At the 19 June 2024 meeting of Council, the updated Urban Roads and Drainage Improvement Policy 2024 was approved. The policy is reviewed every five years and was last completed in 2019.

The policy addresses how Council will manage approximately 100 kilometres of unmade roads and inadequate stormwater drainage in urban areas. These unmade roads and inadequate stormwater drainage can create issues for our communities such as dust, mud, potholes, flooding, disconnected pedestrian networks and traffic safety concerns.

Upgrade projects are funded typically through special charge schemes and occasionally through external grants when available. Special charges schemes are a mechanism that allows for Council to pass on the cost of upgrading the road to adjacent property owners that benefit from the works. Council also contributes to projects funded through special charge schemes in association with the benefits provided by the improvement works for the wider community, such as through traffic, tourist traffic and water quality improvements downstream.

Consultation with the community was undertaken from 12 April to 12 May 2024. A summary of the consultation is attached to the key documents section.

Key changes to the Policy include:

• Breaking large project areas into smaller ones
• Making community-initiated projects easier
• Reprioritising projects
• Incorporating interim dust only treatment options