A new $20 million manufacturing plant in Maryborough, Queensland, is set to bolster Australia’s commitment to sustainable infrastructure by turning waste asphalt into high-performance road surfaces.
Developed by MR Roads, the plant will produce asphalt containing up to 30 per cent recycled bitumen, also known as recycled asphalt product (RAP), and will supply projects within a 200-kilometre radius.
The investment marks a major milestone for MR Roads, the fast-growing infrastructure company led by award-winning entrepreneurs Daniel Mikus and James Rolph.
The Maryborough facility is expected to become one of the most advanced recycled asphalt manufacturing sites in the country, the company stated in a news release.
“We’ve built our reputation on quality and innovation and now we’re taking that to the next level by committing to more sustainable materials,” said MR Roads Co-Founder Daniel Mikus. “Our new plant is not just about roads, it’s about future-proofing the infrastructure sector in Queensland and beyond.”
Recycled bitumen is created by crushing and repurposing old asphalt and blending it with new materials to create a road-ready mix.
The process cuts carbon emissions, reduces landfill waste and decreases the demand for virgin resources.
“Recycled asphalt performs just as well as traditional materials, but it’s better for the environment and better for business,” said MR Roads Co-Founder James Rolph. “It’s a smart, scalable solution to one of the biggest waste streams in civil construction.”
The new manufacturing plant is a central component of MR Roads’ broader strategy to expand into complementary services that align with its goal to improve sustainability, advance technology, and enhance the durability and efficiency of infrastructure delivery across Australia.
“Increasingly government and other major project owners are looking for infrastructure solutions that demonstrate the highest levels of sustainability and innovation, in addition to cost and endurance attributes,” Mikus said. “We will be able to set new standards for this across industry once the plant goes live.”
The Maryborough facility is also expected to support local employment, with MR Roads forecasting an increase from nearly 100 staff to over 150 as operations ramp up.
“We are extremely proud to be building an iconic Australian brand and to be a leading employer in the roads infrastructure sector,” Mikus added.
