Surf Coast Shire commits to higher road standards
The Surf Coast Shire has unveiled a new four-year road management plan that will guide inspections and maintenance across its extensive road network through to 2029. Adopted at the September council meeting, the plan sets new service levels for sealed and unsealed roads, footpaths, kerbs and channels, with a focus on safety, community expectations and technical standards while remaining aligned with the council’s financial capacity.
What the plan changes
Key changes in the new plan include improved inspection and response times for high-use roads, a deliberate shift toward more proactive inspections, and the inclusion of roads that were previously excluded from the plan. The document reflects a comprehensive review of the shire’s existing plan and an assessment of its unsealed road network, following a prior decision to increase the grading frequency on unsealed roads.
Balancing safety, demand and resources
Councilor Joel Grist emphasised that effective road and footpath maintenance is a core responsibility of the council. He noted that the community has high expectations when it comes to the condition of roads, but stressed that there are financial and resourcing constraints to consider given the scale of the network.
“The plan achieves a strong balance between those factors and places higher emphasis on more regular inspection and faster repair of defects on our most frequently used roads,” Councillor Grist said. This approach aims to translate expectations into tangible improvements on the ground, particularly on corridors that see heavier traffic and more wear.
Network scope and responsibilities
The Surf Coast Shire oversees more than 600km of sealed roads and about 470km of unsealed roads. Approximately 30% of the network also includes footpaths, kerbs and channels, presenting a substantial maintenance task that must be managed within annual budgets.
The new four-year plan is designed to provide clearer service levels for different road categories, taking into account the varying needs of busy arterial routes, local streets and rural connections. The plan also supports the shire’s broader infrastructure goals by prioritising safety-critical areas, improving defect response times, and sustaining the integrity of the road network for all users.
Why this matters to residents
For residents and visitors alike, more reliable inspections mean quicker identification and repair of potholes, edge damage, drainage issues and other defects that can affect safety and accessibility. By formalising inspection cadences and allocating resources toward high-use roads, the shire aims to reduce disruption from maintenance work and keep essential routes in good condition year-round.
What happens next
With the four-year plan in place, the shire will implement the revised inspection schedules, ramp up proactive monitoring, and start inspecting roads that were previously left out of the inspection regime. The council will monitor performance against the new service levels and adjust allocations as needed to meet ongoing safety and community expectations while staying financially prudent.
Local roads are critical to daily life, tourism and local commerce on the Surf Coast. The plan’s emphasis on early detection and rapid repair of defects on high-use roads reflects a proactive stance intended to deliver tangible, safer driving experiences for residents and visitors alike.
