SSROC publishes final performance report for Paving the Way (Rubber) council demonstration

The Southern Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (SSROC) has now published Part 2 (final) of the Procure Recycled: Paving the Way (Rubber) report, documenting the on-ground delivery and early performance outcomes from Australia’s largest multi-council demonstration of rubber-modified asphalt.

Delivered in partnership with and part-funded by Tyre Stewardship Australia, the initiative involved 12 Sydney councils resurfacing road sections using crumb rubber modified bitumen (CRMB) asphalt — where tyre-derived crumb rubber is blended into the bitumen binder (wet method) and then used to produce asphalt mixes for paving.

What the report adds

Part 2 brings together field construction insights and monitoring results, including early observations from 12 months of performance monitoring. The report notes that early findings are promising, including:

• Performance equal to or better than conventional asphalt in at least 80% of applications, and
• Rutting reductions of up to 50% in some sites.

The report also recognises that in-service monitoring of urban roads can be inherently variable (for example due to traffic conditions and local factors), reinforcing the importance of consistent inspection approaches and longer-term data collection to build the evidence base over time.

Why this matters for councils and industry

For councils and road managers, the publication provides a practical reference point to support decision-making about where CRMB asphalt may be suitable in future resurfacing programs — alongside clear specification, contractor capability, and a monitoring plan that enables like-for-like comparison over time.

For industry, the findings underscore the value of repeatable mix design, production and placement practices to support consistent performance outcomes across different sites and conditions.

Access the report and related resources

SSROC’s Part 2 (final) report is available via SSROC’s website: https://ssroc.nsw.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/PtWR-20250207-Demo-Projects-PART-2-Report-FINAL.pdf 

For a shorter overview of the project and participating councils, read TSA’s case study:
https://www.tyrestewardship.org.au/case-studies/local-government-leading-the-way-12-councils-unite-to-transform-australias-roads-with-recycled-tyres