News

What we heard about the proposed Road Management Plan 2025

9 May 2025

Between 20 March and 17 April 2025, we heard from 28 participants about their views on the draft Road Management Plan, including 21 via Bayside’s Have Your Say (HYS) community engagement webpage, 6 emails to the project officer, and one question asked on the public HYS forum.


Key findings

The consultation reached a broad audience with 590 visitors to the Have Your Say project page. With only 28 feedback submissions, there was not significant data to support an overall theme. While some topics received several mentions, submissions sometimes conflicted with each other while others were not within the scope of the Road Management Plan.

Overall, the major themes identified were related to proactive inspection of road and footpath infrastructure, and the timely repair of identified defects.

Most submissions were neutral to the plan with some recommendations provided. Respondents reported that the information was well presented and easy to understand, however for the broader community the technical nature of the document may have been a barrier.


Item specific feedback

Respondents were directly asked for feedback on proactive inspection frequency, intervention levels, and response times. These three measures form the core of the Road Management Plan and Council’s road management system, defining how and when road infrastructure is inspected and repaired on Bayside’s local roads.

  • Proactive inspection frequency

No changes were proposed to how frequently Council inspects its roads and footpaths for defects. However, inspection frequency is a core aspect of the RMP and feedback on this was sought (more frequent inspections received 5 mentions, and one mention each for less frequent inspections, appropriate level of current inspection frequency, and Council not complying with intervention levels.

  • Intervention levels

A change to footpath intervention level was a key change proposed in the draft RMP. Despite a heavy focus on this change, engagement received limited direct feedback.

A range of specific concerns were raised during the consultation regarding this item including lower intervention levels (5 mentions) and 2 mentions each for lower intervention levels for footpaths, and lower intervention levels for bicycle lanes and paths.


  • Response times

A change to footpath repair response time was a key change proposed in the draft RMP. Several respondents flagged that response times for roads and footpaths should be shorter (6 mentions), or that repairs to more critical roads or footpaths should be completed more quickly (2 mentions).

  • Other topics raised

Several other topics relevant to the RMP were also raised during the consultation including better maintenance of bicycle lanes and paths (4 mentions), contractor management (3 mentions) and vegetation management over roads and paths (2).


Next steps

Council will consider the adoption of the renewed Road Management Plan at its meeting on 20 May 2025.


Council meeting 6.30pm, Tuesday 20 May 2025

Read the agenda. The agenda for this meeting will be available on Tuesday, 13 May 2025.

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