FAQs

A road is made up of three layers: 

• The surface – the top level of the road (for sealed roads)
• The pavement – made up of one or more layers of gravel known as the base and sub-base to strengthen the road, and is generally 300-500mm thick 
• The sub-grade – a natural material beneath the pavement that consists of clay, ironstone and sometimes rock.

Heavy traffic and natural ageing causes cracks in the surface or underlying pavement. Rainwater seeps through these cracks into the base material beneath. The vibration of traffic causes the wet base material to settle or shift, forming a cavity. Without base support, the pavement weakens further and ultimately caves in, causing a pothole. 

Potholes are filled with a mixture of asphalt and gravel. Potholes are repaired as a temporary solution in the winter to improve road safety for motorists. Potholes are also repaired as a temporary solution until the road is prioritised for major patching or reconstruction under the capital works program. 

Council relies on the protection from liability under section 21(4) of the Local Government (Highways) Act 1982 and considers the principles of the Civil Liability Act 2002. Each claim made against the Council is considered on its own merits. If you have concerns, please contact us for more information.

Major patching is used to repair multiple potholes and failures in the road surface and underlying pavement. This is where a larger section of road is removed, and both the surface and pavement are replaced. These works require dry weather and are usually carried out in the summer months. 

Re-sealing is a proactive road maintenance program that works to prevent potholes and small cracks starting to form in the road seal, which allow water to seep into the road pavement. Resealing involves spraying bitumen on to the road surface, providing a new waterproof barrier. Road sealing is carried out every 10 to 15 years to extend the life of our roads.

This is the full reconstruction of a road when roads are at the end of their useful life. The tell tail signs of a failing road include wheel lane rutting, potholes and edge breaks. A geotechnical investigation of the old road pavement determines the strength of the road and informs the new design that will ensure the road is built to cater for future demands and traffic loads.

When a vehicle travels at speed on a soft surface there will inevitably be small imperfections or undulation in the surface. When the wheel travels over the undulation it will bounce slightly, reducing weight on the wheel for a moment, then landing a moment later which compresses the surface. That creates a tiny crest and dip. The next wheel over does the same again, but worsening the problem. Every subsequent wheel makes the problem worse and worse and then you have corrugations.

Distributor Roads like Pelverata Road, Lonnavale Road, North Huon Road and Mountain River Road are scheduled to be graded up to three times a year, while Local and Collector roads are generally graded once or twice a year, and minor roads are graded less often. Emergency works and pothole filling are done as needed between scheduled gradings. The grading schedule is flexible and adjusted based on road conditions, traffic volume, and weather events to ensure all roads are maintained as effectively as possible.

Roads are inspected based on several factors, including the number and severity of potholes, corrugations, ruts, drain conditions, road classification, traffic volume, and risk assessment. Roads with higher traffic volumes and worse conditions are prioritised to ensure safety and usability.

It is difficult to provide a fixed schedule for road grading as the condition of unsealed roads changes rapidly depending on weather conditions and traffic volumes.  Council adjusts the schedule frequently to ensure that the roads in the worst condition and with the highest traffic volumes are graded as a priority.  A weekly schedule is posted on Council’s website but even this is subject to change. 

There may be temporary road closures during maintenance to ensure the safety of both the workers and the public. These closures are usually brief and well-signposted. We appreciate your patience and understanding during these times. Alternative routes will be provided where possible to minimize inconvenience.

The installation and maintenance of property accesses, which connect the public road to a private driveway, is the responsibility of the property owner who benefits from the access.

If your property access is not compliant with the Tasmanian Standard Drawings, we suggest upgrading it to these standards.  A compliant access will help to prevent damage to the property access, the driveway and the road. The property owner is responsible for the maintenance and compliance of the property access. You may need to apply for a permit to carry out works within the Council road reservation.  Please contact Council for further information.

Council is not responsible for maintaining private driveways. Upgrading the property access to a compliant access can help manage water flow and prevent damage. You may need to apply for a permit to carry out works within the Council road reservation. If you need further information on upgrading the access, please contact us.

Planting in the road reserve is not permitted due to potential future development needs and maintenance requirements. Please refer to Council’s Nature Strip and Road Reserve Policy.

Some planting is permitted. Please refer to Council’s Nature Strip and Road Reserve Policy for details.

Trees are trimmed or felled only if necessary for safety. Requests for tree inspections are prioritised based on the risk to road users, people and property.  If you have concerns, please provide photographs of the entire tree, including its surroundings, to support your request. You can lodge your enquiry via Council’s website or send an email to hvc@huonvalley.tas.gov.au.

Council relies on the protection from liability under section 21(4) of the Local Government (Highways) Act 1982 and considers the principles of the Civil Liability Act 2002. Each claim made against the Council is considered on its own merits. If you have concerns, please contact us for more information.

Council does not maintain nature strips which front private properties. This is the responsibility of the property owner. Residents are not permitted to plant trees in the nature strips/road reservations without prior approval from Council. Trees are trimmed or felled on the roadside by Council only if necessary for safety.

Council has limited resources for tree works and received many requests from the public. Tree works are prioritised and we are unable to trim or fell a tree unless it is a significant risk to road users, pedestrians or property.

Council does not routinely collect roadkill but responds to reports when it poses a hazard to road users. If you notice roadkill causing a hazard, please report it to the Council. We aim to address such issues promptly to ensure road safety.

Dust suppression is not an effective solution for public roads. Huon Valley Council has trialled several different products and found the effect was minimally effective and short-lasting. Effective solutions include reducing speed limits and applying sheeting gravel with less clay fines. Sealing roads is cost-prohibitive and not planned in the short to medium term.