You are receiving this letter because your property is located on, or directly abuts, an unsealed road.

You have an opportunity during this engagement to let Council know if you support your road being considered for construction under a contributory scheme. There will also be other opportunities to discuss potential construction of your road with Council, as set out in the current Policy.

As part of the upcoming Policy review, Council wants to engage earlier with residents to strengthen how we work with property owners to make decisions about unsealed roads.

Your feedback now will inform where your road/lane is listed in the priority list of roads to be constructed through the updated Policy. Depending on the level of support, your unsealed road/lane may be prioritised higher, or lower on the priority list for further assessment and consultation, as part of the initial scheme processes.

Projects will continue to require demonstrated support from the majority of affected property owners before proceeding.

You and your neighbours may have differing views on whether your road should be sealed, and whether property owners should contribute to the costs.

That's where our Contributory Scheme Policy comes in - Council will only consider sealing roads that have majority support from affected property owners.

If there is over 50% support for a scheme, but you do not agree, you are able to object to the public notice of the scheme, via both Council and VCAT processes.

The initiation of a scheme is a lengthy process involving many steps, as outlined in our Policy and the Local Government Act 1989. Our Engineering Services team will guide you through these processes, and speak with you individually as needed to understand and work through any concerns or questions you have.

Your feedback on your road/lane and whether you want it sealed as part of a scheme will directly inform the drafting of a new Policy.

As part of the review, your input will be used to update:

• The existing list of unsealed roads in the Policy. Your road/lane will potentially move up or down the priority list depending on the level of support during this engagement
• Current conditions of roads/lanes listed in the Policy
• Some roads may be removed where the road has been constructed, or where a contributory scheme is no longer appropriate

Community support is one factor Council considers, but it is not the only one.

Technical, safety, financial, and strategic considerations will also influence priority. Council cannot guarantee that support alone will change a road’s position, as this also depends on the amount of support property owner's provide.

Council will review all feedback and use it to develop a draft updated Policy. Once a draft is prepared, there will be a further round of engagement (in July-August 2026) before the policy is finalised and presented to Council for adoption.

The survey gives you the opportunity to provide your contact details to be directly updated about your road and the Policy. Alternatively, you can 'follow' this page to receive general updates about this project.

If you choose not to respond, your road will still be assessed using available technical data, and other property owners' feedback.

However, Council will not have the benefit of your local knowledge, concerns, or views when reviewing priorities.

Yes. The Policy currently enables residents to request that their road be considered for construction at any time. We are undertaking this engagement to improve transparency, and seek property owners' feedback earlier in the development of the Policy as well.

An unsealed road/lane does not have a permanent hard surface such as asphalt or concrete. These roads/lanes are typically gravel, earth or may have a temporary spray seal treatment and may be affected by dust, potholes, erosion, or drainage issues.

Council currently maintains a list of unsealed roads in appendix C of the current Contributory Scheme Policy (2019) (approximately 31 km in total).

As part of the review of the Policy, the priority list will be reassessed, taking into account both updated technical data and community feedback during this engagement.

Council currently uses the following critieria to prioritise unsealed roads for construction under a scheme:

• Traffic volumes
• Crash statistics
• Road Hierarchy
• Land use and state of development
• Level of maintenance required
• Number of resident requests

Contributory schemes are complex and lengthy processes that involve extensive consultation with affected property owners, and opportunities for objections, questions and submissions.

Council uses a priority list that considers factors such as:

• traffic volumes and safety,
• road condition,
• impacts on residents and the community,
• land use and development,
• strategic importance, and
• financial considerations.

Community feedback is an important input into this process.

The priority list is currently being reassessed. You will be able to see the draft priority list in the draft new Policy that will be published for your feedback in July-August 2026.

Final rankings will not be known until further technical assessments and engagement with property owners has been undertaken.

A contributory scheme is a way for Council to deliver local infrastructure improvements—such as road construction—where the costs are shared between Council and the property owners who directly benefit from the works.

A contributory scheme is used when a project provides a direct and specific benefit to a group of properties, for example, constructing an unsealed road.

In these cases:

• Council contributes to the cost, and
• Property owners who benefit from the works also contribute

This approach helps deliver important local infrastructure while ensuring costs are shared fairly.

No. This letter does not mean a decision has been made to construct or seal your road. At this stage, Council is gathering your feedback to help reassess the priority list for unsealed roads.

Many unsealed roads that could be considered for a scheme are listed in the Policy, and not all can be delivered within the next 5 years. Council needs to prioritise them.

Right now, we're asking you to share whether you support Council considering whether your road/lane is suitable for a contributory scheme - which is a step before the consultation and legal processes of a scheme start.

If the majority of property owners on your road/lane support consideration of a scheme, Council will prioritise your road/lane in the draft updated Policy so that your road/lane can be further assessed sooner. It does not mean that a scheme will be commenced. Declaring a scheme would only occur after consultation, legal processes and Council and VCAT approvals.

Yes. The Policy currently enables residents to request that their road be considered for construction at any time. We are undertaking this engagement to improve transparency, and seek property owners' feedback earlier in the development of the Policy as well.

Contributory schemes are complex and lengthy processes that involve extensive consultation with affected property owners, and opportunities for objections, questions and submissions.

Right now, we're asking you to share whether you support Council considering whether your road/lane is suitable for a contributory scheme - which is a step before the consultation and legal processes even start.

Contributory schemes are complex and lengthy processes that involve extensive consultation with affected property owners, and opportunities for objections, questions and submissions.

Right now, we're asking you to share whether you support Council considering whether your road/lane is suitable for a contributory scheme - which is a step before the consultation and legal processes even start.

If the majority of property owners on your road/lane support consideration of a scheme, Council will prioritise your road/lane in the draft updated Policy so that your road/lane can be further assessed sooner. It does not mean that a scheme will be commenced. Declaring a scheme would only occur after consultation, legal processes and Council and VCAT approvals.

Council is contacting all property owners on unsealed roads and lanes in Frankston City, as all have an equal say on whether the road should be sealed, and whether property owners should contribute to the costs.

If the scheme goes ahead (meaning at least 50% of affected property owners support it), property owners that would derive 'special benefit' from the works are the ones that contribute to the project.

Council would also contribute funds for the 'community benefit' of the scheme, including for the purposes of:

• Through traffic (versus local traffic)
• Additional width
• Reduced maintenance
• Crown land or government owned land.

The treatment of different property types (e.g. corner lots, battle‑axe blocks, properties with limited frontage) is part of the Policy review and may be refined in the updated Policy.

No. Providing feedback or indicating support for investigating a contributory scheme does not commit you to paying any costs now or in the future. Any future proposal would involve detailed information and further consultation before any costs are confirmed.

If a contributory scheme were proposed in the future, Council would provide information about payment options and assistance measures.

Financial hardship considerations are part of Council’s decision‑making process under the Local Government Act 2020.

The calculation of costs of road construction is complex, and dependant on many factors including road/lane specific conditions, number of road users, number of contributors, and is informed by the design of the road.

These details would be clearly outlined and shared with affected property owners before any decision is made to declare a special charge scheme.

Generally, property owners would not pay more than 80% of the construction costs, and Council would pay a minimum of 20%. Three criteria are considered to apportion costs amongst properties:

• Abuttal – frontage, sideage and rearage
• Area of each property
• Benefit Unit – subdivision potential

Costs can include design, construction and administration costs.

Examples of road construction costs are provided in the question 'Examples of roads constructed (with costs)'.

Examples of completed road projects under contributory schemes include:

1. Cranhaven Road Stage 1 (Collector Road with through traffic) 2014 - $700,000 with Council contribution 45%
2. Cranhaven Road Stage 2 (Urban local street) 2019 - $335,000 with Council contribution 35%
3. Newton Road and Weeroona Road (Rural dead end road) 2019 - $1.8M with Council contribution 17%
4. Potts Road Stage 1 (Collector Road with through traffic) 2008 - $473,000 with Council contribution 88%
5. Potts Road Stage 2 (Collector Road with through traffic) 2010 - $495,000 with Council contribution 96%
6. Nirvana Close (Rural dead end road) 2007 - $225,000 with Council contribution 13%

Examples of road projects with Council contributing 100% of the funds (for comparison) include:

1. Valley Road (Collector Road with through traffic) 2019 - $800,000 with Council contribution 100%
2. Union Road Stage 2 (Collector Road with through traffic) 2016 - $615,000 with Council contribution 100% due to the removal of a gate

Costs vary significantly depending on length, design standards, drainage, services, terrain, and construction timing. Until detailed investigations are undertaken for a specific road, Council cannot provide accurate cost estimates.

Yes. The current Policy was last updated in 2019. Since then, there have been changes in:

• Legislation, including the Local Government Act 2020
• Community expectations, particularly around transparency, engagement and priority of the unsealed road they live on
• Local conditions, including traffic patterns, road usage, and development

The revised Policy will not fundamentally change how contributory schemes work, but will aim to improve how decisions are made, explained, and communicated. The Policy review will ensure the process is:

• Fair and equitable
• Transparent and easy to understand
• Aligned with current laws and best practice
• Responsive to community needs.

Following this engagement in April-May 2026, Council will draft a new Policy and will share this with community for review and feedback in July-August 2026.

The policy was last updated in 2019. The review aims to ensure the policy:

• aligns with current legislation,
• reflects current road conditions and community priorities,
• applies cost‑sharing in a fair and equitable way, and