Council Produce More Rubbish Roads

Barter Street can no longer claim the prestigious title of Gympie's only rubbish road.

Recently completed asphalt resurfacing projects at Hughes Terrace, River Road and David Drive used approximately 1.1 million plastic bags or equivalents, 345,000 glass bottles and 25,000 toner cartridges. This means the region has four roads made predominately of rubbish, or more specifically, recycled material.

According to Gympie Regional Council Assets Manager, Sam Murphy, the recycled material used in the asphalt is not only better for the environment, but a higher performing product overall.

"Industry standard testing indicates the asphalt we are using, which contains this recycled material, is more robust and less prone to failure than traditional asphalt," Mr Murphy said.

"It is also marginally cheaper and obviously more environmentally friendly."

"By using this material, Council were able to save $4,405 across the three projects," he said.

Infrastructure services portfolio Councillor Warren Polley said "There was a need to continue to explore cheaper, better performing material for our road surfaces."

"While I understand these latest projects to use this recycled asphalt material are not the first in the region, they are the largest to date,' Cr Polley said.

"I want to thank staff for thinking outside the box and putting the safety and hip pocket of our residents, road users and rate payers first."

"Now when I receive a call about a rubbish Gympie road, I will assume it is one of the four we have used this material on," he said.