Did you know that residents in Caboolture are now driving on roads partly made from nearly 28,000 recycled tyres? A local sustainability project has transformed waste rubber into durable asphalt for community streets.
The project forms part of the city’s 2024/25 Road Resurfacing Program, delivered in partnership with infrastructure company Fulton Hogan.
Sustainable roads for local communities
The City of Moreton Bay worked with Fulton Hogan to trial a new dense graded asphalt designed for Queensland’s sub-tropical climate. The research involved mixing crumb rubber — produced from shredded end-of-life tyres — with up to 30 per cent recycled asphalt pavement from old road materials.
The trial mixes were tested on local roads, including those in Caboolture and surrounding areas, to assess their strength and performance under everyday traffic conditions. The work aimed to develop a practical road surfacing solution that local councils across Australia could use to improve sustainability while maintaining road quality.
The project resurfaced 82 streets across several divisions in the Moreton Bay region. In total, it used about 7,838 tonnes of recycled asphalt and repurposed 28,748 passenger tyres that would otherwise have gone to landfill. The initiative also reduced carbon emissions by more than 556,000 kilograms of carbon dioxide.
Lower emissions through new technology
The recycled road material was produced using warm-mix asphalt technology, which allows asphalt to be produced at lower temperatures than traditional methods. Lower production temperatures help reduce energy use and emissions during manufacturing while supporting safer working conditions.
The City of Moreton Bay stated that its road network is one of its largest infrastructure assets, making sustainable construction methods an important focus for reducing waste and pollution. Council leaders said partnerships with industry innovators help keep materials in circulation and support long-term environmental goals.
The project also aligns with the council’s broader aim of achieving net-zero emissions for its operations by 2039 and reducing the city’s overall carbon footprint. Officials indicated that encouraging contractors to explore new sustainable road solutions would support continued improvement across future resurfacing programs.
Recognition for research and innovation
The sustainable asphalt project received recognition from the Australian Flexible Pavement Association, winning the Queensland state award for outstanding projects under $10 million. The research established a road-surfacing approach suitable for local government use and adaptable to future infrastructure work.
The City of Moreton Bay continues to support green infrastructure initiatives, including projects to improve road safety for motorists and protect local wildlife, as well as efforts to develop more environmentally responsible construction practices.
Published 17-Feb-2026
Featured Image Credit: City of Moreton Bay
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