Road and footpath repair
How to report road or footpath damage
Check who is responsible for maintaining the road or footpath
Council is responsible for maintaining and repairing most roads, footpaths, kerb and channel, laneways and foot bridges in Merri-bek.
VicRoads is responsible for maintaining many of the major roads in Merri-bek.
Before reporting road or footpath damage to Council, first check to see if the road is maintained by Council.
Responsible authority for all roads in Merri-bek:
Responsible authority for all footpaths and shared paths in Merri-bek:
Report a damaged road or footpath
Report a damaged road or footpath mantained by Council online.
Council aims to make the footpath or road safe within 3 working days of receiving the report.
If the road or footpath is maintained by VicRoads, visit report a roads issue on the VicRoads website.
You can also contact Council by phone to report the issue.
Road repair and maintenance
Most roads have a lifespan of between 50 and 100 years. The roads in Brunswick are up to 120 years old, in Coburg they are around 80 years old, and in Fawkner and Glenroy they are around 50 years old.
This means that Council has increased its spending, including allocating a higher proportion of its rates revenue, on infrastructure to improve roads and related infrastructure in Merri-bek.
Council also advocates for increased funding from state government to maintain and replace community infrastructure.
The Council Road Management Plan outlines the system for inspecting, maintaining and repairing its public roads. Download the Road Management Plan Adopted 2017 (DOC 5Mb).
Road reconstruction
Council is responsible for reconstructing roads that are no longer serviceable or have structural problems. This includes making improvements to:
- Asphalt or concrete surfaces and kerb and channel, footpaths, underground drainage and vehicle crossovers or driveways.
- Pedestrian, cyclist and motorist safety, including safe access for emergency services, eliminating corrugated and potholed surfaces, installing traffic management devices, providing safer intersections, upgrading street lighting, installing bike lanes and making footpaths with pram crossings smoother.
- Traffic management and parking, including eliminating high crowns, improving access to properties and improving disability access, and
- Streetscapes such as nature strips and street trees.
Council aims to reduce road maintenance costs, reduce wear and tear on vehicles and improve private property values.
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