The Shire of Derby–West Kimberley has endorsed a new strategy to guide the management of its sealed road network, after a unanimous decision at its ordinary council meeting on April 23.

Councillors voted 8–0 to adopt the sealed roads management plan 2026–2031, with the motion moved by Cr O’Meara and seconded by Cr Cornish.

The plan sets out how the shire will prioritise maintenance, upgrades and funding allocation across its sealed roads over the next five years.

It builds on the previous road management strategy (2020–2025), which has been reviewed annually since its adoption.

A key feature of the new plan is the use of a road hierarchy system that ranks sealed roads based on usage, the services they connect, and safety considerations.

This approach, combined with condition assessments, is intended to ensure funding is directed where it is most needed.

The shire currently receives road funding from multiple sources, and the plan outlines how those funds should ideally be distributed.

While a 66 per cent allocation for sealed roads and 34 per cent for unsealed roads has been identified as a benchmark, the actual split may vary each year depending on available funding and network conditions.

The document also provides a framework to help the shire secure external grants, noting that some funding opportunities require lead times of up to two years before projects can start.

Council officers advised that without a clear long-term strategy, there was a risk that asset management objectives may not be met.

However, the endorsed plan is expected to provide strong guidance to both staff and councillors in maintaining and improving the shire’s road infrastructure.