Council is the controlling authority for local roads within the City of Canterbury Bankstown.
Other roads within the City are under the control of Roads and Maritime Services (formerly Roads and Traffic Authority). These include:
- Alfords Point Road;
- Bexley Road;
- Canterbury Road;
- Davies Road;
- Fairford Road;
- Georges River Road;
- Henry Lawson Drive;
- Hume Highway;
- King Georges Road;
- M5 Motorway;
- Milperra Road;
- Punchbowl Road;
- Roberts Road;
- Rookwood Road;
- Stacey Street; and
- Woodville Road.
The RMS website provides a wide range of information about roads and traffic matters.
The M5 South-West Motorway provides direct access to central Sydney and the airport. It is operated by Interlink Roads.
The RMS is also responsible for the operation and maintenance of traffic signals on all public roads, including local roads.
Faults with traffic signals should be reported to RMS on 131 700, with details of the location and/or signal number.
New residential development and large-scale commercial or industrial development results in more vehicles using the existing road network. This has the potential to reduce the network's ability to operate safely and efficiently as well as increase adverse noise, vehicle emissions, congestion and the chance of accidents occurring.
These issues can be addressed to a certain extent by implementing various traffic control and management measures, but implementing such measures is costly. Therefore, new residential developments are required to contribute towards a proportion of the costs incurred by us to make improvements on the road network to ensure its continued safe and efficient operation.
Council is responsible for providing the community with a safe and well-maintained road, footpath and cycleway network. This is achieved through:
- Management of Council's roads, footpaths, cycleways, bridges, car parks and stormwater drains;
- Installation and maintenance of signage and line marking;
- Prioritising and installing traffic calming devices to reduce accidents;
- Road safety education programs;
- Recommending changes to the road network through the Traffic Committee; and
- Implementing the Road Safety Strategic Plan.
Council's authority for management of the road network is through the Roads Act 1993. The Act requires all private works in a public road (including footways) to obtain specific Council approval. A Work Permit process is the mechanism used for applications and necessary approvals.
A Work Permit covers the following matters:
- Street boundary alignment levels;
- Design and specifications for construction of a vehicular footway crossing;
- Footway damage report (associated with building works);
- Stormwater drainage works including stormwater connections (to pipes/kerb & gutter); and
- Road opening permits for public utility service connections.
Under the Roads Act 1993, a vehicular crossing (being private works) is the responsibility of the property owner. Properly constructed crossings are encouraged as damage caused to a footway because of the lack of a crossing or by virtue of an unauthorised crossing may attract a penalty. Your driveway must comply with standards!
Council's Vehicular Footway Crossings Policy establishes guidelines for the construction, widening, reconstruction and maintenance of vehicular crossings.
The design and specification covered by the application fee provides construction standards and levels.
In the case of new home, an early application of a Work Permit for a crossing will help ensure that there are no unnecessary delays in the approval to construct.
A Work Permit Application Form should be submitted at Council's Customer Service Centre prior to commencement of works.
The Canterbury-Bankstown road network is our biggest asset here at Council and its management is aimed at providing high levels of safety and driving comfort, as well as the cost-effective use of available road funding.
Increases in traffic volumes and traffic loads, as well the effects of our harsh environment, means that all road pavements are in a continual state of deterioration requiring regular inspection, condition monitoring, structural testing and an appropriate management regime.
We are committed to a systematic asset management approach ensuring that the maximum life is achieved for each road pavement.
The maintenance of the road network covers activities from pothole patching and crack filling to replacement of isolated pavement failures and major project work incorporating road resurfacing and rehabilitation.
Major projects are included in the annual capital works program.
In addition, as well as a routine maintenance program, other road related works include footpath reconstruction, new footpath construction plus traffic facilities (roundabouts, pedestrian refuges, etc.) and road drainage works.
The maintenance of signs and line marking is an ongoing activity to ensure safe road conditions for all road users, and changes to regulatory traffic signs and lines requires formal approval.
Council's Roads Operations Division is responsible for the inspection, maintenance and cleaning of the city's stormwater piping and infrastructure. This responsibility includes stormwater pits.
Although stormwater drainage systems follow the land contour throughout the City, the road network provides the primary means of collecting stormwater run-off.
Whilst it is not economically feasible to cater to the largest storms, Council's drainage system is aimed at minimising flooding and maintaining a high level of safe road conditions during storm events.
The system of gully pits and pipes conveys "normal" rainfall run-off away to the receiving rivers and provides for the disposal of stormwater from private properties. New connections to kerb and gutter or Council stormwater drains requires a Work Permit approval.
Drainage and your property
If you notice water is accumulating in the gutter or causing roadway flooding due to a blockage or restriction within the stormwater drainage system, or you see issues with Council pipes and pits in private property, you should report this.
The exceptions are inter-allotment or common drainage lines that collect stormwater run-off from downpipes, usually from a number of houses, before connecting into a Council pit or pipeline. These lines are owned and are the collective responsibility of the property owners, not us.
As a resident of Canterbury-Bankstown, it is your responsibility to ensure the stormwater drainage infrastructure within your property is maintained. This means stormwater drainage from your property is your responsibility right up until it reaches a point of connection with Council's drainage infrastructure, including if your property's stormwater drains to the roadside kerb.
We can provide you with advice regarding the legal point of discharge from a property. The legal point of discharge is the point at which your stormwater drainage system discharges into Council's drainage infrastructure. Every property has one! You can also request a new roof-water outlet.
Our Infrastructure Planning Team caters for the strategic monitoring of the condition, functionality and renewal of our City’s stormwater drainage network and flood mitigation structures.
The team can provide catchment-wide and localised information on flooding and the drainage network, as well as various flood modelling.
You will need to fill out the Stormwater Information Application Form to access this information however, it is recommended you call the Team prior to submitting the form.
Council provides and maintains street signs to identify roads within Canterbury-Bankstown. We have undertaken a street sign replacement program; a great initiative introduced to renew our old street signs, making them bigger and brighter. They are clear, easy-to-read and are very prominent in the streetscape.
Another feature of the program is the opportunity for community groups and local associations to have directional signage that helps people find their organisation.
Street signs denote street names (located on posts at intersections) or directional signs to direct the public to community based organisations in particular streets.
Signs can be damaged in a number of ways. Although we constantly monitor signs for damage, we appreciate the ongoing help of our residents in locating and identifying damaged and/or outdated signs so Council can have them quickly fixed.
Street lights are owned and operated by the relevant local energy providers. We at Council meet the costs of upgrading or providing additional street lighting.
To report a street light fault, please contact the provider via the following links:
- Ausgrid
- Endeavour Energy (Woodville Road, Villawood only)
Providing the pole identification number will assist in expediting fault rectification.