Driveways, Footpaths & Roads

An invert is the section of kerbing which is flat to allow access into your property, while the driveway crossover is the section of driveway from the invert to your property boundary which crosses the footpath area. In accordance with the Local Government Act it is the responsibility of the property owner to construct and maintain their driveway crossover.

If you wish to construct or alter a crossover an approval is required via Council's Works Permit System. The minimum standard of a driveway crossover accepted by Council is concrete from kerb to boundary to a depth of at least 100mm, with a surface structure of good quality and free of any obstructions and tripping hazards. Driveway crossovers of asphalt or block pavers over a suitably constructed base are also acceptable.

In areas such as industrial, reinforcing mesh may be requested as a minimum in driveways at the discretion of the Group Manager Infrastructure.

Will Council construct my driveway crossover?

Council has a policy whereby we will not compete with contractors and as such will not construct new or alter existing residential, industrial or commercial driveway accesses. The exception to this is;

Inverts

Where there is no invert to a property and the property does not have a roll over kerb (drivable layback kerb), Council will provide an invert subject to the property owner covering all addition cost to bring the driveway entrance up to the minimum standard.

Concrete footpath & driveway construction

Council's contractors are also instructed to construct all sub-standard driveways during footpath construction should any driveway not meet the standard. Costs associate with this construction are recharged.

Who can construct my driveway?

You may choose to undertake your own driveway construction or alternatively engage a contractor to do so. Please note that if you do decide to undertake the work yourself, you will be required to hold relevant Public Liability Insurance and Indemnify Insurance. The permit holder or contractor must have current insurance with a minimum of ten million dollars ($10,000,000) cover. This will protect against all actions such as; costs, claims, damages, charges and expenses whatsoever, which may be brought or made against the permit holder or contractor in relation to the activity for the undertaking of work.

Council has a rolling concrete footpath construction program which will continue into each new financial year.

The footpaths nominated for concrete construction will shortly be finalised based on several factors. Footpaths are prioritised in accordance with their condition rating, pedestrian user groups and user frequency.

If you have a complaint or query about the condition of your footpath please contact Council either by phone 8640 3444 or by email, or we might have the answer in the links below;

• What do I need to do if my footpath is nominated for a concrete footpath upgrade?
• Footpath in landscaped areas
• Bus shelters
• Kerb access ramps
• Full width bitumen footpaths
• Privately constructed footpaths

Council maintains in excess of 280kms of sealed, formed and unformed road reserves and related road infrastructure.

Council's road infrastructure upgrade programs include road reconstruction, road surfacing, traffic calming strategies and road signage.

Road reconstruction and surfacing works are undertaken on a rolling contract basis with works continuing from the 2012/2013 following the finalisation of road priorities.

Any queries or concerns in relation to Council owned roads should be directed to Engineering and Infrastructure services by either phone on 8640 3444 or email.

State roads

The following arterial road surfaces are owned and maintained by the Department for Planning, Transport and Infrastructure (DPTI);

• Playford Avenue
• Lincoln Highway
• Arthur Glennie Drive
• McBryde Terrace (Norrie Avenue to Playford Avenue)
• Whyalla Iron Knob Road

For any Road Hazards on these arterial roads, please contact DPTI on 1800 018 313.
General road maintenance issues can be advised by emailing DPTI.Enquiriesadministrator@sa.gov.au

The Department of Planning, Transport & Infrastructure (DPTI) requires a Heavy Vehicle Permit for oversize and overmass vehicles to operate on roads throughout South Australia. The definition of oversize and overmass vehicles refers to vehicles exceeding the ‘General Access Heavy Vehicle’ category in accordance with the ‘Mass and Dimensions limits for General Access Heavy Vehicles Operating in South Australia’.

Council also requires ‘Clearance Certificate’ for oversize and overmass vehicle to operate on Council’s controlled roads. Both the Heavy Vehicle Permit and Clearance Certificate specifies approval for certain vehicles and routes if vehicles exceeded the General Access Heavy Vehicle category.

For vehicles that do not exceed the General Access Heavy Vehicle category, Heavy Vehicle Permit and Clearance Certificate will not be required. They are allowed to use any roads.

The South Australian Government published Road Classification Guidelines in 2008 which specified road hierarchy and functions. According to the Guidelines, most of the Council’s controlled roads are classified as Urban Local Roads which are required to facilitate A-Double and B-Double within the General Access Heavy Vehicle category with volumes in the order of less than 500 vehicles per day. Council underscores the significance of road safety, environment and local amenities in our community. It is everyone’s responsibility to safeguard the wellbeing of our city.

For instance, Broadbent and Darling Terraces in the Central Business District are Urban Local Roads which have multiple access points providing vehicle access to residential property as well as local businesses. Their primary function is for local traffic movement rather than through traffic movement. In the vicinity, Whyalla High School, Whyalla Town Primary and St Teresa’s Primary have direct frontal pedestrian access to Broadbent and Darling Terraces. It is Council’s responsibility to safeguard road safety to vulnerable road users especially school children by ensuring roads fit for their purpose and are used by appropriate vehicles. In addition, noise and air pollutions are likely to go hand-in-hand with the volume of heavy vehicles. Like other local authorities around the world, they have no choice but to limit heavy vehicle access to the Central Business District to minimise environmental impact and to protect local amenities. Should the volume of heavy vehicles exceed 500 vehicles a day, local amenity and safety will be at risk of deterioration.

Council highlights the fact that the local road system is significantly different from the State’s controlled road network (ie Lincoln Highway, etc). Their pavement is generally stronger with longer life span and designed for higher volume of heavy vehicles. The Council’s controlled roads are designed for local traffic movement with significantly lower volume for heavy vehicles. If oversized and overmass vehicles frequently use the local roads, it may not show immediate damage to the pavement, but they definitely accelerate wear and tear over time. This is a burden to the rate-payers for unnecessary repair and unscheduled resurfacing due to pavement fatigue.

Council is doing everything possible to support economic activity for local businesses. At the same time, Council has responsibility to safeguard road safety. Council will only exercise its power to regulate or limit load and size of vehicles to use Council’s controlled roads if local amenities and road safety are significantly at risk of deterioration. Therefore Council urges local businesses to consider Urban Arterial Roads such as Playford Avenue for through traffic movement and for delivery in the Central Business District area, Council recommends vehicles with a maximum of four axles and 14.5m long in length whenever possible (ie up to Class 5 in Austroads Vehicles Classification Systems).

Bus shelter floors and aprons are to be progressively concreted up to the kerb. Tactile ground surfaces indicators will be placed to assist the visually impaired.

If you have any enquiries about bus shelters please contact us.

Unless for reasons approved by Council, all trenches must be resealed within one week of backfilling. Backfilling must be approved by the relevant authority for whom the work is being done and must be properly compacted throughout.

Council will not accept trenches reinstated with a 'bituminous spray seal' as a satisfactory method of road restoration where the existing surface is an asphalt overlay.

The applicant will be responsible to the relevant authority of depths and widths of trenches and the correct placement of all pipes, cables, conduits, etc.

Using pipes

• The top of the pipe must be at least 25mm below the level of the footpath.
• The pipe must not protrude beyond the face of the kerb.

Using box culverts

• The bottom and sides of the box must be solidly formed or set in concrete.
• Cover plates must be recessed flush with the footpath and top of concrete slab and they must be securely fixed down with suitable non-rusting bolts, screws, etc.
• The junction of concrete drain with the concrete kerb must be neatly formed.
• The end of the cover plates must not protrude beyond the face of the kerb.

The owner or occupier of the premises will remain responsible for the maintenance of the services, and shall maintain them in a safe condition at all times.

Areas in the older area of the City with narrow footpath reserves, that have been sealed or asphalted for their full widths between the kerb line and the boundary, where appropriate, will continue to be sealed with bituminous surfacing.

If you have a query in relation to full width bitumen footpaths please contact us.

A landscaped area refers to the portion of land between the property boundary and the kerb, where there is a continuation of the property garden and garden structures in this area. Garden structures include kerbing, rock formations or other formed structures which impede pedestrian access through the footpath area.

When a landscaped area is identified for the footpath program, Council will inform the property owner of Council's Policy, public liability risks associated with the area, and their responsibilities and requirements under the Local Government Act. The alignment of the footpath will be, wherever possible, adjacent the back of the kerb to minimise impact on landscaped areas. A site assessment will be required to select the best footpath alignment prior to construction to allow for factors such as stobie poles, trees, existing constructed footpaths and pedestrian safety.

In such a case where all property owners of a street identified for a concrete footpath object to Council constructing a footpath along that street, each property owner will;

• meet with a Council Officer to inspect the area in question and identify and document action that needs to be taken to make the area safe for pedestrian traffic;
• reach an agreement on the course of action to be taken and who will carry out the work;
• submit to Council a City Works Permit Application Form (Click HERE for PDF version) for the area, including any remedial action required, and provide a plan detailing the landscaping and its location; and
• take out Public Liability Insurance for that section of land and indemnify Council against any tripping hazards. Council can direct the property owner to remove unauthorised landscaping, or carry out remedial work to bring the area in line with permit conditions.

The applicant will be responsible to the relevant authority for depths and widths of trenches and the correct placement of all pipes, cables, conduits, etc. The contractor will be responsible for the proper use of roadwork signs in accordance with Australian Standards AS1742. Where trenches are likely to be open for more than 48 hours, Council must be supplied with details and time estimates so that proper set-up, detours, etc. can be arranged.

Using pipes

• The must cross the footpath at 90 degrees to the property boundary line.
• Runs along the footpath must be parallel to the boundary line and (unless otherwise nominated) showing the location of the pipe so that it can be readily relocated at any time.
• Should the pipe become disused by virtue of the provision of a more direct supply, Council is to be notified to that effect.

Using cables

• Cables crossing the footpath or lane must do so at 90 degrees to the property boundary line or the kerb line until inside private property.
• Cables laid along the footpath must be parallel to the boundary line or kerb line at a distance from such lines as is nominated on the permit.
• Electrical cable must be laid in regulation electrical conduit, and covered by suitable concrete or masonry slabs.
• Surface cable markers are to be installed as follows;
  • at each end of the cable run, while on the road or footpath reserve;
  • at all changes of direction; and
  • at a maximum spacing of 10 metres.
• The maximum allowable distance from service point to property is 10 metres for private electrical cables, unless specific approval is provided by Council.

Subject to Council approval, and providing the work is constructed to Council's conditions, standards and specification, land owners may concrete footpaths adjacent to their property at their own expense, and that Council provides a subsidy equal to whichever is the least of;

• 50% of the actual cost of the footpath; or
• 50% of costs to Council if that work had been undertaken on the current 'Concrete Footpath Program'.

Application for subsidy must be made in writing with a copy of the invoice for the works attached.

If you have a query in relation to privately constructed footpaths please contact us.