SMBI Roads

SMBI Roads

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POOR QUALITY ROADS ARE DANGEROUS, AFFECT OUR HEALTH AND COST US MONEY

Many of the roads on SMBI are dirt roads. Some are very rough, and some cannot be used during or after wet weather.

• When roads cannot be used by an ambulance or fire truck, there is a clear danger to the community.
• Dust, some of which is silica, aggravates the chronic health conditions of local residents.
• Poor quality roads damage vehicles, houses and house contents, costing us money.
• Our roads detract from the overall amenity of the community and deter investment and tourism.

WE NEED MORE TRANSPARENCY IN HOW ROADWORKS ARE PRIORITISED

While the list of roads to be sealed each year is released, there is limited transparency on how the decision as to which roads are sealed is made.

It would seem from the DRAFT SMBI PLANNING AND LAND USE STRATEGY REVIEW (2011) that the assessment criteria for roads is based on:

  • The number of properties that use the road regularly.
  • The volume of traffic in relation to other roads.
  • Major drainage problems create the need for continuous high-cost regular maintenance.
  • Condition of the existing gravel road (Including shape, potholing, dust issues, etc.).
  • Whether it is commercial traffic, a bus route, or access to a popular destination.
  • Type of road in the hierarchy on each island (cul-de-sac, access road, collector road, etc.).

While these assessment criteria are important, they do not include:

  • Health impact – presence of residents with chronic health disease impacted by road dust.
  • Emergency access – whether roads are/become impassable by ambulance and fire vehicles or restrict emergency evacuation routes.
Driving the roads identified for sealing in 2024, it is not apparent that the above criteria have been used to determine which roads are to be sealed.  There are roads, such as Pharlap St Russell Island, that have more properties than those identified for sealing, is a collector road for other streets AND has residents with severe respiratory disease excacerbated by the dust. 

DOING THINGS WITH, NOT TO THE COMMUNITY

If elected, I will gather from the Council and report to the community.

  • Detail on the overall status of SMBI roads.
  • Map of which roads are sealed and unsealed
  • How the decision as to which roads are sealed is made.
  • Average cost per km to seal the roads.
  • Distance and cost of sealing per annum over the past five years.
  • Forecast budget and rate of road sealing over the next three years.
  • Current priority ranking for road works.
  • Estimated wait time for each unsealed road to be completed.

I will work with the community to:

  • Develop with residents a clear and transparent process prioritising roadworks on the islands that is evidence-based, objective and reflects the priority of residents.
  • Work with the community to identify opportunities for efficiency to deliver better value (and more km of sealing per $) from the roadworks budget.
  • Recommended changes to the process by which roadworks are prioritised on SMBI.
  • Develop a business case and options paper identifying efficiency gains and increased outcomes to be achieved by implementing the proposed changes.

NOT JUST LISTENING – DOING