clearance work.

Temporary crash barriers were erected and traffic management was a key ingredient. All trucking movements, including truck loading,

were carefully monitored and coordinated to maintain the work schedule and reduce interruption for normal through-traffic.

The HAS team worked in conjunction with an arborist in the selection process to cut, remove and then feed the tree material into the chipper for chipping, stockpile and reuse as mulch cover. Following removal of Continued page 19

Proudly associated with Highway Construction on the Kwinana Project

HAS Earthmoving is a company that prides itself on the ability to deliver projects on time and under budget and to still provide a personal touch. No job is too big, too small or too difficult.

Some of our projects have had very unique challenges, for which we have been able to provide solutions and so complete the project.

The management staff has been involved in some of the major projects in Australia over the last twenty years to provide a wealth of experience which enables us to deliver your project in a professional and timely manner.

We are backed by a very efficient and qualified service department to keep our plant in top condition and our administration team is second to none.

Although we are based in the Midland region, we have the capability of servicing not only the greater metropolitan area but the whole of Western Australia, so don't hesitate to give us a call for further information or a quote on all your earthworks needs. www.amrcn.com.au

Phone (08) 9454 3911 Fax (08) 9454 3210 Email admin@hasearthmoving.com.au

www.hasearthmoving.com.au Australian Main Roads Construction News - Page 17

Kwinana Freeway Widening and Upgrade

Western Australian Road Builder meets challenges head on

Limestone Base - Under Roe Highway

its application. It cannot be applied when it’s raining so the Highway Construction team faced the difficult prospect of arranging schedules in anticipation of dry weather. Not an easy task during a time when the amount of rainfall is enough to make the record books.

The existing section of the freeway pavement was also strengthened to extend its life and Highway Construction used geotextile reinforced seals placed underneath the asphalt wearing course for this purpose.

Open Grade Asphalt was also applied to the surface of the pavement including the

Continued from page 16

cases side boundary fences were removed or extended to meet the new noise wall.

Removal of any existing fences also raised security issues and these had to be dealt with by the Highway Construction team on an ongoing basis.

Inevitably, it was discovered that long standing residential fences/walls had been constructed using an eclectic mix of materials and some included structures permanently attached to the fence. So, in simply accommodating all vested interests it was a complex task. At the end of the day it was huge logistical achievement to produce a solution that would meet the desired structural and cosmetic demands, as well as one that would satisfy all residential concerns.

Additional pavement scope at key ramps was recently added to the project to allow for future “ramp metering”; an ITS based system that will assist in managing traffic flows into the freeway, and provide motorists with warnings of any delays due to accidents or weather conditions. This is a first for Western Australia which does not have the myriad of freeways that exist in the eastern states.

Highway Construction puts safety first Construction works on such a high volume freeway system are heavily dependent on an

effective traffic management system. This not only safeguards the road user and construction workers, but ensures that any routine traffic incidents throughout the site are swiftly dealt with, given the reduced emergency lane provisions during construction. In this regard Highway Construction maintains a permanent tilt tray tow truck on site to attend to any traffic incident to ensure traffic flows are maintained during the works.

Works staging is carefully planned through a full time on site qualified Traffic Engineer with regular updates and communication with the Main Roads Traffic Operations Centre. A precast concrete barrier system has been specifically manufactured for the project and is the main protection measure between the site and traffic.

Mindful of the high number of adjacent residents in the vicinity and the potential noise impacts, Highway Construction has generally restricted night time works to installation of new traffic management schemes, minor critical activities, and the final freeway resurfacing.

Despite a higher than average summer rainfall season to date, the Highway Construction project team continued to forge ahead with the asphalt pavement building program. The use of Full Depth Asphalt is a comparatively new concept in WA and there are stringent specifications regarding

Page 18 - Australian Main Roads Construction News

new lanes. Although it has been widely used

by Main Roads WA in Western Australia for some time, it is not so common in the eastern states and yet its properties are ideal wherever there are wet roads. Open Grade Asphalt is a porous material and it allows the water to pass through so it minimises the potential for ‘standing water’ and dramatically reduces the risk of aquaplaning.

It also makes the road far more skid-resistant and reduces traffic noise.

Included in the scope of the project is the construction of a new intersection at South Continued page 19

Limestone Retaining Wall

Materials Consultants onsite for Kwinana Freeway Widening

M

ATERIALS CONSULTANTS Pty Ltd has long been regarded as one of Western Australia’s leading specialists in construction material testing.

The company, based in Perth, was established in 1990 and provides both laboratory and onsite field testing for the civil engineering and construction sector in that state.

The team at Materials Consultants specialise in the testing of soils, aggregate and concrete and is much sought after due to its personalised, ‘hands-on’ approach to this critical task.

The long term sustainability of any new infrastructure can depend on the quality of soil and material analysis and over the last twenty years Materials Consultants has been involved in numerous projects related to roads, freeways, commercial and industrial developments, subdivisions, quarry products, ports, railways and mine infrastructure.

The soon to be completed, new Kwinana Freeway Widening was no exception and the team from Materials Consultants conducted extensive material testing to

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assist in the construction process.

The team conducted onsite Nuclear Density Meter testing to ensure appropriate field densities on the embankments and pavement layers as well as Perth Sand Penetrometer testing.

This task was performed to check for penetration resistance and related correlation to densities.

The company also conducted a variety of tests at its base laboratory in Osborne Park. These included compaction testing and a moisture content test for field moistures and pavement dry-back.

Classification and Chemical Testing was also applied to check the compliance of imported construction materials to ensure that they conformed to the required specification standards. This series of tests was conducted on limestone and sand.

The new Kwinana Freeway Widening is a vital piece of new infrastructure which will make driving much safer for motorists. Its long term sustainability will undoubtedly benefit due to the contribution made by Materials Consultants.

Kwinana Freeway Widening and Upgrade

Western Australian Road Builder meets challenges head on Continued from page 18

Street and Fiona Wood Road as well as the installation of the aforementioned noise walls to mitigate traffic noise. Screen walls will also be erected to lessen the environmental impact on local residents.

The freeway and on/off ramps will be resurfaced as part of the works, and there will be associated drainage, lighting, service relocations, signage and pavement marking as part of the project.

In order to ensure that there is enough capacity on this critical section of the freeway to meet the demands of the soon to be opened Fiona Stanley Hospital, Highway Construction will also complete a series of optional works mainly related to road linkages to allow easy transit for hospital

Above: Earthworks Ramp 556 Below: Drainage installation

visitors and heavy freight vehicles heading to the Port of Fremantle.

These extra works will be conducted at the intersection of Kwinana Freeway and South Street in Murdoch and will include realignment of the north bound exit ramp.

Highway Construction will also realign and modify shared paths and footpaths in the area including constructing a new pedestrian underpass and providing for a future tunnel underneath South Street to link the north bound exit ramp with the future mixeduse precinct planned for the Fiona Stanley Hospital site.

The project team will also construct an extension to the newly constructed Barry Marshall Parade through to the Murdoch Station bus road; and modify the signalised intersection at South Street to accommodate the realigned Kwinana Freeway northbound exit ramp.

Extensive revegetation and landscaping will also be undertaken once the new carriageways have been constructed.

Highway Construction has also re-used as much of the existing infrastructure as possible to further enhance the project’s sustainability and this includes the retention of light poles, emergency phones and drainage systems.

With only ten months in which to complete this complex project there’s no doubt that Highway Construction has excelled. The company’s ability to respond to a huge number of diverse challenges, within such a short time frame, will ensure that the delivery of a much needed piece of infrastructure is made on time and will benefit many Western Australians.

There’s no stopping HAS Earthmoving

Continued from page 17

the vegetation scrub cover HAS operators stripped and raked the existing topsoil and loaded it for stockpiling and subsequent reuse during the later stages of the works.

The 20ton excavator was then employed to excavate the new batter side slopes to enable the road to be widened and aligned to meet the strict construction criteria.

This particular excavator was ideal for the complex clearance work as its combination of attachments meant that all ground conditions encountered could be dealt with simply and efficiently.

For instance, when any existing in ground concrete structures and foundations were encountered then the rock breaker was used to reduce them in size for ease of removal to tip. The rake bucket and the large size of the excavator meant that large tree roots could be efficiently removed and the maximum amount of reusable topsoil retained. The reuse of the topsoil ensured that the existing in ground seed content could be retained.

Following the completion of the batter excavations HAS used its 299C tracked bobcat to respread mulch over the slopes.

The bobcat is one of the latest and proved ideal due to its ability to work effortlessly on the steep terrain. Its 0.7cm bucket and an extremely low environmental footprint of 1.5 sqm ensured that the mulch respread was both swift and of high quality.

Despite all the logistical obstacles the earthworks were completed by HAS Earthmoving within the required eight week period.

With HAS there are no problems, only solutions The rise and rise of HAS Earthmoving is due in no small part to the leadership and

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guidance of the company under its founder Heath Shipard. When Heath established the company in 2004 he had already gained Australian and international expertise in a number of key construction areas particularly in both underground and open cut mining.

His previous work in far-away places like Tanzania and East Africa had presented a further opportunity to hone his skills and he soon developed a unique skill for problem solving under a range of trying, third world conditions. Later in the UK Heath was instrumental in introducing specialised explosive techniques on a tunnel project in Leicestershire in 2003 and it was around that time that Heath decided to establish his own company.

“Knowing as much as I do about earthworks I decided to concentrate the business on what I knew best and to expand the company’s area of expertise and reach by recruiting a workforce with specialised skills.

Above all, I wanted to create a culture within that workforce that would ensure that the company’s direction, both in attitude and in operation, was first and foremost about solving problems. There is always an answer. It simply takes the right skill and the initiative to create a cost effective solution.”

There’s no doubt that since those early days HAS Earthmoving has indeed created a reputation for problem solving and it’s clear that the company has what it takes.

An impressive array of plant and equipment along with enough in-house expertise to complete the journey to the very top in the highly active, Western Australian civil engineering and construction sector.

Australian Main Roads Construction News - Page 19

NEW PRODUCT TECHNOLOGY

Fuchs turn asphalt green A

T LAST count in 1996, Australia had 353,331 kilometres of paved road. New roads are being laid down across the country every day, but the products and processes currently used by construction workers can often leave a negative impact on the surrounding environment, waterways and local wildlife.

Fuchs Lubricants (Australasia) has decided to tackle this issue by releasing a new rapidly biodegradable, environmentally friendly parting agent for hot and mastic asphalt.

Biteerex Grün is based on vegetable oil and special emulsifiers to ensure good biodegradability in water and soil, and can be applied to dump trucks, asphalt finishers, rubber-tyred rollers, and other equipment and machinery, to ensure that bituminous materials discharge freely and without sticking.

When applied, Biteerex Grün forms a thin film, which prevents bitumen, asphalt and wax residues from sticking on truck bodies, rollers and other surfaces. Unlike other bituminous parting agents currently on the market, Biteerex Grün is paint friendly, and will not

strip paint off truck or machinery surfaces.

“Fuchs has a strong heritage of producing environmentally friendly products, and we wanted to bring that across to our bitumen and asphalt parting agents,” said Luke McGregor, Industrial and Metalworking Product Manager at Fuchs Lubricants (Australasia).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Tom Hughes DBC2 PR Coordinator Phone: (03) 9305 4006 Email: tom@dbc2.com.au

“Biteerex Grün is perfect for construction sites that are near water catchment areas, protected water zones, and environmentally sensitive areas, where environmental sustainability is a top priority.

“In the past, diesel has often been used to remove bitumen and asphalt from machinery, but because it is petrochemical, it can start to effect and dilute the asphalt itself, causing it to not emulsify as effectively. We are confident that our vegetable oil base in Biteerex Grün is far safer and more effective.”

Biteerex Grün will be available during a limited trial for select end user customers from the beginning of February 2012, and will then be released throughout Australia via the Fuchs distributor network in late March 2012.

Page 20 - Australian Main Roads Construction News

Biteerex Grün forms a thin film, which prevents bitumen, asphalt and wax residues from sticking on rollers.

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Occupational Health and Safety in Construction T

HE Australian Government is committed to fostering a safety culture in the building and construction industry. To promote occupational health and safety (OHS) in the industry more widely, the Federal Safety Commissioner (FSC) has undertaken a range of work that reflects the Australian Government’s commitment to improving OHS. This includes establishing the Australian Government Building and Construction OHS Accreditation Scheme (the Scheme).

The Scheme is a key component of the Government’s OHS reform agenda for the industry, allowing the Australian Government to increase its influence as a client and provider of capital to

improve the industry’s OHS performance.

At the beginning of May 2007 there were 29 contracts valued at $1.82 billion which were covered by the Scheme, with a further 70 projects worth $5.41 billion at the concept or tender stage.

Stage One currently covers head contractors on directly funded Australian Government building and construction contracts with a value of $6 million or more.

Stage Two is proposed to take effect from 1 October 2007. It will lower the threshold for directly funded contracts and will also cover head contractors on building and construction projects indirectly funded by the Australian Government, subject to certain thresholds.

Many head contractors undertaking directly funded government work already hold accreditation, so the lower threshold will not affect them. However, the lower threshold will capture more government building projects and increase the number of head contractors requiring accreditation.

Another important piece of work is the FSC’s Safety Principles and Guidance –

A practical guide for improving OHS in the building and construction industry (the Principles). The Principles were developed to provide guidance for industry to address OHS performance issues such as safety culture, leadership, effective relationships, safe design and construct ability, systematic approaches for OHS risks and hazards and whole of project focus. Copies of the Principles are available through the FSC website or by calling the FSC Assist Line.

In June, the OFSC will be conducting a series of seminars for government and industry in all capital cities. Details of the seminars will be advertised in major newspapers and on the FSC website.

The FSC is also undertaking activities with industry relating to leadership in good OHS approaches, management of subcontractors, safe design, performance management, communication and consultation among all stakeholders on a site, and training.

For more information, visit the Federal Safety Commissioner’s website: www.fsc.gov.au or call the FSC Assist Line on 1800 652 500.

Think Jaybro for civil and safety products J

AYBRO is an importer and manufacturer of safety, civil, signage and environmental products, supplying civil, construction, utilities, and mining companies across Australia.

Jaybro was established in 1995 and has grown rapidly ever since. The business is still managed by the original family that started the business. The business has grown due to providing a very high level of service, quality products and dedication to our customers needs.

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www.jaybro.com.au Australian Main Roads Construction News - Page 21

Federal Updates on Road Infrastructure Projects from the Office of Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Anthony Albanese Yeppen Crossing Project details released and tenders called

T

HE $85 million road project crossing the Yeppen Lagoon at the southern entrance to Rockhampton – jointly funded by the Gillard and Bligh Labor Governments – is on track and close to being shovel-ready.

Above: Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Anthony Albanese

Nambucca Heads to Urunga Upgrade: Registrations of Interest FOLLOWING negotiations between the Australian and NSW Governments a bypass of Urunga is a step closer, with construction companies interested in designing and upgrading the Nambucca Heads to Urunga section of the Pacific Highway having until 23 February to register their details with the Roads and Maritime Services (RMS).

Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister Anthony Albanese said the project will upgrade the Yeppen roundabout, build a new higher bridge across the Lagoon, significantly upgrade the intersection between Upper Dawson Road and Jellicoe Street and make changes to the Port Curtis Road intersection.

“This important project will improve safety and driving conditions for the 22,000 vehicles which pass through the Yeppen Roundabout each and every day,” said Mr Albanese.

“What is proposed will result in a significant upgrade between the Yeppen Roundabout and Port Curtis Road.”

Premier Anna Bligh, whose Government is providing the remaining $17 million for the project, said the project was an example of the massive infrastructure effort taking place across Queensland.

“This is an example of our massive building effort and also an example of how we are building back better making us more resilient from natural disasters in the future,” said Ms Bligh.

Queensland Main Roads Minister Craig Wallace said locals will be pleased with the fact construction work on the project is expected to commence in coming months.

“The project details are not a pie-in-the-sky proposal; they are real and deliverable thanks to more than 12 months of intense work by Transport and Main Roads and engineering consultancy AECOM,” said Mr Wallace.

“This is an example of not only the effort going into rebuilding infrastructure around the state but also our commitment to provide new infrastructure for our growing state.

“We have the designs ready to build and we are seeking tenders until 9 February from companies interested in constructing this muchanticipated project.

“All going to plan, the new bridge, roundabout and intersection upgrades will be delivered and open to traffic in early 2014” The scope of work includes: • New slip lane for traffic entering Rockhampton from Gracemere thereby avoiding congestion and delays at the roundabout.

• Speed reduction curves at all roundabout approaches to reduce the likelihood of accidents and heavy vehicle roll-over.

• Expansion of the roundabout to two lanes between the Yeppen Bridge entry and Capricorn Highway exit to increase capacity and reduce travel times.

• A new 420m Yeppen Bridge downstream of the existing low-level structure.

• Both lanes of the existing bridge will be dedicated for northbound traffic.

• Upper Dawson Road and Jellicoe Street intersection upgraded to traffic signals and expanded to cater for over-dimensional loads and pedestrians.

Above: Overview • Reconfiguration of Port Curtis Road intersection to be left-in-left-out to directly address safety and visibility concerns at this location.

Further information about the Yeppen Crossing go to: www.tmr.qld.gov.au.

Tender information: https://secure. publicworks.qld.gov.au/etender/index.do.

Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister Anthony Albanese said this 22 kilometre section is part of the larger 42 kilometre Warrell Creek to Urunga project and is another important step in upgrading the Pacific Highway between Port Macquarie and Raleigh, north of Urunga.

“Once completed in 2016, the Nambucca Heads to Urunga upgrade will deliver safer, smoother driving conditions for the 15,000 motorists and truck drivers who use this section of the Pacific Highway each and every day,” said Mr Albanese.

The upgrade of the Nambucca Heads to Urunga section had been agreed between Ministers Albanese and Gay before they became aware of a news story on the issue which aired last night.

A shortlist of applicants will be chosen in May and invited to submit tenders. In the meantime RMS will continue with land acquisitions and investigations to prepare this section for the start of major construction in early-2013.

NSW Roads Minister Duncan Gay said he was pleased the Federal and NSW governments had agreed to develop an intergovernmental agreement.

“The agreement will define the priority, timing and funding for all the remaining sections yet to be upgraded and duplicated.

This agreement will deliver the certainty that the community and interest groups have long demanded,” said Mr Gay. “We are determined to do all we can in partnership with the Commonwealth to complete the full duplication of the Pacific Highway by 2016.”

Above: Roundabout

Above: Port Curtis Road

Above: Jellicoe Street

Pacific Highway Duplication: Glenugie Upgrade Completed

T

HE final stage of the Pacific Highway Glenugie upgrade has been officially opened to traffic, marking the completion of the $60 million project.

Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister Anthony Albanese said the completion of this section was just part of the record investment the Australian Government was making to the Pacific Highway.

“We provided $54 million to this one section alone from our Nation Building Program – all up we have committed $4.1 billion to the highway,” said Mr Albanese.

“The opening of the final 3.4 kilometre section from Franklins Road to the Old Pacific Highway means motorists will now benefit from a complete four-lane divided road.

“The upgrade is about 15 kilometres south of Grafton and will improve road safety and traffic flow, and reduce travel times along its seven kilometre length between Franklins Road and Eight Mile Lane.”

Opening the latest section of completed upgrade State Member for Clarence, Chris Gulaptis, said the upgrade, which mainly travels through sections of state forest, has a number of interesting features.

“The road surface used on this project is a heavy

Page 22 - Australian Main Roads Construction News

duty crushed rock with a sprayed seal wearing surface,” Mr Gulaptis said.

“This type of surface is new on Pacific Highway upgrades and is being used as a trial to assess if it suitable for future upgrades in areas with lighter traffic. If successful, it will provide a much lower whole of life cost option for highway upgrades.

“The project also developed a native re-

vegetation model which makes the landscaping to be erosion resistant so soil won’t be washed onto the road or the environment around it.”

The project team will be carrying out finishing work after the opening on both the northbound and southbound lanes and during this time motorists are asked to follow all traffic signs and directions.

Above: (l-r) Bob Higgins, General Manager Pacific Highway NSW RMS, with Chris Gulaptis, NSW Member for Clarence

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Safer M80 with Moonee Ponds Creek Bridge coming soon A

safer M80 is pushing on strongly as major works continue on Victoria’s biggest road upgrade.

Western and Princes Freeways. That’s why the Victorian Government has committed $300 million to the project to date alongside the Commonwealth Government’s $900 million.”

Mr Mulder said other vital works were also taking place in other locations on the M80.

State Member for Western Metropolitan Region Bernie Finn said the M80 Ring Road Upgrade would have long term benefits particularly for the people of the west.

“This project will provide commuters with a smoother, safer and quicker travel time,” Mr Finn said.

“The fact is, major road improvements are disruptive for periods of time. I speak from personal experience and, as a daily traveller on the Ring Road, I know only too well how frustrating it is to be stuck in traffic.

“In the end, the benefits far outweigh the negatives and I’m sure the many thousands of people who use the Ring Road every day will agree.”

State Member for Western Metropolitan Region Andrew Elsbury said drivers would be pleased to see progress on the M80 Upgrade.

Above: Moone Ponds Creek Bridge opening (l to r) Terry Mulder, Trevor Boyde, Kelvin Thompson and Maria Vamvakinou Victorian Roads Minister Terry Mulder along with Victorian MPs Bernie Finn and Andrew Elsbury and federal MPs Kelvin Thomson and Maria Vamvakinou said the good news was that motorists were set for a safer and smoother ride with the first lane on the Moonee Ponds Creek Bridge opened on Tuesday 17 January.

Federal Member for Wills Kelvin Thomson said this was an impressive milestone on the jointly funded $2.25 billion M80 Ring Road Upgrade.

“Drivers who use the Ring Road regularly will notice significant progress, as structures like the Moonee Ponds Creek Bridge and the Tullamarine Freeway interchange flyover ramp takes shape,” Mr Thomson said.

“Once all lanes are open, this new bridge will smooth out the uphill climb on the Ring Road approach to the Jacana Tunnel so drivers can more easily maintain a constant speed and will be less likely to weave or brake suddenly to avoid slower vehicles.

“Importantly, this will help ease congestion and reduce crashes on this busy stretch of road which sees up to 142,000 vehicles per day with up to 16 per cent being heavy commercial vehicles,” Mr Thomson said.

Mr Mulder said the M80 Ring Road Upgrade was supporting local jobs and paving the way for further road upgrades.

“Importantly, the M80 Upgrade is directly supporting some 6,500 Victorian jobs during construction, as well as thousands of flow-on jobs,” Mr Mulder said.

“The bridge works this weekend are key to getting on with the job of delivering more lanes, and will mean an extra two kilometre lane can be opened in each direction between Furlong Road and Sunshine Avenue later this year, greatly reducing congestion.

“The M80 Ring Road is Melbourne’s second busiest freeway and is a vital freight corridor, providing links to key intrastate and interstate freight routes including the Hume, Calder,

“As a local who uses this road regularly, I welcome these improvements,” Mr Elsbury said.

“The opening of this bridge and the subsequent lane improvements which will become available over the year will be a great relief for motorists.”

Federal Member for Calwell Maria Vamvakinou said drivers were already enjoying early benefits on the Ring Road, with a new lane opening in December between Steele Creek and Airport Drive at Tullamarine.

“Through our Nation Building Program, the Australian Government is moving Victoria forward, and these milestones are important steps towards improving transport infrastructure in Melbourne’s north and west,” Ms Vamvakinou said.

“Drivers will enjoy more benefits this year, as works continue to add extra lanes and improve the Tullamarine Freeway and Sydney Road interchanges.”

Over 16 kilometres of construction is underway on two sections – between Western Highway and Sunshine Avenue, and between the Calder Freeway and Sydney Road.

Above: Opening one lane of the Moonee Ponds Creek Bridge

Kempsey Bypass: Crescent Head Road Overpass Open T

HE newly built Crescent Head Road overpass has this week opened to traffic, another milestone in the delivery of the new, fully-Federally funded Kempsey Bypass which is on track to be completed 12 months early in mid-2013.

Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister Anthony Albanese said the completion of work on this overpass and the good progress being made on the bypass project as a whole is very pleasing.

“The opening of the Crescent Head Road overpass makes this the first section of the new bypass to become operational,” said Mr Albanese.

“The new overpass will provide locals and visitors alike with safe, convenient access to nearby areas including their homes, with further sections of the bypass to be progressively opened between now and mid 2013.”

NSW Roads Minister Duncan Gay said some additional finishing work on local property driveways will continue over the next three weeks or so, weather permitting, which will result in some changed traffic conditions.

“To protect the safety of road workers a temporary reduced speed limit of 40 km/hr is in place while the remaining work is carried out. I would urge all motorists to slow down, obey the signs and follow the instructions of traffic controllers.” www.amrcn.com.au

Australian Main Roads Construction News - Page 23

Stepping up to the sustainability plate: Government and Industry working together S

USTAINABILITY is the catch phrase of the twenty first century.

In construction, finance, education and political spheres it has gained currency in social, economical and environmental consciences.

The general public and governments are asking for a response. Industry is being asked to respond. Governments are being asked to respond. They are both stepping up to the plate.

According to the NSW Government Office of Environment and Heritage the concept of sustainability is difficult to define. They cite that most definitions include: • Living within the limits of what the environment can provide • Understanding the many inter-connections between the economy, society and the environment • The equal distribution of resources and opportunities.

The environmental balancing act In Australia traditionally there have been reasonable to strong supplies of good quality quarry materials available. In a submission to the Victorian Competition and Efficiency Commission on the Inquiry - State-based Reform Agenda in August 2011, Cement Concrete & Aggregates Australia (CCAA) noted that heavy construction material (rock and sand) costs are expected to rise by one third in the short term due to increasing regulation, constraining supply at the time of increasing demand, increasing quarry business and transport cost. AACC are concerned that the regulations may cause a gravel crisis, as experienced in Germany, due to increasing environmental protectionism. The balance between finite accessible supply, increasing

the local community impact when running a project. Most major project sites engage their community consultation team as part of their early start and late finish project team. Failure to understand these connections makes work harder.

Economic benefits in the construction industry are often calculated using the direct cost method. Direct cost methods are easy to calculate by obtaining quotations or from basis first principal calculations. Whilst it may be argued that whole of life costs should be considered, due to the complexities of political and financial pressures on most road managers, direct cost is normally the value considered by road managers when evaluating construction, maintenance and operation of roadways.

Social benefits are more difficult for road managers and designers to evaluate. Social costs can include delay to the travelling public during the construction or maintenance periods. The loss of road lanes and increased truck movements surrounding a construction sites. These costs are difficult to quantify and can be captured in part through triple bottom line accounting. According to the Australian Government Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and Arts the frameworks for measuring these concerns are being developed, and are being used by organisations to demonstrate that they have strategies for sustainable growth.

Environmental benefits can be evaluated by reviewing the construction process and the materials used.

• A workbook. It documents the emission factors utilised and the assumptions made to develop a standardised approach for a suite of standard pavement designs over the whole of life of a road project; and • A user-friendly calculator known as Carbon Gauge®. It identify emissions associated with each stage in the life of a road considered to generate materially significant amounts of greenhouse gas emissions, namely construction, maintenance and operation (street lights and traffic lights).

When constructing and maintaining pavements, given the focus on sustainability by state governments with a flow through to local governments, all road managers and designers must consider different solutions to the finite resource method of doing business.

Insitu pavement stabilisation is an alternative pavement design that should be considered.

Pavement Stabilisation: Balancing the costs

Figure X: South Australia’s Waste Management Hierarchy: One of the guiding principles of Zero Waste SA Act 2004.

In the Pavement Recycling and Stabilisation Guide (2011) a case study of complete costs; direct, social and environmental, for a typical Sydney urban construction was undertaken.

A stabilised basecourse with 50mm asphalt surfacing was estimated to cost $34.80/m2 to rehabilitate, based on 2004/2005 figures.

An equivalent pavement rehabilitation using granular pavement with 50mm asphalt surfacing cost $126.30/m2. Other designs were also evaluated. This saving of over 50% is typical savings experienced in the field.

can be recycled on site. Pavement materials with undesirable characteristics, such as low plasticity index or nonconforming grading, can be reprocessing with a binder to produce a favourable pavement material.

Many of the binders that are used are in the recycle or treat (re-process) stage of the hierarchy. Slag and fly ash are used as binders in stabilisation. They are by-products of the steel making industry and black coal burning power stations respectively. The slag is ground

Option No.

DESCRIPTION

Direct cost ($/m2)

1

Granular pavement with thin bituminous seal Granular pavement with 50mm asphalt surfacing Stabilised pavement with 50mm asphalt surfacing Deep asphalt pavement

2 3 4 5

Stabilised subgrade stabilised basecourse 50mm asphalt surfacing

Envir.

Cost (S/m2) $36.30

Total Cost (S/m2)

$78.00

Social Cost ($/m2) $6.00

$84.00

$6.00

$36.30

$126.30

$29.00

$1.50

$4.30

$34.80

$65.00 $39.00

$2.50 $2.50

$13.10 $4.30

$80.60 $45.60

$120.30

NB: These costs were as per 2004/2005 but relatives remain similar except due to bitumen price increase the asphalt pavement option in particular has significant increases

Source: Pavement Recycling and Stabilisation Guide (2011) Table 6.8: Complete costs summaries of all options

demand and finite resources is a difficult act to balance. By connecting with industry through inquiries such as the Victorian initiative, governments are working with business to determine how to balance these demands.

Understanding the cost of sustainability The Australian civil construction industry is profit driven, but respects the need for environmental responsibility and social engagement.

Project managers on a construction sites in Australia understand that it is vital to consider

In most states and territories the waste management hierarchy is imbedded as one of the guiding principles of environmental protection. In Australia each state and territory has adopted their own hierarchy and measures for waste. They have developed distinctive environmental acts.

This makes the Australia and New Zealand road agencies joint project into the whole of life assessment of greenhouse gas emissions unique. They have considered the design, construction and operation of roadways.

The outcome of this project was recently released. The tools were released as two parts or stages:

Page 24 - Australian Main Roads Construction News

Insitu stabilisation savings are made by reducing volumes of fill materials exported from site, eliminating imported quarry materials and tip fees and a reducing in oncosts such as traffic control on the site and site amenities due to the shorter construction periods. Australian studies are being prepared into the greenhouse gas emission reductions for pavement stabilisation. United Kingdom case studies have repeatedly demonstrated greenhouse gas savings.

In New Zealand, the United Kingdom and California land fill taxes have been legislated for. In the United States the states offer varying tax incentives for using recycled materials in business. Taxes have been introduced on natural resources in Denmark, Sweden and the United Kingdom. Adding taxes to new resources, and offering incentives for reuse of materials is one path that Australian governments may choose in the future to balance the interconnection between social, environmental and economic costs of materials.

Environmentally insitu stabilisation is within the hierarchy of waste management at reuse and recycle stage. The process can reuse suitable granular materials in a rehabilitation site, by stockpiling materials onsite. Materials

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to produce a fine powder and is extensively used in road building and construction.

Australian binder suppliers, since the 1990’s, have produced proprietary cementitious binders, consisting of cement, slag, fly ash and lime in various portions. Binder suppliers are actively working towards providing materials that meet environmental best practice and offer environmentally preferable characteristics in their materials.

Sustainability makes good sense Sustainability can address managing the balance of finite resources. Governments and industry that manage this process sensitively, can avoid crisis in the availability of finite materials such as quarry products.

Measuring financial, economical and social benefits of construction works can be complex, and driven by political and other agendas.

The Australian stabilisation industry has been working proactively to manage sustainability in pavement construction and rehabilitation. The results are competitive on all levels. This process should be considered as a viable and competitive alternative in pavement construction and rehabilitation.