New research from Adelaide University has provided councils with a practical framework for assessing climate risks to local road networks and prioritising investments to improve long-term resilience.
Using the City of Holdfast Bay as a case study, researchers evaluated the vulnerability of roads and associated infrastructure to extreme heat, localised flooding and changing climate conditions.
The project assessed four key elements of the road corridor – road surfaces, road sub-bases, urban trees and transport networks – to identify how climate-related hazards could affect infrastructure and the communities that rely on it.
Lead researcher Professor Holger Maier, from the School of Civil Engineering and Construction Management, said councils across Australia are increasingly facing difficult decisions about how to manage infrastructure in a changing climate.
“Local governments are on the frontline of climate adaptation because they own and manage much of the infrastructure that communities rely on every day,” Maier said.
“Our research provides a practical, evidence-based way to understand where climate risks are most significant, how those risks may change over time, and what actions can be taken now to improve resilience.”
The Adelaide University team combined climate hazard data with asset exposure and vulnerability modelling to assess current and future risks across part of Holdfast Bay’s road corridor network in Brighton.
The analysis examined how rising temperatures, changing rainfall patterns and traffic growth could influence road deterioration, flood risk, urban tree suitability and the attractiveness of walking and cycling routes.
City of Holdfast Bay Mayor, Amanda Wilson, said the council was using the research to inform future planning for its road network.
“The City of Holdfast Bay is proactively planning for future climate conditions, using this research to inform future planning for our road network,” Mayor Wilson said.
Maier said road corridors should be viewed as integrated systems incorporating pavements, drainage infrastructure, vegetation and transport networks.
“Understanding how these elements interact is critical if we want to make smart, long-term investment decisions,” he said.
The research also explored strategies to reduce climate-related risks, including alternative road materials that better withstand heat, increased tree canopy cover and targeted upgrades at vulnerable locations.
The findings contributed to the development of a Resilience Investment Case for the City of Holdfast Bay, supporting the council’s evaluation of future infrastructure investment options.
The research forms part of the Enhanced Resilient Asset Delivery (ERAD) project, led by CSIRO in partnership with Adelaide University and Value Advisory Partners, and funded through the Australian Government’s Disaster Ready Fund.
To find out more, visit research.csiro.au
