Rural roads review progressed
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19 September 2018 - Media release
Campaspe Shire Council has approved for 65 kilometres of roads to be removed from its Public Road Register and a further 27 kilometres of roads to be reclassified from gravel to earth.
Mayor Cr Adrian Weston said the changes are the outcomes of the Rural Roads Review, an extensive review of the rural road network that started in 2011.
“The first stage of the review, completed in 2016, saw 83 kilometres of roads reclassified from gravel to earth,” Cr Weston said.
“This second and final stage of the review now sees changes to 92 kilometres of rural roads and an annual saving of more than $120,000, a combination of depreciation costs and maintenance savings.”
The review will result in 65 sections of road, totalling 65 kilometres, being removed from the Public Road Register and 28 sections of road, totalling 27 kilometres, being reclassified.
“The removal of the road from the register does not affect the status or use of the road. Most have been incorrectly included in the register and do not exist, some will revert to other government agencies,” Cr Weston said.
“The sections of road range from 40 metres through to 2,200 metres in length.”
Reclassification will see 27 kilometres of gravel roads gracefully return to earth roads.
“This means they will still be graded as per our program, but will not be resheeted when the gravel has worn away,” Cr Weston said.
“These sections of road range from 270 metres through to 2,230 metres in length.”
The purpose of the Rural Roads Review was to create a robust framework for providing a road network that meets the service needs of the community while being financially sustainable into the long-term future.
“The Rural Roads Review is one of the most comprehensive analyses ever undertaken by council,” the Mayor added.
“In particular, we have provided extensive opportunities for community members to have their say about any proposal to alter the classification of a local road.”
“Our priority is to ensure we can maintain the road network in a fit-for-purpose condition at the lowest overall cost while continuing to meet the needs of the agricultural sector and other general road users.”