PebbleLock Case Study | Noonkanbah Aboriginal Corporation Carpark Project

The Challenge: Creating a cost-effective car park in a remote community

The Noonkanbah Aboriginal Corporation (NAC) is dedicated to uplifting the Yungngora people in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. This remote community, rich in cultural heritage, thrives through initiatives that emphasise sustainability, self-sufficiency, and economic growth. When it came time to upgrade their facilities with a new carpark at the main office and lodge, they faced a challenge due to their isolated location and harsh environmental conditions.

Originally, concreting the 400 sqm carpark would have cost around $110,000—a steep figure for the small community. This estimate included the cost of transporting trucks, materials, and labour to the remote site. Furthermore, extreme weather in the region, including high temperatures and heavy rains, posed a significant risk of concrete cracking and degrading over time, leading to expensive future repairs.

The Solution: Easy installation with PebbleLock

In search of a better solution, the community opted for PebbleLock permeable pavers instead of traditional concrete. This eco-friendly, cost-effective alternative reduced their outlay to around $45,000, offering a significant saving of $65,000.

The PebbleLock innovative design, which involves filling pavers with small stones, also improved the carpark’s long-term resilience by enhancing water management during the rainy season and minimising maintenance needs.

PebbleLock permeable paving is a more sustainable solution compared to traditional concrete or hard surfaces for several reasons:

1. Water Management: Unlike concrete, PebbleLock allows water to permeate through the pavers and into the ground. This reduces runoff, helping to manage stormwater naturally, preventing flash flooding, replenishing groundwater and directing excess water into storage systems if available. This is vital in areas with minimal rain.
2. Temperature Regulation: Permeable surfaces reduce heat absorption, mitigating the urban heat island effect, whereas concrete retains and radiates heat, increasing ambient temperatures.
3. Durability and Maintenance: Concrete can crack and degrade under extreme weather conditions, especially in remote areas like Noonkanbah. PebbleLock has flexible, modular design that adapts to ground movement, reducing long-term maintenance and repair costs. Additionally, repairs are simpler and less expensive, as individual pavers can be lifted to repair damage then replaced, rather than entire sections of concrete.
4. Eco-friendly Materials: PebbleLock is made with recycled materials, reducing its environmental footprint. By using natural stone rather than carbon emitting materials, it becomes a more sustainable choice.

The Result: A durable, eco-friendly car park built to last

The Noonkanbah Aboriginal Corporation now has a large car park with a footprint that not only supports cars, trucks and Utes, it is able to withstand extreme weather conditions.  Designed for longevity and environmental stewardship, PebbleLock promotes a greener, low-impact approach to landscaping while providing practical benefits for harsh environments, making it the perfect choice for communities like Noonkanbah. The board and traditional owners were delighted with the results. They now plan to use PebbleLock for future projects, including a new store carpark, appreciating not only its cost savings but also its alignment with their sustainable ethos.

By choosing PebbleLock, Noonkanbah made an investment in a greener, more durable future—enhancing tomorrow while saving today.