Sharing our future

Sticky issue indeed. I think you'll find recycled materials are used in road construction where possible ie if the quality standards can be achieved. If they break the law in doing that then perhaps the law needs changing. Here is something on Sustainable engineering : http://tinyurl.com/yjftegn

David Gibson had mentioned that the use of recycled aggregate for road sub-base was prohibited in Queensland. Apparently he investigated this issue while he was Shadow Minister for Sustainable Environment & Climate Change in the State Parliament. I have looked, but couldn't really find any details about it yet.

Environmental impacts are one thing and we can rest assured that the cost of excavating and delivering new material to a site plus the cost of removing and dumping unsuitable material has a positive impact. The social impacts are harder to quantify and in this economic system if they cannot be quantified they cannot be responded to with financial carrots and sticks. The impacts on safety and amenity are the main issues for the people who live in or travel through the Kin Kin-Pomona area and there are costs for mitigation. There are solutions to the safety issues such as ensuring the trucks are clean of loose debris when they leave the quarry and you would hope they will travel within the speed limits and be polite and considerate on the roads and in town. It’s a fine balance for a truck driver to meet the demands of his customer, take time to clean his truck as well as be considerate to those around him and make a living. The impacts on amenity are more difficult to deal with. Sure, dust, night noise, compression breaking, even backing beepers can be managed to some extent but to what extent will they be? There is no doubt the rumble of trucks and general activity will disturb the neighbourhood.