Footpaths, Roads & Streets
Roads
Port Adelaide Enfield is responsible for the maintenance of approximately 660 kilometres of road assets, while Transport SA is responsible for nearly 116 kilometres of arterial roads.
The integrity of the network is maintained by a regular reseal and maintenance program whilst those roads beyond rehabilitation are reconstructed.
Road construction and maintenance accounts for a major portion of the expenditure levels and staffing of most councils. The Act allows councils to expend monies on a wide variety of road related responsibilities. (Section 212 to 218 Local Government Act, 1999).
The Commonwealth Government is responsible for national highways.
Funding for Roads
Local government’s road construction and maintenance efforts are generally financed from two main sources – councils’ general rate revenue and the Urban Local Road Program.
Councils’ General Revenue is made up of rates, loans, fees and charges and untied grants and may be expended on roads according to the priorities of Council.
The funds for the Urban Local Road Program are distributed from the Federal Government to the State Government based on principles reflecting road needs. Local Roads funding is pooled and paid to Local Government via general purpose assistance.
Local Government has total discretion in determining its own expenditure priorities. The allocation of funding is based on road lengths and populations within each Council and is determined by Local Roads Advisory Committee.
Council has received $4 million from the Federal Government ‘Auslink Roads to Recovery’ Program between 2005 to 2008.
Advice on the distribution of funds available to Local Government is provided by the Local Roads Advisory Committee. The Committee is made up of nominees of the Minister of Transport, the Minister of Local Government and the Local Government Association. The LGA nominee chairs the Committee.
Distribution of Funds to Councils
A proportion of the Federal roads funds available to Local Government is earmarked each year for Special Local Roads Projects. The funds for the program are derived from pooling 15% of the Commonwealth Identified Local Road Grants received by the Commonwealth each year and 15% of South Australia’s R2R yearly allocation.
From 2005 Councils apply for funding through the Local Government Transport Advisory Panel (LGTAP). The LGTAP will be responsible for providing advice on funding allocations to the SA Local Government Grants Commission for the SLRP and through LGA State Executive will make recommendations to the Federal Minister for Transport on applications under the strategic pool of Roads to Recovery 2.
The LGTAP is chaired by an LGA State Executive member. Its membership comprises one metropolitan council, one rural council, one represenative of the Minister for Transport, one represenative of the Minister for State Government Relations and the Executive Director of the LGA or delegate.
Traffic Management
Councils are responsible for traffic management on streets and roads within their control. They must provide traffic signs, street and road markings, traffic lights, pedestrian crossings and traffic islands etc. Some traffic management devices require approval from the Road Safety Division of Transport SA. The introduction of the Australian Road Rules on 1 December 1999 has required certain changes to traffic signs and linemarking to occur.
Should you require further information please contact one of our helpful Customer Services Team on (08) 8405 6600 or Email.