Road maintenance
Our approach to road maintenance
Lismore City Council manages more than 1,200kms of road network across the Local Government Area, which is the equivalent of driving from Lismore to the Snowy Mountains. This network includes:
How road repairs are prioritised
Council conducts scheduled and reactive inspections and reviews reporting from the community regularly to determine planned and unplanned/reactive maintenance activities.
Planned Maintenance involves proactive, scheduled works, both routine and periodic, intended to prevent further deterioration and preserve asset condition. These works support ongoing road functionality and safety.
Unplanned/Reactive Maintenance involves corrective responses to defects classified as hazards or urgent issues. This includes urgent ‘make-safe’ works that address risks prior to the next scheduled intervention.
Council is moving towards a Planned Maintenance schedule, per the Roads Operational Management Plan currently in development.
To effectively identify and map the road network, an Administrative Road Hierarchy is also factored into the planned maintenance approach. Asset hierarchies help distinguish between assets that provide different levels of service and support targeted management strategies to address service delivery needs and priorities.
Click here to view current roadwork locations.
How you can help keep roads safe
To report an issue, click here to do it online or phone us on 02 6625 0500 with the road name, suburb and specific location.
Fact sheets and FAQs
Road maintenance challenges
Managing the condition of roads in Lismore is particularly challenging due to high rainfall and frequent wet conditions.
Periods of prolonged rain or flooding weakens road seals and underlying pavement (road structure), leading to cracking, erosion, and accelerated deterioration. Even with well-designed roads and drainage, heavy water runoff can cause flooding and damage to both road and stormwater infrastructure.
These conditions place ongoing pressure on Council’s resources, requiring frequent maintenance and capital works to restore required functionality. The region’s exposure to intense weather events can also cause rapid asset degradation, making long-term planning challenging and unpredictable.
To manage these challenges, we have a proactive plan to keep our roads maintained, as well as response teams to repair potholes and other road issues that arise.