Draft Policy - Minimum Standards for public roads for dwellings in rural and village areas including Crown Roads

Council is seeking feedback on its draft Minimum Standards for public roads for dwellings in rural and village areas including Crown Roads Policy.

Council at its 16 September 2026 Ordinary meeting resolved to place the draft “Minimum Standards for public roads for dwellings in rural and village areas including Crown Roads” Policy on exhibition for a period of 28 days.  

The purpose of the “Minimum Standards for public roads for dwellings in rural and village areas including Crown Roads” Policy is to establish minimum standards to be used by Council when considering proposals for new housing in rural and village areas.  Council is required, as part of its deliberations,  to determine whether adequate access is available or can be made to provide access to properties.  In many cases roads may be either non-existent or rudimentary in nature.  The Policy provides minimum standards to be achieved for dwellings in those circumstances.

The Policy also provides guidance on additional matters where a proposal relies upon a Crown Road as access, including the agreement of DPHI – Crown Lands and meeting of costs.

Should it be adopted the Policy will repeal Council’s existing Crown Roads Policy.

The draft Minimum Standards for public roads for dwellings in rural and village areas including Crown Roads Policy is provided in the document library and is on public exhibition from 21 September to 20 October 2026.