Rates vs Roads

How much of your council's rates income actually reaches local roads.

What it shows

  • Rates revenue by council.
  • Local roads capital + maintenance spend by council.
  • Ratio of roads spend to rates revenue.
  • Asset condition indicators (road condition LGPRF metric).

How to read it

If a council collects $X in rates and spends $Y on roads, the ratio shows how central "keeping the roads usable" is to that council's spending priorities. Combine with the asset condition indicator: some councils spend more but have worse roads (suggesting inefficiency); some spend less and have better roads (suggesting earlier strong investment).

Data sources

  • VLGGC financial returns.
  • LGPRF asset condition indicators.

Caveats

  • "Local roads" excludes arterials managed by the state.
  • Capital vs maintenance split varies by accounting treatment.

Last reviewed: 11 Apr 2026