Roads
Guidelines and Policies
The Infrastructure Team at WALGA produces and/or maintains various guidelines to support Local Government in the design, construction, and maintenance of roads and associated infrastructure.
WALGA has prepared guidelines for accessing gravel as a road building material. Input into the preparation of these guidelines was received from the Departments of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, and Planning, Lands and Heritage. View the guidelines.
These Guidelines are designed to assist Local Governments to manage the work of third parties in the road reserve and other property under the control and care of Local Government. They set out requirements for the planning and approval of works, restoration of roads, kerbs, footpaths and other infrastructure and the reinstatement of verges, parks and reserves.
The document comprises guidelines for the planning, design and construction of residential crossovers. The Guide represents a consolidation of current Local Government standard guidelines and specifications. The Guide will provide an opportunity to encourage a consistent approach across the Local Government sector. Local Governments may adopt the Guide in its entirety or as a framework with amendments to reflect local circumstances.
WALGA State Council has endorsed the Heavy Vehicle Cost Recovery Policy Guideline for Sealed Roads as a model policy for Local Government adoption. The model policy guideline will provide Local Government with a consistent and simple approach to implement and manage heavy vehicle cost recovery.
State Council has endorsed this as a model policy for Local Government adoption. The objective of this policy is to provide guidance to Local Government when assessing an application to add or amend a road on the Restricted Access Vehicle network. The Policy will assist Local Governments to make decisions based on a rational, transparent and defendable process.
The policy templates provide a framework for Local Government to set or amend policy governing third parties seeking to work in or hold an event in a local road reserve. The templates guide applicants through the permit application process; define different categories of works and events; and cover matters including permits, traffic management and reinstatement requirements. The templates complement existing regulations, Local Laws and relevant Codes of Practice.
WALGA has produced a User Guide, with accompanying technical guidance, and a policy template to assist Local Governments quantify and recover the cost of additional wear and damage to sealed roads from a defined freight task.
It can be used as the basis for negotiation of cost recovery from industry, to ensure that the local community does not bear the costs imposed by private businesses and to adjust long term financial plans. Users of this guide will require a basic understanding of the Western Australian road classification system and will be assisted to select appropriate parameters based on the situation and freight task.
Documents:
- User Guide: Estimating the Incremental Cost Impact on Unsealed Local Roads from Additional Freight Tasks
- Technical Basis: Estimating the Cost of Road Wear on Unsealed Local Government Roads in Western Australia
- User Guide: Estimating the Incremental Cost Impact on Sealed Roads From Additional Freight Tasks
- Technical Basis: Estimating the Incremental Cost Impact on Sealed Roads From Additional Freight Tasks
- Local Government Heavy Vehicle Cost Recovery Policy Guideline for Sealed Roads
WALGA has historically partnered with other organisations, e.g. IPWEA, AfPA, etc., to prepare specifications for Local Government Roads.
Road Building Specifications
- Aggregate and Cementitious Binders
- Sprayed Bituminous Surfacing
- Erosion Control and Foreshore Protection
- IPWEA / WALGA Specification for the Supply of Recycled Road Base
- Pavement Rehabilitation by Milling and Recycling or Stabilisation
- Earthworks and Pavement Construction
- IPWEA / AfPA Supply and Laying of Asphalt Surfacing
- Granular Pavement Materials
A working group from the Western Australian Pavements Group has produced a paper that documents the latest innovations and developments on the use of recycled materials for road pavements in Western Australia. The paper was published in the Australian Geomechanics Journal, Volume 52: No 1, March 2017.
WALGA/Main Roads Resources
As road managers, Local Governments interface with Main Roads in several areas. The following resources may be helpful to Local Governments in understanding their role and responsibilities and the role of Main Roads on the Local Government network.
After consultation with the Metropolitan Regional Road Group, Main Roads WA have adopted an operational procedure that defines the boundaries of responsibility on roads and related infrastructure between Main Roads WA and Local Government. This document is based on the “Operational Responsibility for Public Roads in WA” that was developed by Main Roads WA, Local Government, IPWEA and WALGA.
The procedure applies only to the Metropolitan Region. Main Roads will follow this procedure as it performs future annual works over the State Road network and where those works interact with the Local Road network. View the document on Main Roads website.
Main Roads WA has prepared delivery process diagrams for the installation of new pavement markings and the reinstatement of pavement markings.
Metropolitan Area
Within the metropolitan area, all Local Governments, except the Shire of Mundaring, are authorised to undertake all traffic signing works (including maintenance) related to parking controls along Local Government roads. Pavement markings related to parking controls are included in this authorisation.
Contractors undertaking specific contract construction and maintenance works as required can carry out traffic sign and pavement marking works.
Metropolitan Local Governments are not authorised to undertake traffic sign and pavement marking works, except for those works related to parking. Main Roads WA has provided Process Overview document outlining the approvals process for pavement marking and traffic signs.
Rural Areas
For rural areas, all rural councils have been authorised to undertake non-regulatory signing works (including maintenance) and all traffic signing work (including maintenance) related to parking along Local Government roads. Only pavement markings related to parking controls are included in this authorisation.
More Information
For more information about pavement markings and for detailed technical specifications, please reference the Main Roads WA policy.
Chapter 1 - Policy Responsibilities | Main Roads Western Australia
Additionally, Main Roads WA prepared Operational Procedure 112, which provides detail and guidance on how to determine the responsible agency for different elements of the road network in Western Australia.
Other important reference documents are provided below.
Main Roads and WALGA have jointly prepared guidelines for the Level 1 Bridge Inspection Framework.
Local Governments are required to fund and perform routine visual inspections (Level 1) of all bridges annually and to submit the inspections to Main Roads WA. Main Roads WA performs all other detailed technical inspections of bridges, known as Level 2 and Level 3, on behalf and/or in consultation with Local Governments.
In order to be eligible for Special Project funding from the State Road Funds to Local Government Agreement, Local Governments must be able to show that Level 1 inspections have been performed and that adequate routine and preventative maintenance have been undertaken to prevent undue deterioration.
