FLEXIBLE & PERMEABLE EROSION CONTROL

In November 2019, Australian Concrete Mats (ACM) was commissioned by Scenic Rim Regional Council to manufacture and supply 1050 square metres of its flexible erosion control mats for lining the roadside swale drains.

These works were part of Council’s infrastructure improvements, which consisted of long-term engineering solutions for and progressive replacement of ineffective and failing erosion methods at Brookland Bridge in Kagaru, Queensland.

Over 1050 square metres of concrete erosion control mats were supplied for the Brookland Bridge and Undullah Road section of works.

ACM erosion control mats were chosen as the best all-round, long-term hard armour stabilisation and erosion protection solution for the swale drains. Supplied in rolls for ease of handling and cost effective installation, ACM mats offered a host of long-term benefits to the project and the surrounding environment.

At the Undullah Road site, the swale drains were lined with ACM concrete mats to resolve issues that could result in sediment blocking downstream drains, due to road edges that were designed with no curbs or guttering.

ACM concrete mats offer an excellent economic and environmental solution for swale drains. As they are engineered to slow and capture runoff by spreading the flow horizontally across the landscape (along an elevation contour line) and facilitating runoff infiltration into the soil, they prevent flooding, puddling and erosion, and avoid overwhelming stormwater systems.

The roadside drains on this project were designed to be broad and shallow, which will become vegetated with grass in time as it grows through the permeable concrete and polypropylene geogrid structure of the ACM matting.

WHAT IS A CONCRETE MAT?
ACM concrete erosion control mats are made up of concrete shapes embedded into a high strength polypropylene geogrid. The mat is flexible because of the shape of the concrete blocks and the spaces between. When laid, the mats contour to the shape of the landscape and allow vegetation to grow through.

EASY HANDLING & QUICK INSTALLATION
Workers on the Scenic Rim Regional Council project were able to easily install the mats onsite with their own equipment. The mats were supplied in rolls, each custom made to project specifications — 2.4m (W) x 6m (L) pre-rolled with nutrition mat underlay to promote vegetation growth.

The rolls were lifted, placed alongside the drains, then simply unrolled into position to line the shallow curves of the drain.

The installation of 1050 square metres (over 70 rolls) was completed efficiently within two days using only one TLB Loader with a bucket, one operator and three labourers on the ground.

Once laid, ACM mats start working straight away!

Performing as well as expected, the ACM permeable concrete erosions mats provided a permanent solution to the project and are already growing green and lush. Within eight weeks of installation, vegetation was already well established; growth that was encouraged by good rains and the ACM Nutrition Geomat underlay.

The fast plant establishment achieved on this project coupled with the longer than average life expectancy of the mats, contribute to the long-term environmental solution delivered. The flexible matting protects the ground from erosion, and is easily maintained with regular mowing once the vegetation has completely established.

Scenic Rim Regional Council’s Undullah Road swale drain upgrade is yet another example of the environmentally friendly, efficient and economical outcomes achieved by using innovative Australian Concrete Mats erosion control products.

Have specific site requirements? No problem. Visit ConcreteMats.com.au to place your made-to-order request to meet all project needs.