Gibraltar Road is a gravel, single lane, no-through road, which was created when individual lots of the original property were sold off in the mid-1970s for the purpose of subdivision.

The majority (70 per cent) of the road is a Crown road; 15 per cent is council-owned; and 15 per cent is ‘right of way’ through private properties.

The road was discussed at length.

“Regrettably, I don’t think we can proceed with this upgrade because of the precedence it could set throughout the shire on other roads,” said Cr Wheelwright.

Cr Opie suggested setting up a working group to look at the problems that might also recur throughout the shire.

Cr Stafford said a workshop would uncover the number residents who could be affected by a Crown road through their properties.

Upper Lachlan’s director of works, Phil Newham, encouraged new residents looking to purchase a block to firstly talk to the council.

New residents edneed to be advised about purchasing land surrounding Crown roads and the limitations they may have on those roads, he said.

Cr Cummins asked Upper Lachlan’s director of planning, Tina Dodson, if the council could close the loophole of allowing portions to be subdivided without development consent.

Mrs Dodson told the meeting it was not a local government consent authority and that those laws came under state legislation under the Conveyancing Act.

Cr Cummins said the problem was right across the shire and needed to be addressed with the State Government.

Cr Wheelwright and Cr Searl moved that the council pledge to maintain Gibraltar Road on the provision that residents fund the upgrade (to the eastern boundary of Lot 51 in DP 750014) subject to the council’s minimum subdivision standard (5.5 metres) and they must ensure the rationalisation of right-of-way occurs.