Surf Coast Shire Council is temporarily suspending its Road Management Plan to prioritise response to a large volume of flood-damaged roads, paths, bridges, landslips and fallen trees.
Heavy rainfall and storms during the past two weeks resulted in significant flooding across the shire, impacting infrastructure and contributing to tree falls.
Since 13 October Council has received more than 170 requests to repair road and drainage assets damaged by flooding. Increased wind during the past weekend led to more than 30 requests to respond to large fallen trees.
Council inspectors are dealing with a significant increase in immediate work reviewing damaged roads, drains, bridges, trees and landslips before being able to resume proactive road inspections.
Several assets will need significant repairs.
"Given the volume of damage and the necessary diversion of resources, our Road Management Plan will be suspended until 21 November," Council's General Manager Community Life Gail Gatt said.
"This means Council's capacity to respond to enquiries and call-outs for issues like potholes and other routine road maintenance will be significantly reduced, and target response times in some cases doubled.
"We appreciate people's understanding and patience as we work through immediate priorities presented by the severe rain and storm events."
Council's Road Management Plan sets service standards for tending roads and other road-related assets including kerbs, footpaths, signs, drainage, bridges and vegetation.
Council's road network comprises 604km of sealed roads and 478km of unsealed roads and tracks.
