Regional Road Transfer and Road Classification Review


About the program

The Regional Road Transfer and Road Classification Review is made up of two separate initiatives being delivered as one program:

Regional Road TransferRoad Classification Review

In February 2019, the NSW Government announced that up to 15,000 kilometres of council-owned Regional Roads would be transferred to NSW State Government management as part of a broader package of support for local councils to better manage and maintain the rural road network.

The Regional Road Transfer initiative applies only to Regional Roads, in which the road management responsibility is transferred from a council to the State but the road remains classified as a Regional Road. Only regional councils outside of Greater Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong were eligible to put forward applications for transfer under this initiative, as defined by Restart NSW boundaries.

Also announced in February 2019, the Road Classification Review covers all administrative classifications of roads in NSW (State Roads, Local Roads and Regional Roads), with an aim to better align the function a road performs in the NSW transport network, and how it is funded and managed.

The Road Classification Review ensures the road classification framework is still fit for purpose and that roads across NSW are appropriately classified.

All NSW councils were eligible to make submissions for reclassification.


State, Regional and Local roads are used to describe the administrative classification of roads in NSW. The Road Classification Review ensures assignment of the road category to ensure it accurately reflects the usage and function of the road in relation to the broader road network.

The NSW Government appointed an Independent Panel, chaired by Ms Wendy Machin, to carry out the program; including completing a review of the road classification framework currently in use, consulting with stakeholders and assessing applications for the Priority and Full rounds of the program.

The Independent Panel members are:

  • Ms Wendy Machin (Chair)
  • Mr Peter Duncan AM
  • Ms Jillian Kilby
  • Mr Peter Tegart
  • Mr John Roydhouse
  • Mr Michael Kilgariff.

On this page you can view the Information Paper which details the scope, purpose and principles of the review, the Terms of Reference for the Independent Panel and find out more about the Panel members.

Final Report and Next Steps

The Independent Panel evaluated over 500 submissions as part of the full round.

The panel’s terms of reference require they provide a Final Report (Report) to the Minister for Regional Transport and Roads for consideration, which was delivered on 8 November 2022.

It is expected the Government will need time to consider the Report and recommendations of the Panel.

Timeframes for any announcement from the NSW Government on how the Report has been considered are yet to be confirmed.

At this time Transport for NSW is not in a position to advise or comment on its content or recommendations.

A team within Transport provided administrative support to the Panel up to the end of November 2022.

In September 2021 the NSW Government endorsed 37 recommendations from the Panel’s Interim Report.

Transport subsequently established a project team to implement government’s endorsed recommendations.



Updated February 2023.


About the program

The Regional Road Transfer and Road Classification Review is made up of two separate initiatives being delivered as one program:

Regional Road TransferRoad Classification Review

In February 2019, the NSW Government announced that up to 15,000 kilometres of council-owned Regional Roads would be transferred to NSW State Government management as part of a broader package of support for local councils to better manage and maintain the rural road network.

The Regional Road Transfer initiative applies only to Regional Roads, in which the road management responsibility is transferred from a council to the State but the road remains classified as a Regional Road. Only regional councils outside of Greater Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong were eligible to put forward applications for transfer under this initiative, as defined by Restart NSW boundaries.

Also announced in February 2019, the Road Classification Review covers all administrative classifications of roads in NSW (State Roads, Local Roads and Regional Roads), with an aim to better align the function a road performs in the NSW transport network, and how it is funded and managed.

The Road Classification Review ensures the road classification framework is still fit for purpose and that roads across NSW are appropriately classified.

All NSW councils were eligible to make submissions for reclassification.


State, Regional and Local roads are used to describe the administrative classification of roads in NSW. The Road Classification Review ensures assignment of the road category to ensure it accurately reflects the usage and function of the road in relation to the broader road network.

The NSW Government appointed an Independent Panel, chaired by Ms Wendy Machin, to carry out the program; including completing a review of the road classification framework currently in use, consulting with stakeholders and assessing applications for the Priority and Full rounds of the program.

The Independent Panel members are:

  • Ms Wendy Machin (Chair)
  • Mr Peter Duncan AM
  • Ms Jillian Kilby
  • Mr Peter Tegart
  • Mr John Roydhouse
  • Mr Michael Kilgariff.

On this page you can view the Information Paper which details the scope, purpose and principles of the review, the Terms of Reference for the Independent Panel and find out more about the Panel members.

Final Report and Next Steps

The Independent Panel evaluated over 500 submissions as part of the full round.

The panel’s terms of reference require they provide a Final Report (Report) to the Minister for Regional Transport and Roads for consideration, which was delivered on 8 November 2022.

It is expected the Government will need time to consider the Report and recommendations of the Panel.

Timeframes for any announcement from the NSW Government on how the Report has been considered are yet to be confirmed.

At this time Transport for NSW is not in a position to advise or comment on its content or recommendations.

A team within Transport provided administrative support to the Panel up to the end of November 2022.

In September 2021 the NSW Government endorsed 37 recommendations from the Panel’s Interim Report.

Transport subsequently established a project team to implement government’s endorsed recommendations.



Updated February 2023.
  • CLOSED: This survey has concluded.

    Road Classification and Transfer Nomination

    This nomination form is closed.

    Please read this information before proceeding to submit:

    • This form is step 1 of a two-stage submission process. This step asks you to nominate all roads both priority and non-priority planned to be submitted for either reclassification or transfer.
    • This form should be used to indicate an overview of the roads intended to be submitted for either reclassification or transfer by your organisation. This submission does not commit council to any course of action but is an initial expression of the intention to submit only.
    • All recommendations of the Independent Panel are subject to review and decision by the NSW Government.
    • A further stage of the submission process will then collect detailed information in relation to priority and non-priority roads. Supporting information requested by the Independent Panel may be provided to NSW State Government agencies for verification.
    • A submission for reclassification should be made where the submission is making a case that the classification of the road has changed in line with the criteria for characteristics and function of the road outlined in the Information Paper, available at nswroads.work/roadreview.
    • For helpful definitions, including of what constitutes priority and non-priority submissions, please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions available at nswroads.work/roadreview.
    • A submission for transfer should be made where the road is currently classified as Regional Road and continues to fill that function in line with the criteria outlined in the Information Paper, but where council wishes to propose transfer of the road to State management.
    • Where a road is proposed for reclassification to the Regional Road category and for subsequent transfer, please indicate where prompted.
  • CLOSED: This survey has concluded.

    Inactive Form

    This is an inactive form. 

    For questions regarding the Road Classification Review and Transfer program, contact the Independent Panel Secretariat roadreview@transport.nsw.gov.au.

Page last updated: 09 Feb 2023, 10:03 AM