Bass Coast Shire Council has released its reviewed Urban Roads and Drainage Improvement Policy and is seeking community feedback until 12 May.
Council manages an extensive network of infrastructure including roads, pathways and stormwater drains including approximately 100 kilometres of unmade roads and inadequate stormwater drainage in urban areas. Many of these do not meet today's standards as they were constructed prior to some significant changes in legislation that required developers to meet community wellbeing needs.
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. Funding of these upgrades often comes from special charge schemes. Special charge schemes require the property owners within these areas that will directly benefit from the improvements to contribute financially.
To address the many potential projects in a sustainable and equitable way, Council adopted the Urban Streets Improvement Policy in 1996, now known as the Urban Roads and Drainage Improvement Policy. This policy is reviewed every five years and was last completed in 2019.
Proposed changes to the Policy include:
- Breaking large project areas into smaller ones
- Making community-initiated projects easier
- Reprioritising projects
- Setting early thresholds of support to guide project development
- Incorporating interim dust only treatment options
Bass Coast Mayor Cr Clare Le Serve was pleased to see improvements to the Policy.
"A key change in the draft Policy is that it will allow for upgrades to be delivered in a staged approach," Cr Le Serve said.
"Unmade roads and insufficient drainage cause problems in urban areas such as dust, flooding, lack of footpaths and traffic safety. The objective of this policy is to resolve these issues in a sustainable and practical way as well as in line with best practice."
"The proposed changes will ensure upgrades are constructed in the most needed locations and a new draft Priority List has been created in conjunction with the draft Policy to address this. We are seeking feedback on both the Policy and the priority list," Cr Le Serve said.
To view the Urban Roads and Drainage Improvement Policy or offer feedback as part of the community consultation, visit Urban road and drainage improvement policy | Engage Bass Coast . Community submissions will be considered, before a report is presented to Council in June
