David Freeman is a ratepayer in the Manning Valley and recently raised the issue of road construction material on social media as he learned about council's proposal to consult with the community about lodging a special rate variation (SRV) to pay for infrastructure maintenance and renewal.

He is aware of the revenue challenges that face council as it works to manage its road network and contends "the only way to fix these roads is to change to concrete."

"They (council) will say it is too expensive. However, if the cost is approached strategically - maintenance, patching, resealing etc - concrete is well in front, particularly on plastic clay silt soils which we have on the coast."

Mr Freeman believes "every new sub-development must have concrete roads."

"As oil prices continue to increase we are locking ourselves into spiraling maintenance costs. Bitumen roads need resealing every seven years and asphalt needs to also be topped up.

"Simply look at the main road in Chatham from Fays Twin Cinema both right and left. One piece concrete, the other bitumen. You can easily see which one will still be here for years to come.

"Look how much council has spent over the last five years replacing kerb and channel squashed out of shape - mainly by garbage trucks - through the sub-development areas through cheap construction. The implication is the impact on future council's and ratepayers."

Greater Taree City Council says it is "responsible for 90 per cent of the sealed and gravel roads in our area with a road network exceeding 1700 kilometres."

Council's senior leader infrastructure services, Daniel Park says the cost of concrete road can only be justified where the road has a high volume of traffic and significant heavy vehicle use.

"Choosing what pavement material to use in road construction is complex and impacted by a diverse range of factors," Mr Park explained.

"One of the key determinants is cost, given an exceptionally greater cost in the construction of concrete road pavements versus gravel pavements. That's not solely related to the actual material used, but the process around its use. Concrete road construction, for example, requires specialist equipment for paving, purchase and placement of reinforcing steel, and installation of contraction joints to name a few.

"That cost can only be justified where the road has a high volume of traffic, and significant heavy vehicle use where greater durability is required. That's why many freeways and motorways are constructed of concrete, and, for example the section of road near Masters.

"In this particular instance it was a condition we imposed on the developer in order to cater for the additional heavy transport in and around the area.

"Sections of road near roundabouts are also sometimes constructed with concrete in order to provide a more solid foundation to cater for the 'screw' effect of vehicles using the roundabout."

Mr Park said that flexible pavements, such as gravel and bitumen surfacing, is the most popular choice amongst councils for their regional roads, based on both cost and load.

"Not only are bitumen seals well-placed to cater for the volume and type of traffic it carries, it provides a far quieter running surface, and maintenance is significantly more cost-effective. With less flex in a concrete road, they are liable to cracking which is enormously expensive to repair."

ainslee.dennis@fairfaxmedia.com.au