An unusual looking high tech vehicle is working on streets across Rockhampton as part of Council’s commitment to a ten year plan to continue rebuilding and upgrading City roads.
In June, Council commenced its annual condition survey of Rockhampton’s 451 kilometres of sealed streets and roads.
A vehicle equipped with a sophisticated laser scanner is gathering data, which will be used by Council’s Works Services Department to help determine road maintenance and reconstruction priorities over the coming years.
On average, Rockhampton City Council spends $6 million on road maintenance and reconstruction each year.
Works Committee Chairperson, Councillor Greg Belz, said the annual June survey takes about three weeks to complete, and provides critical information to be used in the upkeep of almost $330 million worth of community road assets.
“These highly detailed surveys ensure that the funds available are directed to where upgrades are most needed,” he said. “This ensures we provide the best value for ratepayer dollars.”
Council’s Manager Strategic Planning, Steve Waller, said it is important for Councils to remain on top of road maintenance to avoid snowballing costs.
“If we do not assess our roads each year and plan for their maintenance in annual Council budgets, funds will subside and costs will roll over to the next financial year,” he said.
“Not only does this affect the level of service we provide to our ratepayers, but the cost of repairs and maintenance for the future progressively add up and become more difficult to address.”
Based on a five year rolling cycle, Council’s Works Services Department has engaged contractors to visit Rockhampton each year and carry out an assessment on a manageable portion of its road network.
This year, the contractors will inspect the pavement condition of approximately 20 per cent of the City’s sealed road network. The inspection involves the rating of various pavement distresses, which will supply data on the extent of pavement failures, surface texture problems, pavement cracking, pavement rutting, roughness and
rideability.
The data collected is then fed into Council’s pavement management system for modelling of the comparative condition of roads across the City.
On top of this, Council’s Works Engineers will continue to undertake visual inspections of the road network throughout the year.
For further information contact Steve Waller on (07) 4936 8605.
