The complainants were Mr Ross Edwards and Mr Andrew Hunter who felt that Finlayson’s Road, which runs alongside the Yerong Creek railway track and up to the sewerage plant, should not have been repaired by council to Class 2 specifications two weeks ago as there is “no residence on the road”.

Cr Paterson, Cr Schultz and Cr Hogan had all received the letter and Lockhart Shire Council (LSC) General manager, Chris Gallagher had received a copy in the mail on the morning of the meeting.

Midway through council discussion regarding Finlayson’s Road Cr Paterson alerted fellow councillors to the fact that the road in question is an access to Cr Yates Farm. Upon mention of his name Cr Yates excused himself from the meeting and left the room for the rest of the discussion on the topic as it could be perceived that he had a vested interest.

Lockhart Shire Council Director of Engineering, Alan Clarke, said that the road was not a full re-sheet (normally about three inches) but a third of the average amount of gravel used on Class 2 roads.

The road is categorised as a Class 2 gravel road in accordance with Councils Policy 2000/2001 and there are many criteria in the policy to set a road as Class 2. Council will further discuss re-classification of roads in the shire at a date yet to be determined.