Bass Coast Shire Council has been honoured with the 2025 AustStab Award for Excellence in Recycling Pavements in Local Government for its innovative approach to road rehabilitation. The award recognises Council's leadership in delivering stronger, more sustainable roads while minimising disruption for the community.
The award-winning project on Berry's Beach Road, Phillip Island, trialed a new Paver Laid In-Situ Recycling process - a method that reuses existing road materials on site. A short time later, the same method was used at Archie's Creek. The method reduces truck movements, construction time, and environmental impacts while still delivering a durable road surface.
Bass Coast Mayor, Cr Rochelle Halstead, said the recognition is a proud moment.
"Our community relies on safe, accessible and durable roads every day," Cr Halstead said.
"By recycling materials on site, we're not only reducing greenhouse emissions and heavy truck traffic, but we're also completing works faster - which means less time and interruption for locals, businesses and visitors right across Bass Coast. This award shows that Bass Coast is leading the way nationally in sustainable road building."
The project achieved an 85 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional road reconstruction methods and cut truck movements to site by more than 80 per cent.
With its unique geography - from Phillip Island's sensitive environment and single access bridge to the expansive rural and coastal road networks on the mainland - Bass Coast faces challenges that many other councils do not.
With its unique geography - from Phillip Island's sensitive environment and single access bridge, to the expansive rural and coastal road networks on the mainland - Bass Coast faces challenges that many other councils do not. By embracing sustainable road building methods and trialling new innovations, Council is ensuring the community benefits from safer, longer-lasting roads, delivered with less disruption and greater value.
