WEEKS after Orange City Council decided to look into a hot mix asphalt plant to serve the area’s needs, one councillor has put forward another option, warm mix.
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Councillor Stephen Nugent has been researching the material, which involves using different ingredients so the asphalt can be mixed at a lower temperature.
Hot mix needs to be mixed at about 170 degrees Celsius and laid while hot, while warm mix has been laid in Western Australia 40 degrees cooler.
Warm mix emits fewer fossil fuels, improves working conditions and allows traffic to use it faster.
It also means it can be laid in colder weather.
Cr Nugent said it was newer technology and the results seemed to be as good.
“You don’t have to heat the mix to the same temperature and you can also use some of the recycled pavement in the warm mix,” he said.
“If we are looking at investing $10 million in an asphalt plant, we should be looking at the newest technology which has the least environmental impact.”
With councillors split during the meeting earlier this month, Cr Nugent said an asphalt facility was worth exploring.
“But we have to make sure it’s something that’s the latest technology, rather than investing in something that’s out of date,” he said.
Councillor Jeff Whitton put forward the hot mix proposal, fuelled by the feedback during the election campaign.
The Central Western Daily polled readers after the council’s vote on whether they supported a hot mix asphalt plant within the council boundaries.
Of those who responded, 83.7 per cent said yes and 16.3 per cent said no.
The business case is still to be brought back to the council.
Bitumen types
- Hot mix asphalt is heated to 170 degrees Celsius to thin out the bitumen binder and dry out the gravel prior to mixing. Paving and compacting work must be completed while the mix is hot.
- Warm mix asphalt is made by adding minerals, waxes, asphalt emulsions, or sometimes water to the bitumen prior to mixing, meaning lower mixing and laying temperatures.
- Cold mix asphalt is produced by mixing bitumen with water and a soap-like material prior to adding gravel. It is commonly used to patch.