At the March Council meeting, Southern Grampians Shire Council resolved to publish its Draft Road Register 2018 and seek public submission on the proposed changes, which include the removal of 45 rural access roads.
Under the requirements of the Road Management Act 2004, Council must publish a register of public roads (Road Register) of which it is the coordinating road authority.
The Road Register only contains the names of public roads under the care and maintenance of Council. The Road Register is not a list of the all the roads Council owns, but identifies all the roads Council will manage in accordance with its Road Management Plan. The Freeways and arterial roads which are the responsibility of VicRoads are not required to be listed in Council's Road Register.
The Draft Road Register 2018 proposes that 45 rural limited access (RLA) roads be removed. The RLA’s are grassland lanes which Council does not currently maintain due to their very limited use and the fact that they are often gated by local farmers.
Fire Access Roads are not required to be on the road register and Council manages and funds these roads under a separate process to ensure fire access roads are maintained for emergency use.
By removing these roads from the register, Council still maintains ownership of the roads and they are still a Public Highway under the Road Management Act, giving the public right of use of these roads.
The Draft Road Register 2018 also rectifies discrepancies in road chainages and road names. The proposed changes include the addition of a new road and 13 road hierarchy changes.
Council invite public submissions on the Draft Road Register 2018. Any person wishing to make a submission on the Draft Road Register must do so in writing by Monday 30 April 2018.
Details of the 45 roads being removed, and on how to make a submission, can be found on Council’s website www.sthgrampians.vic.gov.au on the ‘have your say’ page or by contacting Council on 5573 0444.
Once submissions have closed, a further report will be presented to Council.