We are responsible for repairing and replacing footpaths
in our community.
Footpaths provide safe, convenient and defined routes to connect people and places and encourage healthy and active lifestyles.
Footpath service levels
We are responsible for repairing and replacing existing footpaths when they are damaged or worn out. Our Road Management Plan (RMP) details:
- Footpath hierarchy and service levels: a description of the footpath hierarchy and the corresponding service levels for each category.
- Defects and intervention levels: a list of defects and corresponding intervention levels, determining when repairs become necessary.
- Repair timelines: the RMP specifies the timeframes for repairs to be completed.
Footpath intervention levels
Our service standard
for footpaths is to maintain a safe path of travel as outlined in our Road Management Plan (RMP). The footpath
intervention levels within the RMP are:
- Lip or step greater than 30mm in height
- Cracking greater than 50mm wide over a 1.5m length
- Potholes greater than 30mm deep and 300mm in diameter
- Subsidence (depression) greater than 75mm in depth over a 1.5m straight edge
- Dislodged or missing pieces creating depressions of 300mm in length/width and lips greater than 30mm
- Missing drainage pit lids within the trafficable lane of the path
- Broken drainage pit lids within the trafficable lane of the path
- Vegetation which presents a physical hazard to the public over pedestrian/ bicycle paths, intruding into a clearance envelope between the edges of the path and a minimum of 2.4m height clearance over path
Our intervention levels provide a reasonable tolerance before repairs are needed, allowing us to prioritise maintenance for footpaths where it is genuinely required.
Footpath inspections
We regularly inspect our footpaths to assess their condition – we undertake proactive and reactive footpath inspections.
Under our proactive program, all footpaths across Greater Geelong are inspected every four, six, 12, or 24 months, aligning with the RMP hierarchy. This systematic approach ensures a
comprehensive evaluation of footpaths at specified intervals.
Between these proactive assessments, our reactive program responds to community requests. We will inspect a footpath when we are notified that there is an issue. This responsive
action allows us to address issues quickly and efficiently.
During inspections, our team visits the location to assess the footpath for various defects such as lips, potholes, lifted bays, broken sections, dislodged bricks, and more. If
the defects meet the specified intervention level, we arrange for necessary repairs to ensure community safety and asset integrity.
Footpath repairs
We will repair footpaths when a defect reaches or exceeds the intervention level. This ensures maintenance is undertaken promptly. Repairs include a range of actions such as:
- bay
replacements
- brick paving replacements
- asphalt ramping
- grinding and more.
Prioritising repairs is based on the severity of the defect. In certain cases, temporary repairs may be undertaken as an interim solution until adequate resources or budgets become available.
This approach guarantees a timely and responsive resolution to ensure community safety and asset integrity.
Footpath replacements
Our annual budget provides funding to replace footpaths which have reached their end of life. Replacement ensures longevity while responsibly managing maintenance costs.
In instances where large areas of footpaths need to be replaced, we may use different surface material to improve the standard of the footpath. Replacement focuses solely on the
sections of footpath that need it, which may be part or all of a street block.
The footpath condition and annual budget may affect the extent of work we can undertake. This considered approach to footpath replacements ensures available resources are
allocated appropriately.