March 18, 2014
Toowoomba Regional Council today passed a new policy to standardise gates and grids on its road network.
The Council estimates there are about 160 gates and grids on public roads in rural areas across the region. However, before amalgamation seven different policies and procedures were in place for dealing with applications, maintenance and repairs.
TRC Infrastructure committee chairperson Cr Carol Taylor said the new policy aimed to find a balance between safety concerns and the costs for road users and rural landholders.
“The policy establishes minimum structural standards, which from a safety perspective lessens the risk for owners, Council and road users,” Cr Taylor said.
“There will also be a standard approach to approval, installation, ongoing maintenance and removal of a gate or grid across the region.
“One of the first steps will be to identify and register these structures on a central register.
“An annual compliance inspection fee will also be standard across the region at $150 a year with a $50 discount for the timely submission of a condition report.”
Cr Taylor said an amnesty period would run until December 31 for residents to ensure gates and grids on public roads passing through their properties were registered.
“After the amnesty a full registration process will be undertaken for new gates and grids. If residents act now we will waive the annual compliance fee for this year before starting the new system next January.”
Cr Taylor said Council would also be offering a limited subsidy to landholders to fence out the road reserve which would then allow for the removal of grids from public roads.
“Council will make a one-off contribution to landholders where we can see a demonstrable benefit and where at least one grid/gate is removed from the road network,” she said.
“Council will also increase its inspections which will improve the safety of gates and grids and highlight the need to owners for regular maintenance of these structures.”
