Revolutionising Road Infrastructure: Ararat Rural City Council to trail innovative road treatments

Ararat Rural City Council unveils plans aimed at revolutionising road maintenance strategies to bolster infrastructure sustainability. As part of its 2023/2024 capital works budget, Council will trial initiatives targeting road optimisation and longevity within the community. 

With a strong commitment to exploring cutting-edge methodologies, Council announces its step into innovative road treatments, signaling a paradigm shift in resource allocation and infrastructure management. 

One of the pivotal trials slated for implementation is the introduction of OTTA seals, a cost-efficient road treatment from Norway and tailored for Australian conditions. These seals offer a sealed road solution at a fraction of the conventional road reconstruction cost, specifically catering to roads with traffic volumes under 200 vehicles per day making this suitable for a number of unsealed rural roads. 

Unlike conventional techniques, OTTA seals harness graded aggregates to establish a resilient surfacing layer, significantly reducing the necessity for extensive reconstruction. The application process, augmented by polymer-modified rapid-setting bitumen emulsion, not only ensures durability but also underscores the commitment to environmentally sustainable practices. 

Dr. Tim Harrison, CEO of Ararat Rural City Council, asserts, "The introduction of OTTA seals marks a watershed moment in road maintenance methodologies, providing a sustainable solution that harmonizes cost-effectiveness with environmental stewardship." 

In addition to its cost efficiency, the council acknowledges the inherent sustainability of OTTA seals, particularly in optimizing maintenance expenditures for unsealed roads. With the incessant cycle of resheeting proving increasingly unsustainable and financially burdensome, the adoption of OTTA seals emerges as a pragmatic approach to curbing lifecycle maintenance costs. 

Embracing a proactive stance, Council aims to methodically apply this transformative treatment across various segments of the unsealed road network, thereby ensuring a resilient, cost-effective, and sustainable road infrastructure for the community.