{"id":230460,"date":"2019-03-07T19:56:01","date_gmt":"2019-03-07T09:56:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=230460"},"modified":"2020-07-22T12:59:22","modified_gmt":"2020-07-22T02:59:22","slug":"gympie-to-follow-south-burnetts-path","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2019\/03\/07\/gympie-to-follow-south-burnetts-path\/","title":{"rendered":"Gympie To Follow South Burnett’s Path?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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South Burnett Regional Council’s roof-mounted road condition assessment system (RACAS) in action (Photo: RACAS)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Gympie Division 6
councillor Hilary Smerdon<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

March 7, 2019<\/strong><\/p>\n

Gympie Regional Council has been urged to follow the South Burnett’s lead in the way it handles rural roads.<\/p>\n

At Gympie Regional Council’s February meeting, Cr Hilary Smerdon and Cr Bob Fredman moved that the Council’s 1000km gravel road network be independently assessed to determine its real condition.<\/p>\n

They also called for an examination of the Council’s current road maintenance methods.<\/p>\n

The motion was supported by fellow councillors Hartwig and Stewart, but failed to secure the support of the remaining four councillors and Mayor Mick Curran.<\/p>\n

Cr Smerdon said the South Burnett Regional Council had done a similar assessment and had changed the way it assessed roads, resulting in better standards for gravel roads.<\/p>\n

“The assessment wasn’t a large spend and has resulted in their maintenance dollar being better spent,” he said.<\/p>\n

Speaking to southburnett.com.au<\/strong>, Cr Smerdon said he was impressed by the strides the South Burnett had been making in addressing its rural road network over the past two years.<\/p>\n

“My division has about 600km of our 1000km rural road network, and their condition is a source of constant complaints,” Cr Smerdon said.<\/p>\n

“I can’t blame anyone for it but good roads are about the only thing rural ratepayers get for their rates, and many of them depend on roads for their livelihood.”<\/p>\n

Cr Smerdon said a large proportion of Gympie Regional Council’s Budget was allocated to rural road maintenance, and this had been increased the last few years.<\/p>\n

“You’d think this extra expenditure would result in an improvement to our gravel roads, resulting in less complaints,” he said.<\/p>\n

“But in my view, this isn’t the case – certainly not in the western areas.”<\/p>\n

Cr Smerdon said ongoing problems with rural roads in the Gympie Region had made him question current maintenance methods, and he believed it was time for the Council to re-examine its approach.<\/strong><\/p>\n

“I’ve talked with Cr Gavin Jones about the way the South Burnett is approaching your region’s rural roads, and I think we should look at doing the same thing,” Cr Smerdon said.<\/p>\n

“The Road Condition Assessment System (RACAS) the South Burnett Council has started to use to assess road conditions is quick, scientific and impartial, and I’ve spoken to them, too.<\/p>\n

“I believe we should be doing the same thing, and maybe looking at the some of the new ways the South Burnett is tackling road maintenance work.”<\/p>\n

Cr Smerdon said other Gympie Councillors with rural roads shared similar views, and he hoped the motion might be passed at a future Council meeting.<\/p>\n

“The current situation just isn’t working, so we should look at something that is and learn from it.”<\/p>\n

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