Grading Maintenance Program
Patrol Grading
Light Regional Council is responsible for over 1500km of unsealed roads. Each road has been assigned a classification that reflects the purpose and use of the road. Council maintains each classification of road at different intervals to ensure the entire network is maintained to suite the requirements of the individual road.
Class 1 | Local arterial roads with high traffic volumes at higher speeds, freight routes. |
Class 2 | Transport routes for school busses, minor industry, commuter and tourist traffic. |
Class 3 | All-weather access to rural property dwellings. |
Class 4 | Formed roads providing access (not all-weather), generally for primary industry. |
Road Conditions
The condition of unsealed roads can change quickly, with the biggest contributing factors being rain, traffic type, traffic volume and traffic speed. Grading of Class 1, 2 and 3 roads are generally performed during the months from April through to September when moisture conditions of the roads are optimum for grading. Outside of these times, the maintenance graders will focus on Class 4 roads or undertake road recondition works to reduce pot holes, corrugations or rutting that often can be expedited over length dry periods.
Over time, unsealed roads become corrugated, potholed, rough, slippery, muddy and/or dusty. All of these are normal and unavoidable conditions that change often, and drivers must remain vigilant when driving on unsealed roads; i.e. travel at lower speeds and expect the unexpected. It is also important to note that road conditions change after grading; unsealed roads are often more slippery after they have been graded than they were before the grading. During dry periods, grading tends to spread loose gravel over the road and in wet conditions, until the road surface has formed a dense crust, moisture can penetrate the gravel layer. If rain follows soon after a road has been graded, the road may become “sloppy” and very slippery. Sometimes, a road may be better left with potholes and corrugations than be graded.
What You Can Do to Help.
1. Slow down. Travelling quickly on unsealed roads causes more dust, more pot holes and more corrugations..
2. If possible, keep heavy vehicles off the road when it has been raining. Roads are more vulnerable when saturated and trucks can cause significant damage to a wet road, especially one that has just been graded. In wet conditions, try to postpone truck movements until the road has dried.
3. Understand the nature of unsealed roads. They will be rough and muddy or dusty at times.
4. Drive to suit the conditions. Drivers are responsible for their own safety and that of other users of the road. If a road is known to be rough or slippery, drive at an appropriate speed.
5. Expect the unexpected. Never assume an unsealed road is going to be the same as it was the last time you drove on it, even if it is the same day.
During October 2026, the following roads are scheduled for maintenance patrol grading:
Moppa Road
Moppa Springs Road
Heintze Road
Schrapel Road
Victor Road
Hammerling Road
Research Road
Marble Quarry Road
Nietschke Road
St Kitts Road
Doecke Road
Fords Road
Chapel Corner Road
Bottom House Road
Golf Links Road
Hentschke Road
Fromm Road
Heinze Road
Neldner Road
Jenke Road
Mattiske Road
Les Dunkley Road
Ahren Road
Various class 4 Road