Minimum $3 million annual commitment to seal Coast gravel roads

Sunshine Coast Council is continuing its proactive approach to the region’s gravel roads by developing a 20-year plan to prioritise roads for sealing and committing at least $3 million for each year.

Place Management and Delivery portfolio Councillor Greg Rogerson said the Unsealed Roads Upgrade Plan 2015–2035 would inform the 2015/2016 capital road works program.

“This new rating program uses criteria such as safety, road use and function, maintenance requirements, rural impacts and dust impacts to develop an overall score for each road,” Cr Rogerson said.

“The public expects gravel roads to be sealed and Council will ensure the road sections most in need of sealing are done each year.

“Although it will take some time to seal these roads due to the high costs involved, this new rating system makes it easier for Council to inform the community about a road’s status.

“The priority list of unsealed roads will be reviewed yearly.

“Roads already scheduled for sealing in the 21014/15 financial year include Sports Rd in Bli Bli and Delicia Rd in Mapleton.”

Cr Rogerson said the region’s gravel roads were generally not high-traffic areas.

“Our network of unsealed roads is mostly lesser used roads, with between 30 and 500 vehicles per day travelling on them,” he said.

“Whilst it would be my utopia to have them all sealed, that dream will probably never become reality because of the exorbitant cost involved.”