It’s been years in the making but finally I am able to convey thanks and congratulate council's infrastructure department on its supply of information to us residents and ratepayers. This is the first time since the three former councils merged nine years ago that we have a report to council detailing road network expenditure. You will recall I was critical last year of the huge figure supplied in the council news page in this masthead relating to the funding available for roads with no indication where the money would be spent. In councils September 2025 business paper, the infrastructure manager has compiled a very comprehensive report on the proposed routine maintenance, resealing and capital expenditure program for the current financial year. There are a few caveats on how much work will be done on each road and advice that the program might need to be changed to address unforeseen issues that arise during the year. The reported $13.74M investment in our road network indicates the funding source, the type of work proposed, names of the impacted roads and the anticipated schedule of works. While there may be some unforeseen changes to the program it is heartening to have the information provided to council and available to anyone who follows the goings on at council through its web page. Perhaps the information could be printed in this paper to allow readers to see what activity they can expect in their part of the road network. This information will restore some transparency and trust into council’s operations area. Well done infrastructure department and particularly the infrastructure manager. Phil Daley Berridale
