Roads FAQs

A Road Management Plan (RMP) is a statutory document prepared under the Road Management Act 2004. It outlines how a council will fulfill its responsibilities to inspect, maintain, and repair public roads. The RMP:

• Defines inspection and maintenance standards.

• Details a management system for road and footpath networks (including bridges and culverts).

• Sets intervention levels and service response times for road defects.

• Is reviewed every four years and subject to public consultation.

This plan is due to be updated in 2025 and will be presented for community consultation

The Register of Public Roads is a list maintained by the council of roads for which it is the coordinating road authority. It includes:

• Information on road asset types, configuration, and quantity.

• Roads that are “reasonably required for general public use.”

• Specific assets like road surfaces, shoulders, bridges, culverts, pathways, traffic devices, signage, kerb and channel, and drainage.

The register excludes roads that are not constructed to Council standards or are not considered necessary for public use.

The document classifies roads into several types under a road hierarchy:

• Link Roads – Connect collector roads to arterial networks and significant locations.

• Collector Roads – Collect and distribute traffic from access roads.

• Access Roads – Provide direct access to properties and industries.

• Limited Access Roads – Serve farms and remote properties, built to a lower standard 

A pothole is a type of road defect listed under “Defect Description” in the plan. It is defined by width and depth thresholds for repair:

• Sealed roads: Intervention when >300 mm wide and >75 mm deep.

• Unsealed roads: Intervention when >450 mm wide and >100 mm deep.

• Paths: Intervention when >150 mm wide and >75 mm deep.

1. Identification Methods

Potholes are identified through:

• Reactive inspections: Triggered by public reports or complaints.

• Proactive inspections: Routine scheduled inspections by council staff.

• Condition assessments: Broader inspections for asset condition and planning.

2. Intervention Thresholds

A pothole is considered for repair if it exceeds the following dimensions:

• Sealed Roads: >300 mm wide and >75 mm deep

• Unsealed Roads: >450 mm wide and >100 mm deep

• Paths (footpaths/shared paths): >150 mm wide and >25 mm deep

3. Response Times (from instruction to action)

Sealed Roads

4. Action Taken

• If high-risk, the defect is made safe immediately (e.g., signage, barriers).

• Then, the pothole is either:

  • Repaired under maintenance, or

  • Scheduled in the capital works program for more extensive repair.

Formal Review of the Road Management Plan: Every 4 years, aligned with Council elections.

Condition Inspections (for maintenance planning):

• Sealed roads: Every 5 years

• Unsealed roads: Every 4 years

• Other assets (kerb, paths, culverts): Every 5–6 years depending on type

Proactive Maintenance Inspections:

• Link and Collector Roads: Twice per year

• Access Roads: Once per year

• Limited Access Roads: Only when reported by the public

Council maintains municipal roads listed in the Register of Public Roads, including:

• Sealed and unsealed road surfaces

• Road shoulders

• Bridges and major culverts

• Constructed pathways (sealed/unsealed)

• Traffic signs and devices

• Kerb and channel

• Roadside drainage systems

Council does not maintain:

• Arterial roads (RRV’s responsibility)

• Private roads and vehicle crossovers

• Roads on Crown land, unless agreed

• Roads not built to Council standards 

Check if it's in the Register of Public Roads, which lists all municipal roads for which Council is the coordinating road authority. You can:

• View the register or request information from Council directly

• Look for maintenance history and physical standards that match Council’s classifications (e.g. sealed surface, drainage, traffic signs)

• Roads not maintained by Council typically lack formal construction and are not included in this register