Updated plan to better manage local roads and related assets
Last updated on 08 May 2025
Feedback is invited on a key strategic plan that outlines how we will inspect and maintain local roads and other road-related infrastructure assets over the next four years.
The new draft Road Management Plan 2025-2029 sets out Council's obligations to proactively and reactively manage close to 1,800 kilometres of Council-managed roads and access tracks, including close to 900 kilometres of sealed (bitumen) roads and close to 760 kilometres of unsealed (gravel) roads.
The new draft Plan largely reflects the contents of the existing Plan, with amendments made to better reflect community expectations while managing available resources, such as:
- increasing inspection frequencies (e.g. doubling the number of annual inspections on certain categories of sealed roads, to reflect a higher level of service to these essential assets)
- reducing intervention thresholds (e.g. meaning that smaller surface irregularities in footpaths, shared paths and bike paths will now prompt maintenance action, reducing the frequency of customer requests and enhancing overall public safety and usability)
- slightly expanding certain timeframes (e.g. reactive inspection timeframes increased from 3 to 5 days, to provide more flexibility in resourcing while still meeting service standards).
Director Assets and Operations Dom Testoni acknowledged the historical scrutiny on roads and road maintenance, which had only increased in recent years amid population growth and increasing severe weather events.
“Our residents drive on our local roads every day and whether they are Council-managed or state-managed, they deservedly expect a safe and smooth journey to their destination,” he said.
“This new draft Plan aims to better reflect and service those expectations for the roads and related assets we are responsible for, while balancing our finite resources and funding available each financial year.”
Feedback is invited from now to Friday 6 June 2025. Visit Draft Road Management Plan 2025-2029 to find out more and have your say online, with hard copies of surveys also available on request from Council’s customer service centres, or via post by calling (03) 5422 0333.
The Victorian Government – and its relevant department/authorities (Department of Transport and Planning, VicRoads) – is responsible for arterial roads, including highways and freeways. Most roads between main towns are arterial roads, with some exceptions such as Three Chain Road between Carlsruhe and Lancefield, or Romsey Road between Hanging Rock and Romsey.
A Road Management Plan is required to be updated every four years – in this case by 31 October 2025 – under the Road Management Act, legislated by the Victorian Government.
“We welcome constructive feedback on the document’s structure and intent,” Mr Testoni said. “Should people wish to provide more general road-related feedback, there is more information on our website to direct them appropriately.”
To provide general road-related feedback, visit Roads for more information.