Murray River Council in NSW is dedicated to maintaining its extensive network of unsealed roads, spanning over 1,700 km. Each year, the Council grade 1,400 km and resheets 25 km of these roads using up to seven grading crews to ensure the community remains connected.
To optimize road performance and reduce deterioration, council recently conducted 19 in-field trials testing various grading and resheeting methods, including:
✅ Testing Cutting Techniques: Blading vs. scarifying.
✅ Evaluating Roller Variations: Multi-tyre, steel, and padfoot rollers.
✅ Optimizing Mixing Strategies: Adjusted windrow heights, improving compaction, and better moisture control.
✅ Introducing New Equipment: Tractor hoe for shoulder retrieval and reclaimer for grading and resheeting.
Key Insights from the Trials:
🔹 Mixing clayey materials with fine-grained road material significantly improved durability, especially on high-traffic roads.
🔹 The reclaimer delivered impressive results but may be cost-prohibitive due to operational expenses.
🔹 The tractor hoe proved highly effective in breaking up shoulder grass and reclaiming materials, offering a strong return on investment.
🔹 Combining a multi-tyre roller with a steel drum for surface finishing and a padfoot roller for shoulder and resheeting work delivered the best results.
Paving the Way for Sustainability:
To drive long-term improvements, the Council recently introduced a tractor-pulled combination roller equipped with both tyre and steel drum rollers—an innovative, cost-effective solution that enhances road maintenance efficiency.
Insights gained from these trials have been documented in training videos, which will serve as a foundation for developing new standard operating procedures. These efforts are key to ensuring the sustainability and resilience of the Council’s road network.
👉 Curious about the reclaimer in action? Watch this video snippet below