The ACT Government has completed its consultation on the updated sustainable concrete specification, which aims to reduce embodied carbon in infrastructure like kerbs, footpaths, driveways, and stormwater structures. This update aligns with national best practice and promotes the use of recycled and low carbon concrete materials.
- Consultation Overview
An industry workshop held on 11 April 2025 gathered input from contractors, suppliers, consultants, and government representatives with additional feedback collected via emails and written submissions.
Key points raised during consultation include:
- Challenges with early strength gain during Canberra’s winter led to more flexible SCM (Supplementary Cementitious Materials) levels and clearer curing requirements for cold weather concreting.
- Restrictions on plastic fibres now limit their use to concrete paths only, with steel fibres still banned in those areas due to durability and safety concerns.
- Quality assurance and testing requirements were clarified and simplified.
- Limits were introduced on recycled glass use to address safety and availability concerns.
- Practical construction issues such as curing methods, weather protection, and maintenance were addressed with updated guidance.
- Impact on Costs
Most suppliers expect 30% SCM concrete to be roughly cost-neutral. However, higher levels of recycled content may add up to 2% to overall project costs, depending on materials and specifications.
- Key Specification Changes may include:
- Mandatory or minimum SCM levels for concrete mixes, including fly ash and slag, with broader acceptance of recycled materials like crushed concrete, manufactured sand, glass, and recycled water.
- Construction and curing requirements updated to reflect ACT’s climate conditions.
- Streamlined processes for approving and documenting concrete mixes, particularly for low carbon and recycled content.
- Specific rules governing macro synthetic and steel fibre use.
- Revised jointing, curing, finishing, and testing standards aligned with national best practice.
- Next Steps
The new specifications and updated technical drawings will be published soon on the City and Environment Directorate website. The Government also plans to host webinars and provide direct technical support to assist industry in adopting these changes.
Once the changes have been published we will provide members with the an update.
For questions or clarification, contact:
