Title Roads Management Policy Category Roads Number & Version SVC-RDS-PO-029-01 Owner Asset Planning and Design Status Final
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Title Roads Management Policy Category Roads Number & Version SVC-RDS-PO-029-01 Owner Asset Planning and Design Status Final Endorsed by Director Assets & Infrastructure Approved by Director Assets & Infrastructure Effective date 28 June 2018 Due date for review 4 years Keywords Roads, Maintenance, Private Works Disclaimer Please note that this policy may not be current as Snowy Valleys Council (Council) regularly reviews and updates its policies and procedures. The latest controlled version can be found in Council’s Records Management System or contact Council’s Coordinator Governance and Risk on [email protected] for a hard copy of the latest version. A hard copy of this electronic document is uncontrolled. Where there is a delegation identified in this policy, the reader will need to confirm if an alternative delegation exists in the Delegations Register. To the extent that there is any conflict perceived between the delegation/s identified in this policy and of those contained in the Delegations Register, then the delegation/s in the Delegations Register takes precedence. The General Manager will, if necessary, be the sole arbiter in resolving any issues of conflict. SVC-RDS-PO-029-01 Page 1 of 16 Adopted: 28 June 2018 Roads Management Policy Reviewed: 1 PURPOSE The purpose of the Roads Management Policy is to establish guidelines for the management and administration of all public roads, which Council is the declared authority, in accordance with the Roads Act 1993. 2 SCOPE AND APPLICATION Council is required to define the limits of management and administration it will undertake on the road network to which it is the declared authority. The objectives of this policy are to define: a) Extent of road network maintained by Council b) Under its authority, administration and management of public roads not maintained by Council c) Framework for determining requests for Council to take on the upgrade and maintenance of unmaintained roads 3 DEFINITIONS Maintained Road: A road that is included in Council’s Road Register and maintained by Council Unmaintained Road: A road that is not included in Council’s Road Register and not maintained by Council. These roads generally have a gravel wearing course. Formed Road: A road that does not have gravel paving, but which is formed using a grader providing a defined alignment for vehicles to traverse Unformed Road: A road reserve that has been cleared and open to use by the public Unmade Road: A road reserve that has no capital improvement including clearing, formation and gravel paving. An unmade road may be trafficable or un- trafficable in all weather. Also known as a Paper Road Driveway Section of road reserve utilised to gain access from maintained road to property boundary. Considered to start from the point where the road pavement width ends and transitions to drainage channel Dust Suppression Seal: A length of seal on a designated unsealed road for the purpose of preventing dust spread onto adjacent residential premises 4 CONTENT 4.1 Legal framework • The Roads Act 1993 is the primary legislative instrument for road management • Council has an obligation to ensure that legal access is available to all lots • Council has no obligation to provide physical access to lots • Council has no statutory duty to carry out construction or maintenance works on public roads • Private parties may undertake work on Council roads subject to consent being given by Council • Public roads must not have restricted access without the consent of the roads authority SVC-RDS-PO-029-01 Page 2 of 16 Adopted: 28 June 2018 Roads Management Policy Reviewed: 4.2 Extent of Maintained Road Network • Council will keep a road register of all roads recognised as being maintained by Council • The register will contain information which can be utilised to determine the full length of roads maintained • This register will be utilised in determining future road works including operational, maintenance and capital infrastructure • Council will provide a maintained road network according to the roads register, within the limit of funds available, as determined in Council’s Operational Budget, Long Term Financial Plan, Strategic Asset Management Plan and Transport Asset Management Plan • No works are to be undertaken within the road network without the consent of Council 4.3 Unmaintained Roads • Council will not fund maintenance and capital infrastructure works on unmaintained roads. • Agreements may be entered into between Council and private parties to undertake work on unmaintained roads at cost to the private parties • Consent with conditions must be provided by Council to any private parties seeking to undertake work on Council’s road network • Council may void any agreement or consent with private parties on grounds of non- compliance with conditions • Private parties gaining access to dwellings from unmaintained roads must construct and maintain the road to a formed road standard • Council may undertake periodic inspections of unmaintained roads to identify any matters that may impact on public safety • Council may request remedial works to be undertaken by parties where an identified issue is prevalent, with works to be undertaken in accordance with the agreement for maintenance of the road 4.4 Requests for Council to take on maintenance of roads • Requests must be made by formal written submission • Consideration of requests will be subject to the following subjective criteria: o Lifecycle costs of maintaining the assets o Number of residents per kilometre o Estimated traffic volume o General public use, including recreation and emergency use o Overall public interest for Council to maintain the road • Council is not bound to consideration of requests to these conditions alone, and may consider additional relevant information • Successful applications will require the road to be fully upgraded by the applicant, in accordance with Council current standards for the road classification • Council may receive a contribution from the application in lieu of construction of the road • Council will not undertake any works on the road until such time as the road has been constructed, or contribution has been received SVC-RDS-PO-029-01 Page 3 of 16 Adopted: 28 June 2018 Roads Management Policy Reviewed: • Consideration on the same merits will be undertaken for requests of Council to take on maintenance of roads that are under the delegated authority of other state agencies. 4.5 Unformed and Unmade Roads • Unformed roads may exist in road reserves that access properties, but not dwellings or other approved structures • Council will not actively undertake operational, maintenance or capital activities in these reserves 4.6 Driveways within Maintained Road Reserves • Construction and maintenance of driveways from maintained roads into private property are borne by the owner of the property to which the driveway serves • The property owners responsibilities for the construction and maintenance of their driveway extends to the all drainage works required to facilitate the continual passage of water in the road reserve and the functioning of the driveway • No works are to be undertaken within the road reserve, including driveways, without the consent of Council • If a driveway is considered unsafe or illegal, Council may request rectification works to be arranged by the property owner. If the property owner doesn’t rectify the unsafe or illegal driveway Council may arrange for the works to be undertaken at the cost of the property owner. 4.7 Request for Dust Suppression Seals • Requests must be made by formal written submission • Consideration of requests will be subject to the following criteria: o Distance of dwelling from unsealed road o Dust prevention measures in place, such as trees and earth mounds o Estimated traffic volume o General public use, including recreation and emergency use o Medical or economic factors affecting the property occupiers o Environmental conditions such as prevailing winds • Council is not bound to consideration of requests to these conditions alone, and may consider additional relevant information • Successful applications will require a contribution from the private party requesting the dust strip to an amount of 50% of the total construction cost of the dust suppression seal • If approved, construction of the dust suppression seal will be undertaken in accordance with Council standards, subject to available budget and resources • Council will undertake maintenance and operational responsibilities of the dust suppression seal over its life cycle • Should the dust suppression seal deteriorate to a level whereby the seal is required to be replaced, according to Council standards, the property owner by which the dust seal gains benefit will be required to contribute 50% of the replacement costs • If the dust suppression seal is considered to be unsafe by Council standards and the property owner does not contribute to a new replacement seal, Council may return the road to an unsealed road. SVC-RDS-PO-029-01 Page 4 of 16 Adopted: 28 June 2018 Roads Management Policy Reviewed: 5 RESPONSIBILITIES /ACCOUNTABILITIES Mayor and To lead councillors in the understanding of this policy and the overall Councillors asset management framework To communicate the policy to the community To receive regular updates on its implementation General Manager To lead staff in their understanding of this policy and to monitor its relationships with other areas of council activity Directors To communicate,