Boroondara’s ageing road network means many of our roads and laneways need rebuilding. Choosing the right materials is essential to keep them safe, long-lasting and usable for everyone.
To guide our repair work, we’ve developed the Road Materials Policy. It sets a consistent approach for selecting materials when we build or upgrade roads, helping us make decisions that reflect our community’s values and practical needs.
This policy was shaped by the feedback we received during community consultation. You can find out more about what our community told us on the Your Say Boroondara website.
Download the Road Materials Policy
Summary of the policy
This policy helps us balance key priorities:
- Using our limited supply of bluestone carefully
- Protecting the unique heritage and character of our neighbourhoods
- Managing the cost of road upgrades and maintenance responsibly
- Accessibility and safety.
Bluestone kerbs and gutters
A single kerbstone gutter is the strip at the edge of the road that carries rainwater away from the street.
In the early 1900s, many streets in Boroondara were built with wide bluestone gutters. At that time, traffic was mainly pedestrians and horse-drawn carts, and underground drainage was limited. Wide bluestone gutters managed surface water before modern drainage systems existed.
Council manages bluestone gutters by retaining and repairing them in line with Planning Schemes and Heritage Statements of Significance. Today, with modern underground drainage and more pedestrian and cyclist traffic, the policy aims to balance heritage values with usability, safety, and injury prevention, while still prioritising accessibility.
The policy focuses on
| What we are protecting and maintaining | What we'll do | Image example of road element |
|---|---|---|
| Bluestone in heritage overlay areas | Keep existing, exposed bluestone kerbs and channels (also known as gutters) as they are. Repair damaged gutters using new or reused bluestone. Any leftover material will be saved for future repairs across Boroondara.
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| Bluestone gutters in streets that have Statement of Significance | When bluestone gutters need re-laying during road reconstruction and have previously been:
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Bluestone gutters in streets that are not heritage-listed
| A standard single kerbstone and channel stone layout will be used to repair any damaged gutters instead of retaining the existing profile. When a road with existing bluestone kerb and channel is reconstructed, it will use a single kerb stone and a single pitcher channel stone. This approach provides a consistent and functional surface for pedestrians and cyclists and ensures the heritage value of bluestone within Boroondara is maintained. | 
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| Spoon drains (V channel drains) | Some streets have heritage value because of their original design. In those streets, the drainage system - called spoon drains - is part of what makes them significant. We’ll reinstate spoon drains in those places to preserve the heritage character. We’ll also keep the existing bluestone spoon drains where there is enough space for the street width and parking. They will be retained if they do not interfere with the current drainage system. We will also make sure they meet accessibility standards so everyone can use the street safely. Spoon drains will be replaced with kerb and channel gutters when there are concerns for safety or accessibility.
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Footpaths
| For small repairs, the material will be matched to the existing footpath. If major repairs or rebuilding are needed, we’ll use asphalt or concrete - whichever best matches the street’s existing materials. | 
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Maintaining laneways
| Bluestone laneways will continue to be maintained. | 
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Concrete roads
| We’ll preserve about 3 kilometres of concrete roads in areas listed in Heritage Statements of Significance. These documents explain why an area is important due to its history, design or cultural value. These statements guide us in protecting and caring for these special places. | 
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Building sustainable roads
| We’ll maintain 19 kilometres of concrete roads while they’re in good condition and replace them with asphalt when needed. Asphalt is our preferred road surface because it’s cost-effective over the road’s lifespan and is easier to maintain and repair. | 
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