Piles Creek Embankment Collapse – The Investigations, The Expert’s Findings And Subsequent Improvements In Asset Management Of Culvert Structures On Major Roads In NSW

This paper outlines the methods and techniques adopted to gather the field investigation data to further our understanding of the failure mechanisms for the Pacific Highway Culvert at Piles Creek. Details of the combined expert’s opinions in to the mechanism and reasons for the failure will be presented.

Following the investigations and findings of the experts, the NSW Deputy State Coroner provided this recommendation in his Inquest report:

“…..development and implementation of its (Gosford City Council) assets management and records management systems with particular reference to the need to implement an effective inspection regime for road assets, the identification of risks associated with such assets, the timely response to risks that are identified and the effective managerial oversight of such systems”

Since this incident a significant amount of work has also been commissioned by the Roads and Maritime Services of NSW (RMS) to improve culvert asset management along their network of roads. The details of the RMS culvert asset management system are available to local councils. The paper will conclude with brief details of the RMS cataloguing and culvert risk assessment developments.