Road grading

If there are no posted speed limits on an unsealed road, the default speed limits apply.

In built-up areas the default speed limit is 50km/h. On country roads the default speed limit is 100km/h.

To alter a speed zone on a local road, Council must receive approval from VicRoads. VicRoads is unlikely to approve a speed zone other than the default speeds on unsealed roads.

The appropriate speed to travel on an unsealed road varies greatly due to driver behaviour, the weather and road environment.

For most unsealed roads it is safer to allow drivers to choose an appropriate speed instead of encouraging them to travel at a specific speed limit.

Police enforcement of speed limits can be requested at your local Police Station or by calling Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

About the grading process 

Through the grading process, spoils such as larger rocks, branches, bark and similar material are cut and pushed to the roadside in piles. These spoils will be removed at a later date as they cannot be included into the road surface. During grading, water is added to the road to aid compaction.  The surface will need several days to dry & bind. Caution is required by residents and visitors travelling on these wet roads as the road is settling.

Regarding corrugations please note:

• During the warmer months, corrugations form on roads more readily as the roads are so dry and moisture is required to hold roads together
• Corrugations can only be repaired or minimised when graded
• The grader is required to stay on the scheduled program so that there are no delays. 

Council treats more than 200km of unsealed roads each year with an environmentally friendly solution that helps to minimise dust.

Learn more about dust suppressant

Speed humps and signs are no longer considered an effective way of addressing dust and speed on unsealed roads.

Speed humps and similar treatments are not installed on gravel roads as they are difficult to maintain and are easily damaged or altered by road surfacing equipment.

While Council receives requests for “Slow Down Dust” signage to be installed on unsealed roads, these signs have been found to be ineffective in reducing vehicle speeds. For this reason, new “Slow Down Dust” signs are not installed and the existing signs are not being replaced.

In 2019 the Federal Government announced a nine year, $150 million funding plan for Yarra Ranges Council to seal roads within the Dandenong Ranges and surrounding areas.

This funding program has been named the Roads for the Community Initiative.

Council has endorsed a list of roads for construction utilising the Federal Funding.

Find out if your road is on the list 

We are grading the road as per the Yarra Ranges Council Road Maintenance Program. This is to ensure the longevity and optimal conditions of the unsealed road network.

Please note the grading process is not always completed in the one day.

No, as these works are completed as per the Council’s Road Maintenance Program. Any questions, queries or concerns should be directed to Council as operators are only completing works as directed. 

Potholes form in certain areas due to number of contributing factors including the amount of traffic, traffic behaviour and environmental conditions ie. wet patches created by dripping vegetation.

Extra grades on a road cannot be arranged as the graders are required to stay on the scheduled program so that there are no delays.

Maintenance potholing works with crushed rock may take place as an interim measure if required after inspection by a works supervisor. 

The reoccurrence of potholes is often due to their depth as graders can only cut as deep as the gravel extends. Graders use their blade to cut into the road surface and reshape the road, this can help repair the reoccurrence of shallow potholes.

If roads are cut too deep it brings clay and other soil to the surface which only further degrades the road surface and damages the surface layer.

Recurring deeper potholes can sometimes be resolved through re-sheeting and we may apply this treatment when the road has many deep potholes. This may not always fix pothole reoccurrence if the issue is a weak sub-layer. Applications for road sealing may be applied for under Council’s Special Charge Scheme.

Corrugations form on roads more readily during the warmer months as the roads dry out and moisture is required to hold roads together. Corrugations can only be repaired or minimised by the grading process.

Extra grades on a road cannot be arranged as the graders are required to stay on the scheduled program so that there are no delays.

Drivers are to take extra care and drive to the conditions of the road during these times.  

Rock is placed on the roads, as required, for ongoing maintenance of the road surface. Rock ensures the road has the correct shape and surface for road user’s safety. Over time rock is lost due to traffic and environmental conditions and as a result needs to be replaced. 

After grading, water needs to be added to the roads surface to compact the road adequately. This compaction process takes several days to dry and bind the materials adequately together. It is important to take extra caution when travelling on these wet roads. 

The grading process involves cutting and pushing these spoils to the roadside in piles which will be removed later. This is because they cannot be included in the road surface. 

No, the grader operator is maintaining the existing road design. The roads and runoffs have been designed for safety of road users and longevity of the road network. Any concerns regarding slope or shape of the road should be directed to council for investigation. 

No, driveways are the responsibility of the property owners as they provide access to private property. 

Graders are large heavy vehicles with limited vision. If a grader is approaching you the safest thing to do is to pull up in a safe position and wait for the grader to pass you.

It can be difficult for graders to pull over or reverse up the road. Further there may often be other construction vehicles following the grader. 

For your safety it is important to stay a safe distance away from the machinery. This means maintaining 3m either side, and 10m in-front and behind the machinery. This is to ensure your safety and allows the operator to see you.