Sunday, November 10, 2024

CCAA calls for road infrastructure rethink

In the wake of recent flood events, Cement, Concrete & Aggregates Australia (CCAA) is calling on all levels of government to protect local communities by ensuring critical infrastructure is built from the most resilient and robust materials possible.

It says recent heavy rain and flooding in Queensland and NSW had wreaked havoc on older style bridges, while roads have been left with potholes that are damaging to vehicles.

CCAA Chief Executive Officer, Ken Slattery said transport infrastructure was the lifeline that communities depend on, especially in times of crisis.

“Given that scientists are increasingly warning that climate change will bring more frequent and extreme weather events – such as floods and bushfires – governments must insist that roads, bridges, and related transport infrastructure are designed to withstand these events, and this means that they must be built from the most resilient materials possible,” he said.

“Focusing on resilience will help future-proof that infrastructure, allowing it to continue to operate during times of crisis, as well as reduce the cost of repairs and the amount of rebuilding required after major natural events.

“The 2019 bushfires and the recent floods in NSW and Queensland are just the latest examples of the havoc extreme weather events can play on the infrastructure that local communities rely on.”

He said governments need to “step up” and ensure that roads and bridges are built for the future, from materials that are robust and resilient.

Mr Slattery said before local councils, state and federal governments sign off on
infrastructure projects, they must satisfy themselves that they are designed with
resilience in mind and constructed with the most robust and resilient materials
available.

“They should be asking, ‘how can we make this road resilient, so it doesn’t end up potholed or even washed away after days of heavy rain,” he said.

“Similarly, when it comes to building bridges, they must be built from materials that
will ensure the bridge is still standing even if it ends up being completely submerged by floodwaters.”

(Brisbane 2022 floods).

He said resilient infrastructure meant better access for emergency service workers, food supplies and medical care to local communities hit by natural disasters or extreme weather events.

“These intense fires and floods are going to keep happening, the evidence for that is becoming clear,” he said.

“Anything we can do to help communities better withstand these intense weather events of the future will help save lives and allow our communities to bounce back faster.”

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