Gympie Council takes a smarter route to road inspections

Published on 06 October 2026

Gympie Regional Council is taking a smarter approach to road maintenance with the introduction of specialised technology designed to identify road defects and assess road conditions across the region.

Fitted with a roof-mounted smart camera, Council’s road inspection vehicle continuously scans Council’s road network, capturing information about sealed and unsealed roads in real time, as Council officers travel across the region. The information collected gives Council a clearer picture of the condition of its network and helps inform how maintenance works are prioritised, scheduled and planned. 

Mayor Glen Hartwig said the technology was another example of Council finding smarter and more efficient ways to manage its extensive road network.

“With 2,340 kilometres of roads in the Gympie region, inspecting and maintaining our network is a significant task." Mayor Hartwig said. 

“By using the most current road condition data available, we can better prioritise and plan our maintenance program and deploy our crews and resources where they are needed most. 

“It is about working smarter - it allows the roads team to inspect faster and more frequently. Ultimately, this technology will help us deliver better outcomes for our community. 

Since introducing the technology, Council has increased its road inspection capacity by 50 per cent over the past year compared with traditional inspection methods.  

The data collected supports Council’s long-term asset planning providing a clearer picture of how the road network is changing over time and helping inform future maintenance and upgrades. 

Importantly, the technology will allow Council to more accurately record damage caused by flood events, providing valuable evidence to better manage the recovery of the region’s extensive road network and to strengthen the data needed for funding applications.