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Baw Baw Shire Council adopts 2025 - 2029 Road Management Plan, updating registers for safe, sustainable, community-focused roads and footpaths

Baw Baw Shire Council has endorsed the 2025-2029 Road Management Plan, updating public road and footpath registers, removing recreational Walhalla Road sections, and ensuring safe, sustainable local road management.

By news@gippsland - 27th October 2025 - Back to News

Baw Baw Shire Council has endorsed the Road Management Plan (2025-2029), including the Register of Public Roads Policy and Procedure, Register of Public Roads and Footpath Register, at Wednesday’s Council Meeting. Council’s Road Management Plan is reviewed every four years and sets out how Council manages and repairs the local road network to ensure it is safe and accessible.

The Road Management Plan guides Council’s maintenance of roads and paths, defines defect types, sets repair timeframes, and ensures inspection, maintenance, and budgeting for community service delivery

Road management update

Service standards specified in the Road Management Plan apply to all roads included in Council’s Register of Public Roads and all paths included in the Register of Paths. As the coordinating road authority for all Council managed roads, Baw Baw Shire Council has a statutory obligation to inspect, maintain and repair these roads.

In July this year, the broader community was invited to have their say on the draft plan as part of a community consultation. During this time, a petition was also circulated in the community and presented to Council at the 27 August Council Meeting, which resulted in 41 submissions relating to the proposed removal of two sections of Walhalla Road and their impact on the Register of Public Roads.

Councillors acknowledged community feedback around the proposed changes to the service standards of Walhalla Road and noted the response to the petition presented to Council in August.

Public roads decision

Mayor, Councillor Danny Goss used his casting vote to vote in favour of an alternate motion presented by Councillor Paul Pratt to adopt the Register of Public Roads in accordance with the Register of Public Roads Policy and Procedure, noting the removal of Walhalla Road as a Limited Access/Major Track.

The alternate motion stated the road did not meet Council policy criteria for inclusion on the Register of Public Roads, being predominantly used for recreational purposes and recommended that Council support officers to continue to advocate for DEECA to assume the maintenance responsibility of the removed sections of Walhalla Road.

Walhalla road update

Councillor Danny Goss voted for the alternate motion, noting that the sections of Walhalla Road in question are a State Government responsibility and Council money would be repurposed to support other local roads.

"These sections of road are used primarily for recreational purposes and do not provide access to rate payer properties, removing these from the Register of Public Roads is in line with Council’s responsibility for sustainable asset management and long-term financial sustainability," explains Councillor Goss.
The plan can be viewed on Baw Baw Shire Council website.

Pictures from Baw Baw Shire Council Facebook page.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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  Latrobe City Council will host a free Children’s Expo at Kernot Hall, Morwell, on October 27, featuring entertainment, activities, food vendors and community services for families.
• The Nationals and farm groups warn EPBC changes create uncertainty for farmers and land management
  Nationals leader Matt Canavan met with farm groups over concerns Labor’s EPBC changes could create uncertainty and regulatory risks. Industry wants amendments, clearer guidance, mapping, support tools and independent review.
• Celebrate the Lakes event highlighting Gippsland Lakes diversity and environmental projects protecting vital local ecosystems
  The East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority will host Celebrate the Lakes at Eagle Point, showcasing Gippsland Lakes biodiversity, environmental projects and community efforts protecting local waterways, wetlands and wildlife.
• East Gippsland Agriculture Tour showcases innovation, resilience and collaboration across the region's diverse farming sector
  ASAC members toured East Gippsland agricultural businesses, exploring sustainable farming, weed management, technology and dairy practices while strengthening industry connections and informing future regional agricultural priorities.