Port Stephens Council Floats Road Reserve Sales to Fund Major Upgrades

newy.com.au – Port Stephens Council are considering selling off surplus road reserves, and have placed them on public exhibition to give the community a chance to provide feedback before any decisions are made.

The move is part of Council’s broader plan to boost funding for local road upgrades. Mayor Leah Anderson said selling underused road reserves could help deliver on Council’s $29 million investment in improving the road network. “Selling surplus road reserves is one way we can raise additional funds to repair and improve our roads and faster achieve our record investment of $29 million,” she said.

A formal resolution from Council is required before any road reserves can be closed and sold, and sales would only occur at market value, determined by an independent valuer. Community feedback will be reviewed before any final decisions are made.

Mayor Anderson confirmed that money raised through sales would be reinvested into road infrastructure. “If we sell a road reserve, the law requires us to use that money only for roads,” she said. “This is about long-term improvements, not just patching potholes. Every dollar raised will go back into making our road network safer and more reliable across Port Stephens.”

Residents can make written submissions to Council until Sunday 24 August 2025. Details are available at pscouncil.info/RoadsAccelerationProgram.