Council uses jet-patcher to ease pothole backlog

The Council road crews have begun jet-patching potholes while the warmer drier weather lasts.

Orange City Council's Manager of Corporate and Community Relations Nick Redmond said, for the last two months Orange City Council has had at least two crews working full-time on pothole repairs.

He said often extra crews have been formed with staff from other Council work areas such as construction, concrete and drainage and parks and gardens, to help deal with the backlog.

"Repairing potholes is a temporary solution aimed at maintaining a serviceable surface before more permanent works can occur, generally in warmer weather," Mr Redmond said.

"Orange’s record rainfall in both June and July has left its mark on local roads by creating more potholes than usual. This problem is shared by communities across the Central Tablelands.

"The emergence of potholes is an inevitable result of heavy rain where the seal on a busy road has been damaged."

This week the rain has eased and temperatures have begun to rise, one of the council crews has begun using jet-patcher equipment, Mr Redmond said.

"While this equipment can only be used in dry weather, this technique delivers a better result. A mixture of bitumen and gravel is sprayed into the pot hole and is then rolled in," he said.

"The location of where potholes have been repaired is captured by the council’s assets management system which helps to prioritise streets for major road maintenance work during warmer months."