Norwell wins award for pioneering tech

Norwell Motorplex is making roads safer – literally.

The Australian Flexible Pavement Association (AFPA) awarded the Queensland circuit and driver training facility for its use of a new surface made in-part from recycled tyres. Norwell and Australian company, Austek Roads, resurfaced parts of the facility using a product known as Carbonmastic.

READ MORE: Norwell set for resurface with new recycled tyre product

This new product combines small Stone Mastic Asphalt with carbon char made from recycled tyres that would otherwise end up in landfill. Both Norwell owner, Paul Morris, and Austek’s David Simmons, celebrated the award and the successful trial of the new surface.

“I’m happy because that Carbonmastic product was laid down as a trial and straight away we saw the benefits of it,” Morris said.

Carbonmastic has obvious green credentials because it makes use of used tyres, with Austek claiming that for each tonne of Carbonmastic it produces it removes 10 tyres that would otherwise be waste.

Aside from the environmental benefits of using recycled rubber, a key feature of Carbonmastic is its excellent grip. According to Morris and Simmons it provides significantly better grip in wet weather, which should make for safer roads.