Recently I had the privilege of spending a week with Macedon Ranges Council VIC, conducting unsealed roads training for both operational and management staff.
The common theme throughout the week was “one team”, with both operators and management equally engaged and enthusiastic. The collaborative approach led to numerous suggestions for fine-tuning an already mature process that council has implemented. Well done.
In my experience, committed leadership that collaborates with staff at all levels results in sustained improved practices that maximise unsealed road performance. It was a pleasure to witness this in action at Council.
One standout innovation was the creative use of belly truck bumpers for delivering and placing of gravel material during a grading and gravel top-up technique. The observed benefits included time savings compared to traditional end tippers, as materials didn’t need to be bladed across the road for traffic safety, and it ensured consistent material depth over the length applied.
Additionally, it was excellent to see the use of combination rollers at council—a roller that I believe is the most cost-effective and practical for unsealed road maintenance. It boasts both rubber and steel drum capabilities, essential for various material types found across the council. Another advantage is the ease of transport, often eliminating the need for floating, as the steel drum can be raised during transport.
Throughout the week, we delved into grading, inspections, planning and budgeting.