Wingecarribee Shire Roads: The Enormous Task Ahead

Published on 28 March 2025

Managing and maintaining Wingecarribee Shire’s extensive 1,200-kilometre road network is a monumental task, surpassing the scale of most other infrastructure challenges in the region. The ongoing investment required to keep these roads safe and functional is a significant undertaking, one Council acknowledges and is committed to addressing. 

The Scale of the Challenge 

Wingecarribee Shire Council is responsible for a vast road network consisting of: 

• 120km of asphalt roads 
• 810km of spray seal roads 
• 270km of unsealed roads 

In the last four years, Council has spent $70.7 million on capital roadworks, with major projects including $21 million for Old South Road and $10 million from grants and stimulus funding. 

The Cost of Maintenance 

Currently, Council allocates around $8 million annually for road maintenance. However, based on industry best practices and spending levels of surrounding councils - including Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council (QPRC), Goulburn-Mulwaree, Shoalhaven, and Upper Lachlan—a more realistic annual maintenance investment should be $16.1 million, with the best practice benchmark set at $22 million. 

Similarly, to maintain roads at a standard that prevents deterioration, an annual capital investment of $14.5 million is required. To make a real impact on resident satisfaction, investment in the range of $21 million per year would be needed. 

Road Priorities and Service Categories 

Not all roads are maintained at the same level, with priority given to those serving higher traffic volumes and critical access points.

Hierarchy of Roads: 

• Lower Order Roads (41km) – Maintained only for emergency access 
• Local Access (630km) 
• CBD Roads (12km) 
• Distributor Roads (230km) 
• Collector Roads (272km) 
• Sub-Arterial Roads (56km) 

Over the last four years, the focus has been on maintaining and renewing higher hierarchy roads (sub-arterial, collector, and distributor roads). However, a strategic shift is now occurring to include access roads. 

The Impact of Natural Disasters 

One of the biggest challenges affecting road conditions in Wingecarribee is the weather. Since 2017, the region has experienced 16 declared natural disasters, resulting in over $43 million in damages to the road network. These events have significantly impacted road conditions, emphasising the need for sustained funding and long-term resilience planning. A key factor in road reconstruction in Wingecarribee is the complexity of many projects, requiring detailed designs and NSW Government Authority approvals for funding eligibility. 

Advocating for Funding  

Recognising the strain that the disaster recovery funding process places on local resources, Council recently passed a motion advocating for the NSW Government to release natural disaster funding sooner. Currently, Council must submit claims, receive approval and cover costs upfront while awaiting reimbursement, putting financial pressure on the Shire, although with the signing of the tripartite agreement a component of funding is provided upfront to ease the financial pressure. The motion called for a more efficient system that ensures Council can access necessary funds promptly following declared disasters, helping to accelerate road repairs and recovery efforts. 

Hear from Mayor Fitzpatrick!