Roads Act 1993 Review - Fit for Purpose 30 Years On?

The NSW Government has announced a targeted review of the Roads Act 1993 (the Act) to develop a modernised framework for planning and managing roads across NSW. The review aims to ensure the Act is flexible for future needs and better enable decision making by Transport for NSW and local councils.

Since its commencement in 1993, the Act has seen little change, despite significant advancements in modes of transport and technology over the past 30 years. The NSW Government recognises that the Act must evolve to align with current community expectations, which prioritise sustainability, safety and urgent transport needs. This review sits within the NSW Government’s broader reform agenda aimed at supporting future population growth and urban intensification, recognising the critical role of transport and land use in this process.

There are four targeted objectives for improvement of the Act:

1. More contemporary uses for roads and streets that are safe and responsive to community needs.
2. Faster local decision making with appropriate mitigations to manage network risk.
3. A streamlined and easy to use statute that keeps pace with change.
4. A more operationally effective statute.

While the focus of the review is the Act itself, achieving these objectives may require changes in the Road Transport Act 2013 and the Transport Administration Act 1988.

The review will be carried out through to 2026. To commence the review process, Transport for NSW has published an Issues Paper to outline the intended scope and invite responses by key stakeholders.

Feedback on the Issues Paper is open for responses until Friday 28 March 2025.

We will continue to monitor the review process of the Act and provide updates on any further developments. For any assistance relating to the implications of the review, please contact Chris Mitchell and Larissa Buriak.