Technical Meeting with VicRoads

DR ELIZABETH GIBSON, General Manager of CMPA reports on a technical committee meeting held with VicRoads.

A VicRoads / CMPA technical meeting was held in Kilmore with the CMPA technical Committee comprising of Craig James and Wayne Douglas – E. B. Mawsons & Sons Pty Ltd, Mark Wagner – Conundrum Holdings Pty Ltd, Bill Payne – Quarry Crete, Elizabeth Gibson – CMPA and Graeme Newman and Sven Scheppokat from VicRoads. The meeting was an opportunity to discuss proposed changes to Sections and other related technical issues.

1.Proposed Specification Changes

• Draft Section 813 crushed rock for light duty base and subbase pavement.

This Section is proposed to cover the requirements of crushed rock and plant mixed wet-mix crushed rock for 20 mm nominal size Class 3L base and for Class 4L crushed rock subbase for light duty pavements. In this Section it appears that VicRoads was relaxing its road specifications for the use of recycled materials. this Section is expected to be released shortly.

• Section 812 Crushed Rock for pavement base and subbase

In the next version of 812 which is just about to be released, there will not be a separate specification for recycled materials. This gives VicRoads the ability to approve mixes that are not meeting requirements, however, recycled material will not be used in A grade material. VicRoads is currently accrediting recyclers.

• Section 702 Subsurface drainage

There is now allowance for crushed glass.

• Code of Practice 500.02 Registration of crushed rock mix designs

Class II has to meet all the VicRoads’ requirements in order to obtain registration.

2.Crushed Rock Mix Registration

• Unbound and bound (CTCR) crushed rock. It is now mandatory to register all unbound products.

3.Quarry Accreditation Program & Surveillance

• Annual Program of visits to now include quarry inspections, audit and surveillance. The frequency will be dependent on the quality of the previous product which, if satisfactory, will occur every 12 months. Hence, there will be more frequent visits if there are issues and this will be assisted by a new staff member who commenced in July, 2014.
• Audit and surveillance visits only occur to facilities actually supplying to VicRoads.
• The issue raised that the material once supplied may spend some time on the ground. The Committee said it
• would be preferred if the material is audited prior to supply.

4.Virtual Reference Specimen Trial (Ongoing)

• Photo-montage of reference specimens has been developed. VicRoads will conduct a trial at Stawell Quarry (Conundrum Holdings) in 2014/15.

5.Other issues

• Incorporation of wet PI’s into specification.

The issue was raised that wet PI (~$300) required for Class 1 rock is a lot more expensive than dry PI (~$150) and not many laboratories undertake wet PI testing.

• NATA requirements for reporting to the nearest 0.1%. AS 1141.11.1-2009 (Methods for sampling and testing aggregates – particle size distribution – sieving method). The issue of the requirement by VicRoads to report the result to 1 decimal place which differs from the method specification has not been resolved. It is proposed VicRoads approach Australian Standards to have the result reported to 1 decimal place. Some operators are reporting the whole number and then make an additional comment for 0.1%.

• Requirements for signatory status in small laboratories.

The sustainability of small laboratories in rural areas is in question since the change of signatory requirements came into place on 01/07/13. It is in VicRoads interests to approach NATA to rectify this issue.

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