August 5, 2012
The South Burnett Regional Council is encouraging residents to let them know where there is road damage to assist in the planning of road works.
“We appreciate the people who make contact and let us know exactly where there is a road that may need maintenance,” SBRC’s Ralph Ormiston said.
“It is unrealistic for our inspectors to check every road in the region every day. We really appreciate that people call Council and let us know where there may be a problem.”
Engineer Jeff Stephan said it was a safety issue.
“We’re talking safety here. The quicker we know about an issue the quicker we can make the road safe,” he said.
“We have had over 1500 defect requests come through this year. This means there is a whole lot of information being captured which helps us get an end result.”
Council’s Operations department and Customer Service Officers have implemented new software and a new system to deal with customer requests in relation to roads.
“It is a team effort. A series of questions and documented steps ensures we get back to people with an answer within 4 – 10 days,” Mr Ormiston said.
Technical Support Officer Lynn Halliday said communication between the Council and the public was flowing well.
“It is my role to track where the request is at,” she said.
“Depending on the type of request – for example, it may involve capital works – it could be some time before it can be fixed. Every request and project is tracked until it is rectified and signed off.”
Mr Ormiston said a more programmed system ensured “requests don’t fall through the cracks”.
