• It is a legal requirement. The RMP must be reviewed every four years, within 12 months of a Council election.
• To reflect community expectations, to recognise changing needs for safety, accessibility, and service quality.
• To align with industry best practice, the draft plan is in the MAV Rural Template for consistency and clarity.
• To support audit and risk requirements. It responds to audit findings and insurance trends to reduce liability.

It sets expectations for service levels, including how quickly issues like potholes or uneven footpaths are addressed.

The Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) rural template provides a framework tailored to rural and semi-rural areas. We chose this template over the urban template due to its suitability for low-traffic, dispersed road networks and its alignment with available resources and geographic realities.

The RMP covers the following assets:

• Council-managed sealed/unsealed roads
• Footpaths,
• Bridges,
• Kerb and channel (gutter),
• Drainage infrastructure
• Road signage,
• Road line marking, and
• Road furniture (fixtures and structures installed to assist with traffic control and safety).

Any asset that is not council's responsibility. This includes, but is not limited to:

• arterial roads
• pits belonging to other authorities
• private property, e.g. shops
• body corporate infrastructure and
• private stormwater connections

Council uses a three-tier inspection system:

• Reactive inspections (based on community reports)
• Proactive inspections (scheduled based on asset type and risk)
• Condition inspections (every three years for structural integrity)

Response times vary by asset type and severity, with emergency hazards addressed within 24 hours.

If events like natural disasters or pandemics affect Council’s ability to meet service levels, the RMP may be temporarily suspended. Council will communicate changes and prioritise high-risk repairs based on available resources.

Under the Road Management Act 2004 and Local Government Act 1989, property owners are responsible for the construction, repair, and maintenance of vehicle driveways and crossovers, including associated drainage and culverts.

The property owner is fully responsible for the construction, repair, replacement, and ongoing maintenance of their vehicle crossing (driveway crossover). This includes:

• The pavement surface of the crossover from the edge of the road to the property boundary
• Any drainage infrastructure, such as culvert pipes and end walls, located under or within the crossover
• Associated stormwater pipes that serve only the property
• Restoration of any footpath sections affected by the crossover works

Council does not maintain these assets. If a crossover becomes hazardous or non-compliant, Council may request the owner to undertake repairs. Permits are required for any new or modified crossings

All of the council’s roads are classed as local or collector roads. Timeframes for repair are based on these classifications. Classifications are mainly based on traffic count numbers and other factors, such as through roads, proximity to activity centres.

Feedback will be considered by the project team, and where relevant, changes made to the draft RMP. A summary of the feedback and Council officers' recommendations will be included in a report to Council in October for consideration.