THE sight of Southern Downs Regional Council trucks hauling gravel up to 60km from quarries to roadworks has concerned some ratepayers.

Questions of wasted time, money and resources have been raised.

A former council employee and contractor said the council could save millions of dollars by sourcing gravel from roadside pits on private property - near the road jobs.

"When I was working for the council you didn't cart gravel from the western side of town to the east - it's just not viable," he said.

"There is a more efficient way; it's not rocket science - they can do it.

"We didn't tender it - as long as the gravel met the specifications we used it."

The council has defended its policy, saying strict regulations dictate where gravel can be sourced and what the tender process is.

Director of Engineering Peter See acknowledged the council had been criticised for not taking gravel from private properties, but said it wasn't a simple case of just digging up some gravel.

"Pre-amalgamation, Stanthorpe shire had a policy of removing material from private properties," he said. "Since amalgamation we haven't used private property that doesn't have town planning approval.

"If you just go to any pit you have no control over the quality of the material that comes out."

Currently the council uses a preferred supplier arrangement to source gravel from quarries, but the process has drawn criticism from many who claim it isn't cost effective.

During flood repair works and in emergency situations, the council has four private roadside pits they can use.

The former council employee said using roadside pits would cost a third of the current process and cut back on wear and tear on trucks and roads.

"There would easily be eight or 10 pits on the east side," he said.

"They've got to meet a few environmental requirements but if they crushed the gravel onsite they would get a lot more done and better value for money."

Mr See argued that if the council could find a way to save millions, it would have by now.

"Our job is to be as economical as we can be - there could be a way we do it quicker or cheaper but our aim is to do the best job," he said. "We're not going to put down poor material and have to repair in five or six years - the roads need to last at least 30 years."

Mr See said there were some within the council who disagreed with the way gravel was sourced.

Preferred gravel suppliers

•  Braeside Quarries - Braeside
•  Darryl McCarthy Constructions - Tenterfield
•  Sibelco Australia Limited - near Cherrabah
•  Hutchison Quarries - 12kms west of Warwick
•  Walls Sand and Gravel - Braeside (quarry)
•  Jim Bloomfield Concrete Supplies - Killarney
•  Pearljaney Pty Ltd - Millmerran