Kerb and channel assets - more commonly called gutters - are one component of a drainage system and are designed to:

• Collect and direct rain water into stormwater drains
• Form a barrier between the road pavement and the nature strip
• Protect the edge of the road pavement from erosion

We are responsible for kerb and channel on:

• City-owned land and roads
• Service roads and indented parking abutting State-owned arterial roads (not traffic or bicycle lanes)

Kerb and channel service levels

We are responsible for repairing and replacing existing kerb and channel assets when they are damaged or worn out.

Our Road Management Plan (RMP) details:

• Road hierarchy and service levels: a description of the road hierarchy and the corresponding service levels for each category, including kerb and channel.
• Defects and intervention levels: a list of defects and corresponding intervention levels, determining when repairs become necessary.
• Repair timelines: the RMP specifies the timeframes for repairs to be completed.

Examples of kerb and channel defects and intervention levels are:

• vertical displacement - uplift section greater than 30mm in tray
• horizontal displacement - lateral displacement of top of kerb and tilted tray greater than 50mm

Our intervention levels provide a reasonable tolerance before repairs are needed, allowing us to prioritise maintenance for kerb and channel where it is genuinely required.

Kerb and channel inspections

We regularly inspect our kerb and channel assets to assess their condition - we undertake proactive and reactive inspections.

Under our proactive program, all kerb and channel assets across Greater Geelong are inspected every 4, 6, 12 or 24 months, aligning with the RMP hierarchy. This systematic approach ensures a comprehensive evaluation of kerb and channel assets at specified intervals.

Between these proactive assessments, our reactive program responds to community requests. We will inspect kerb and channel assets when we are notified that there is an issue.

During inspections, our team visits the location to assess the kerb and channel for various defects such as vertical and horizontal displacement. If the defects meet the specified intervention level, we arrange for necessary repairs to ensure community safety and asset integrity.

Kerb and channel repairs

We will repair kerb and channel when a defect reaches or exceeds the intervention level. This ensures maintenance is undertaken promptly. Repairs generally require replacing a section of kerb and channel.

Prioritising repairs is based on the severity of the defect. This approach guarantees a timely and responsive resolution to ensure community safety and asset integrity.

Kerb and channel replacements

Our annual budget provides funding to replace kerb and channel assets which have reached their end of life. Replacement ensures longevity while responsibly managing maintenance costs.

The asset condition and annual budget may affect the extent of work we can undertake. This considered approach to kerb and channel replacements ensures available resources are allocated appropriately.

Requests for new kerb and channel (where none exist)

New kerb and channel assets can be constructed in streets which have never had them. We will consider such projects under a Special Rates and Charges Scheme (SRC), where abutting property owners contribute towards the cost of the work. Kerb and channel upgrades are sometimes included in SRC road upgrade projects or SRC drainage upgrade projects.