Previously, Transport and Main Roads (TMR) relied on the Road Drainage Manual (RDM), which was the longstanding standalone manual for planning, designing, operating, and maintaining road drainage infrastructure. However, recognising the need for alignment with national standards, we have harmonised the RDM with the recently released version of the Austroads Guide to Road Design (AGRD) Parts 5, 5A, and 5B. These documents provide essential guidance for designing efficient and effective road drainage systems. The updates were informed by recent advancements in robust hydrology methods, as recommended by the Australian Rainfall and Runoff (ARR, 2019).
As a result of this harmonisation effort, TMR has introduced a new set of Road Planning and Design Manual (RPDM) supplements to the relevant AustRoad Guides. These supplements eliminate duplications between documents and address aspects unique to Queensland practice. Additionally, they expand the application of technical details across various circumstances. The RPDM supplements were officially introduced in January 2024. Attendees will benefit from gaining insight and highlights from the key aspects of this technical development journey towards the final published documents.