Our economist Ben Mason will be at the Road Engineering Association of Asia and Australasia (REAAA) Australian Chapter Low Volume Roads Symposium in Alice Springs.
Ben will be speaking on the updated Lifeline Risk Indicator Tool, which we developed in partnership with Edge Impact for Austroads.
In Australia and New Zealand, road connections to rural and remote communities are critical — yet many of these “lifeline” freight routes have historically been difficult to justify through conventional cost-benefit analysis.
This has often meant underinvestment, despite their importance to regional communities.
The updated digital tool, launched in late 2024, provides road managers with a practical way to:
- Identify and rank lifeline routes.
- Assess how risks change following investments.
- Apply a broader economic and social framework to prioritise routes that deliver the greatest community benefit.
At the symposium, Ben shares how this practical digital tool is helping decision-makers strengthen resilience in the face of climate change and natural hazards — ensuring vital communities remain connected.
