MAKING ROADS A PRIORITY

Information collected on the identified hazard is evaluated using the following set of criteria to determine the overall Road Risk Rating:

The schedule to maintain Clarence Valley’s road network is prioritised based on a Road Risk Rating system.

Procedures and guidelines that are outlined in the Roads Policy are followed to strike a balance between optimal maintenance, minimising project costs, user amenity and value for money in a risk management context.

As part of the risk management process, inspections are carried out as a formalised and independent assessment of sections of the road network.

Inspectors assess roads with due regard to standards and safety principles, to identify hazards that may require repair and maintenance.

PICTURED: Above; 3.7km newly sealed section of Clarence Way 86km northwest of Grafton has been completed. The Kungurrabar Creek to Flagstone Creek Upgrade at Keybarbin includes road widening, new culverts, swale drains and guard rails. The $5 million project was co-funded by the NSW Government’s Bushfire Industry Recovery Package and Federal government’s Roads to Recovery Program.

 Location of defect within the road reserve (eg traffic lane, shoulder)

 Road hierarchy (eg state highway, local access street)

 Hazard type and severity (eg large pothole of diameter greater tan 200mm and/or depth 100mm)

The Road Risk Rating allows Council to prioritise the corrective action and generate a works program for road defect repairs.

Of these North Coast local government areas, Clarence Valley Council has the largest road length with a comparatively low population of ratepayers, making prioritisation of scarce resources essential.

Community service requests provide greater situational awareness of road maintenance requirements across our expansive sealed and unsealed road network. Each request is registered with Council’s Customer Service section and assigned to a staff member to carry out physical inspection of the site.