Road repairs and maintenance
The total length of our shire's road network is more than 1,700km, comprising a combination of:
- arterial (main connector) sealed roads, such as the Calder Freeway, managed by the Victorian Government
- local sealed (i.e. bitumen/concrete/asphalt) and unsealed (i.e. gravel) roads, managed by Council.
Before reporting a road hazard, you can find out who is responsible for the road maintenance below, to support a more direct and efficient response.
Who is responsible for different types of road?
Arterial (main connector) roads
The Victorian Government - and its relevant department/authorities (Department of Transport and Planning, VicRoads) - is responsible for arterial (main connector) roads, including highways and freeways. These roads are shown in yellow and orange on Google Maps.
The majority of main roads between our main townships are classed as arterial roads (with some exceptions, such as Three Chain Road between Carlsruhe and Lancefield, or Romsey Road between Hanging Rock and Romsey).
Local Council-managed roads
Council is responsible for the white roads on Google Maps, if those roads appear on Council's Public Roads Register.
White roads shown on Google Maps that are not on the Public Roads Register may be:
- fire access tracks
- access for a small number of residents
- maintained by another road authority
- completely unmaintained tracks that are unsafe to travel on, or
- cross onto private property and not for general public access.
If you have any questions in regard to the status of a road, please contact Council or view Council's Public Road Register.
Maps
The below map helps to highlight roads that are managed by the Victorian Government (highlighted in green) and other main roads that are managed by Council.
Map - Arterial roads and Council-managed roads(JPG, 881KB)
VicRoads also has maps and a register of public roads that it maintains available on its website.
Report an issue on an arterial (main connector) road
To report urgent issues or hazards on arterial (main connector) roads, call VicRoads on 13 11 70. This will allow information to be relayed to the VicTraffic website.
For any non-urgent road hazards, you can submit an online request to VicRoads.
Report an issue on a local Council-managed road
Council undertakes regular proactive road maintenance inspections and works, in accordance with our Road Management Plan, to ensure the road network is maintained to standards suitable for all users.
Unsealed roads are inspected regularly and faults are scheduled for repair. Sealed road maintenance works are completed as required.
Urgent requests
To report an urgent issue that poses a public safety risk, (e.g. a fallen tree blocking a road) and requires an immediate response, call Council on (03) 5422 0333 (24 hours a day, seven days week).
Non-urgent requests
Report an issue online or call Council on (03) 5422 0333 during business hours.
Council's Public Roads Register
If you wish Council to consider a section of road to be included on the Public Roads Register and maintained, a written request outlining your reasons for inclusion should be addressed to the Public Road Committee and emailed to mrsc@mrsc.vic.gov.au or posted to PO Box 151, Kyneton VIC 3444.
To help with your application, read the Public Roads Procedure. This outlines the criteria, procedure for determining and management of public roads.
Ongoing advocacy on arterial road maintenance
The general condition of many of our roads across the shire - both arterial and Council-managed roads - has deteriorated more rapidly in recent years, exacerbated by storm and flood events.
We continue to identify and strategically prioritise upgrades and maintenance to Council-managed roads each financial year through our annual capital works programs and recurring road maintenance programs, in consideration of our regular inspections, annual available budget and community feedback. We actively seek external funding opportunities to support these works, including partnering with the Australian and Victorian governments.
When upgrading our roads, we focus on 'building back better' and consider associated upgrades such as drainage, to make our roads more resilient against severe weather events and increased vehicle usage into the future. With $12.5 million in road works budgeted for 2024-25, you can find a list of current projects planned here.
In July 2024, the RACV's My Country Road survey highlighted the poor condition of several arterial roads within our shire, with three featuring in a list of the top 20 most dangerous in Victoria. These roads were:
- Tylden-Woodend Road, Woodend to Tylden (2nd)
- Kilmore Road, Monegeetta to Gisborne (3rd)
- Kilmore-Lancefield Road, Kilmore to Lancefield (13th)
Council regularly reports these priority road issues to the Department of Transport and Planning and in August 2024, wrote to the Victorian Minister for Roads and Road Safety, the Hon. Melissa Horne MP, highlighting the public safety issues with key state arterial roads and the need for the urgent repair of these roads.