The Shire of Ashburton has adopted a Draft Rural Road Rationalisation Strategy, to address anomalies with Council’s Rural Road Network which are placing a burden on the administration and financing of road works within the Shire.

Shire Chief Executive Officer, Mr David Carey said that current annual road maintenance is carried out in a fairly reactive rather a planned and coordinated way and the Council does not have a road network development strategy encompassing future visions.

"This has several spill over effects to the organisation, however a strategy has been formulated to address a clear need within the Shire," said Mr Carey.

"The Strategy is also consistent with the provision of a Continuous Improvement Program in Council’s Principal Activities Plan and Strategic Plan."

The Rural Road Rationalisation Strategy, has been developed to address the following issues:

Inconsistent management principles for National Park Roads.

Consolidation of Station Access Road works programming and funding.

Duplicated and Redundant Roads.

Council’s inability to provide an excellent road network service.

Optimisation of existing resources.

The ability to formulate a Road Network Development Strategy.

Over extension of responsibilities.

Within Council’s Strategic Plan there is no specific requirement for road infrastructure to be managed in accordance with a strategy or plan however the Rural Road Rationalisation Strategy attempts to address this.

Public comment will be sought over the next three months.

For further information please contact Council’s Manager Technical and Development Services Mr Jason Gick on (08) 9189 1029.