The following activities were undertaken within the month of April 2026 by the Operations Team.
Manager Operations
Peterson Asante joined the council this April as council’s new Operations Manager.
Peterson brings with him extensive experience across various areas of council operations, having previously held roles in councils across the UK, New Zealand, and Australia. We are confident that Peterson will be a valuable team member who will make a meaningful contribution to our council’s journey. Since starting, Peterson has already visited many sites where our staff have been working, across both the north and south of the municipality.
Maintenance/Sundry Crew
The Urana staff are currently addressing a high volume of road defects across the northern and southern regions, following repairs identified by the council’s asset offices. The Sundry Gang has been particularly active in the northern region, focusing on signage maintenance including signage replacement of damaged signage in Morundah.
Oaklands Township
Ongoing maintenance works for clearing and cleaning drainage on various streets identified by the Asset Officers. Table drains, culverts, pipes and road crossings are prone to accumulating heavy sediment, debris, and tree roots. These blockages cause water to back up and seep into the road pavement and sub-base layers, leading to cracks, potholes, and significant pavement deterioration.
Strontians Road
Roads to Recovery signs installed for shoulder rehabilitation works on Strontian’s Road (3 sections). This signage is mandatory for projects valued over $10,000 to ensure the Australian Government receives appropriate recognition for its contribution to local infrastructure.
Our teams are currently addressing a high volume of road defects across the southern regions, following repairs identified by the council’s asset offices. The Sundry Gang has been particularly active in the southern region, focusing on drainage and stormwater maintenance within the Corowa and Howlong townships.
Additionally, staff are currently working on Queen Street in Corowa to install and modify heavy-duty stormwater pits that were damaged by heavy vehicles.
Council staff play a pivotal role in kerb and channel upkeep—a task vital to community safety. By addressing these repairs, they remove pedestrian hazards, prevent costly vehicle damage, and manage drainage to protect the area from flood risks.
As part of our duty of care, our maintenance teams are responsible for identifying, prioritising, and executing these works. This ensures our infrastructure remains safe, accessible, and compliant with all relevant regulations. Council staff operate under risk management plans, inspecting assets to identify defects—such as vertical or horizontal displacement—that reach intervention levels. Additionally, our teams respond to community requests for repairs to fix damaged sections quickly to prevent further deterioration.
Sealed Roads
Both the Flocon and Jet patching units have had a productive month, addressing routine maintenance across urban and rural sealed roads. Work focused on pothole and edge repairs, with priority given to customer requests on Spring Drive, Federation Way, Merton Road, Emu Park Road, Bullplain Road, and Savernake Road, as well as various township streets.
Quarries
Works have been focused carting out of Davey’s Hill Quarry for gravel re-sheeting on Mahonga Road at the Rand end.
The strategic operation of the Balldale and Davies Hill quarries enables Council to source essential construction materials efficiently. This internal supply chain is critical for the delivery of maintenance grading and the successful execution of capital infrastructure projects.
Council have made the decision to defer further crushing operations at the Davies Hill quarry until such time we can engage a hygienist for specialised dust suppression oversight.
This is a critical safety measure driven by strict regulatory requirements regarding respirable crystalline silica (RCS). Crushing construction materials such as concrete, rock, and brick generates fine, invisible dust that can cause irreversible lung diseases, including silicosis.
Engaging a hygienist is a necessary step for the Council to properly evaluate the work site, perform air monitoring, and test the efficacy of our control measures. Their expertise will ensure that our interventions are effectively reducing dust to safe levels. Furthermore, the hygienist will identify specific risk levels, which will dictate the necessary dust suppression methods, such as water sprays, and the specific requirements for respiratory protective equipment (RPE).
The health and safety of our teams always remains the priority.
Operations at the Urana Screen are progressing well, with 15,000 of the total 20,000 tonnes already mixed. Council is currently transporting 4,000 tonnes to Barragunda Road, where it is being utilised for re-sheeting works across three priority sections.
Heavy Trucks
- Carting gravel from Urana Screen pit to re-sheeting on Barragunda Road.
- Carting gravel for Mahonga Road and the supply of gravel for maintenance grading.
- Carting gravel for customer requests of maintenance grading.
- Carting stone for patching trucks.
- Carting excess spoil from Nixon Street to Corowa Landfill for cover & capping.
TfNSW – RMCC
Maintenance works under the RMCC agreement
Maintenance on MR86, Tommy McRea Causeway. Geotechnical testing of some 13 meters is critical when investigating longitudinal cracking. Such cracks usually indicate deep-seated structural issues, such as subgrade settlement, embankment failure, or expansive soil movement.
Unlike surface-level cracks, longitudinal cracking often stems from the interaction between the embankment fill and the surrounding water-logged environment. This makes forensic geotechnical investigations essential to identify the root cause, assess the stability of the foundation, and design effective, long-term repairs.
Failure to perform comprehensive geotechnical testing in these scenarios often leads to ineffective cosmetic repairs, with the cracks likely to reappear quickly due to the unresolved underlying structural instability.
Transport for NSW (TfNSW) Audits
Transport for NSW (TfNSW) carry out 911 safety audits regarding our Road Maintenance Council Contracts (RMCC).
These audits are essential to ensure the safe and efficient operation of the state road network while maintaining high safety standards for all council staff and contractors. Furthermore, they ensure our ongoing compliance with Work Health and Safety (WHS) legislation and foster a culture of continuous improvement and risk reduction across our regional operations.
The scope of these audits will confirm that:
- Council workers and contractors are properly trained, inducted, and qualified.
- All plant and equipment are well-maintained and safe for use.
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Safety is effectively managed in high-risk areas, including roadside work sites, materials handling, and traffic management.
By adhering to these standards, we ensure the consistent application of best practice work methodologies.
Corowa Aerodrome
Twice weekly inspections carried out to ensure compliance with the MOS 139. Weed spraying and slashing planned on runway shoulders and to the wind indicators.
Terms of Reference
Council staff are currently developing a Terms of Reference for the Aerodrome Advisory Committee as was resolved at the Extraordinary Meeting of Council held on March 10, 2026.
The purpose of the advisory committee is to lead the strategic divestment of the Corowa Aerodrome to a suitably qualified private entity who is willing to acquire and assume full responsibility for its ownership on or before 30 June 2029.
The draft Terms of Reference will be presented to Council at the June Ordinary Meeting of Council to be held on June 16, 2026.
Grader Teams Capital/Maintenance Works Program
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Completed
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Planned
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Location
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Month
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Location
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Month
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Grader 1 (Corowa)
Construction
- St Marys - Stage 2 Pavement Works
- Hay Street
Maintenance Grading
- Tom Roberts Road 16km
- Balldale Road – Shoulders & Drainage
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Apr
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Construction
- St Marys - Stage 2 Pavement Works
Maintenance Grading
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May
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Grader 2 (Corowa)
The crew was stood down from their primary tasks as the water truck was required in Urana.
In the interim, the crew members have been filling in other roles, including truck driving and providing an extra roller and for weed spraying operations.
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Apr
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Maintenance Grading
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May
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Grader 3 (Urana)
Gravel Resheeting
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Apr
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Shoulders & Table Drains
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May
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Grader 4 (Urana)
Shoulder Grading
- Back Berrigan Road
Gravel Resheeting
- Mahonga Road
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Apr
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Table Drains
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May
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Construction 1 & 2
St Mary’s Stage 2 carpark, drainage, kerb works and pavement preparation progressed in April.
These works are critical investments for ensuring the structural longevity, user safety, and operational efficiency of the parking facility. Proper preparation serves as the necessary foundation, while effective drainage and kerbing protect the infrastructure from water damage and structural failure. Specifically, the drainage systems, including pits and grated channels are designed to remove rainwater immediately to prevent surface flooding.
Additionally, the construction of kerbs provides a rigid frame that protects the vulnerable edges of the bitumen sealing from crumbling under traffic loads.
Council’s project team will continue to monitor the progress of these essential works to ensure the successful completion of the project.
Land Fills
- Howlong: Works as usual
- Corowa: Works as usual
- Mulwala: Works as usual
View the full report below.