Erosion Control for Unsealed Roads Guide
Published on 30 June 2024
Queensland has approximately 39,000 kilometres of unsealed formed roads that local government directly manages, with an additional 600 km managed by the State Government. These roads serve as cost-effective transport routes in areas where sealed roads are not financially viable due to fewer road users. However, unsealed roads are a significant source of sediment to freshwater streams and marine ecosystems, including the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) for fine sediment particles smaller than 20 microns.
The GBR 2022 Scientific Consensus Statement identified fine sediments as one of the three greatest water quality risks to the Reef, as they reduce the availability of light to seagrass beds and inshore coral reefs (Waterhouse et al. 2024). In addition, coarser silt and sand sediment eroded from unsealed road corridors impacts freshwater ecosystems through increased turbidity and sedimentation of water holes and stream beds, altering local habitat.
The Erosion Control for Unsealed Roads Guide provides roads asset managers with a practical guide to better understand best practice management of unsealed roads to minimise the generation and discharge of fine sediment. Minimising the erosion of road pavements and associated table drains and embankments will reduce maintenance time and costs, in addition to reducing fine sediment discharged to local waterways and ultimately the reef.
This guide draws on erosion control trials and insights gained from collaboration with six Queensland Reef Councils from 2021-2024 in projects delivered by both South Cape York Catchments and the Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ).
Access the guide via the LGAQ member-only portal.
Please note that this guide is currently in a draft form with consultations with councils and key stakeholders occurring between January 2025 – March 2025.
Acknowledgement
This project is funded by the partnership between the Australian Government’s Reef Trust and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation with support from Bundaberg Regional Council, Cassowary Coast Regional Council, Cook Shire Council, Gladstone Regional Council, Isaac Regional Council, Whitsunday Regional Council, Griffith University, James Cook University, Institute of Public Works Australasia Queensland, Office of the Great Barrier Reef, Department of Environment and Science and AECOM.