We maintain and renew Council-owned roads to ensure they are safe, while also protecting the distinct character of Boroondara's neighbourhood streets. To guide the materials we use to repair, renew and replace these local roads, we've drafted a new policy.

Before we finalised the policy, we wanted to understand your views on:

  • our proposed new approach for determining the materials we use when maintaining and renewing concrete roads
  • the new policy in general.

We invited your feedback by Friday 12 April 2024.

Council Officers are now considering the feedback. They will then finalise the policy to present to Councillors at a Council Meeting for adoption.

See the full draft policy further down this page.

Concrete roads

Most local roads in Boroondara are made of asphalt, but some older roads are made of concrete.

Recently renewed concrete road, Hawthorn.
Recently renewed concrete road.
Concrete road in reasonable condition, Ashburton.
An image of a concrete road with some cracking.
Concrete road in poor condition, Camberwell.
An image of a concrete road with multiple cracks.

How we propose to maintain concrete roads which are of heritage-significance

Some of Boroondara's concrete roads are in heritage-controlled areas and classified to be of heritage-significance.

  • HO1 - Golf Links Estate, Camberwell
  • HO164 - Leslie Street Precinct, Hawthorn
  • HO191 - Prospect Hill Road Hassett's Estate, Canterbury/Camberwell
  • HO192 - Reid Estate, Balwyn
  • HO227 - Great Glen Iris Railway Junction Estate, Ashburton
  • HO228 - Holyrood Estate and Environs, Camberwell
  • HO229 - Ross Street, Surrey Hills
  • HO230 - Toorak Estate and Environs, Glen Iris
  • HO231 - Riverside Estate and Environs, Balwyn North
  • HO536 - Canterbury Hill Estate, Canterbury/Camberwell

If you live in one of the areas listed above, visit our Find Heritage Overlays, gradings and possible heritage places page to find out if your street is classified to be of heritage-significance. You can do this by entering the Heritage Overlay code into the map's search function.

The draft policy proposes the following approach for maintaining and renewing these roads:

  1. Undertake repair and restoration works where appropriate.
  2. Replace small road sections in poor condition using concrete rather than a full road reconstruction.
  3. If small road section repairs are not appropriate, reconstruct the full road using concrete.

How we propose to maintain all other concrete roads

Asphalt is the preferred road surface in Boroondara because it is cost-effective over the road’s lifespan, and is easier to maintain and repair. Changing the road surface from concrete to asphalt can:

  • Reduce upfront costs

    Renewing concrete roads can be up to three times the cost of replacing with asphalt.

  • Allow quicker repairs

    Concrete repairs need to allow for curing time and can lead to overnight road closures, whereas asphalt repairs can be driven on as soon as the work is complete.

  • Allow for easier patching in future

    Patching potholes or trenches dug by utility providers in asphalt roads tends to blend better than patching concrete roads.

  • Create a smoother road surface

    Concrete roads need to be textured to create enough grip. This can lead to the road surface being more uneven, bumpy and noisy when compared to asphalt roads.

The draft policy proposes the following approach for maintaining and renewing all other concrete roads:

  1. Undertake repair and restoration works where appropriate.
  2. Replace small road sections in poor condition using concrete rather than a full road reconstruction.
  3. If small road section repairs are not appropriate, reconstruct the full road using asphalt.

How we invited you to have your say

We invited you to share your thoughts on our proposed new approach for maintaining and renewing concrete roads. You could also share your feedback on the local roads policy in general.

These are the ways we invited feedback:

  • Complete the survey.
  • Upload a document, PDF, photo or video.
  • Speak directly with Council Officers at 'walkshop' sessions on 26 March and 4 April. Council Officers took people on a short walk to show examples of concrete roads, asphalt roads and bluestone kerb and channels. They were available to answer questions and gather feedback.