Roads Act 1993 Review

Reviewed

It is our goal to deliver on a range of strategic priorities for roads and streets that will invigorate how the NSW Government meets the diverse needs of communities right across the state. One of these priorities is carrying out a targeted review of the Roads Act 1993 to ensure it is fit-for-purpose and adaptable for the future.

Introduction

The Roads Act 1993 (the Act) is over 30 years old, the NSW Government wants to ensure it continues to be fit-for-purpose.

Roads authorities, including Transport for NSW (Transport) and councils, have introduced a range of administrative processes to enable the day-to-day management and delivery of the road network to continue. These processes can often add additional complexity and time to the process. 
The NSW Government plans to create a more contemporary planning and management framework for roads and streets across NSW, better enable Transport and councils as decision makers and recognises the function of roads not only for vehicle traffic but for all road users.

With the input and support of councils, peak bodies and advocacy groups, government and non-government agencies and organisations and the broader community we wish to deliver a targeted reform of the Act which will empower local councils, cut red tape for faster decision making, remove operational challenges and deliver a statute which is adaptable for the future.

The review of the Act will be carried out through to 2026. It will look at specific areas of the legislation to identify improvements to the way we plan for and manage roads and streets in NSW.

Objectives

 The review is guided by four key objectives, set by the Minister for Transport and Minister for Roads and Regional Transport and Roads:  

  • enable more contemporary uses for roads and streets
  • enable faster local council and other roads authority decision making
  • create an easier to use statute that is adaptable and responsive to the future via planning
  • overcome operating challenges for roads authorities.  

This review process builds on and takes direction from related important initiatives underway. 

It is also designed to contribute broader Government priorities such as meeting housing needs and improving vibrancy in our communities.  

Have Your Say: Options Paper

Following extensive feedback provided in the first stage of the review, we have released an Options Paper (PDF, 40.99 MB), to explore reform models that could establish a suitable framework for a modern and efficient Roads Act.

This is a crucial stage in the review of the Act and your feedback will help create a framework that better supports safe, efficient and future-ready roads in NSW.

Visit the Have Your Say portal to provide your input.

  • Councils, road managers, agencies, peak bodies or any organisation which interacts directly with the Roads Act are encouraged to read the Options Paper (PDF, 40.99 MB) in full and make an endorsed submission.
  • Members of the wider community with an interest in the future of roads and streets are encouraged to read the Options Paper Community Companion Document (PDF, 336.43 KB) and respond to the community survey via the Have Your Say portal. 

The Options Paper consultation period is open from Friday 15 August 2025 and will close on Friday 31 October 2025.

Feedback received will inform the selection and refinement of the preferred model and support the development of legislative and implementation proposals. This will be the final opportunity to provide input into the review and shape the recommendations to the Ministers.

Issues Paper 

To launch this review process, Transport for NSW developed an Issues Paper to outline the process and the intended scope of the review.

Feedback on the Issues Paper was open from Friday 14 February 2025 to Friday 28 March 2025, stakeholders were encouraged to complete the online survey, post a suggestion or idea on the ideas board, or provide a written submission.

The project team reviewed more than 100 survey responses, ideas and submissions which have informed the next steps for the review process. We would like to thank everyone who has participated in this first stage and collaborated with Transport for NSW to kick off this once-in-a-generation review.

Submissions from this first stage of consultation are linked to on this page, you can view the Consultation Report here (PDF, 1.42 MB). 

View submissions for the Roads Act 1993 Review Issues Paper

April 2025 Stakeholder roundtable

A diverse group of stakeholders marked a key milestone in Transport of NSW’s review of the Roads Act 1993 at a large roundtable event in Sydney, on 9 April 2025. 

Marking the end of two months of stakeholder engagement and a survey on the Issues Paper, more than 100 representatives of NSW councils, peak bodies and advocacy groups met to address how roads and streets in NSW will be shaped in the next generation.  

Attendees heard from both the Minister for Roads and Minister for Regional Transport, and the NSW Productivity and Equality Commissioner Peter Achterstraat AM, during the roundtable. 

Transport Secretary Josh Murray and Deputy Secretary Safety, Policy, Environment and Regulation Sally Webb opened the event, acknowledging community expectations, modes of transport, technology and the way we use our roads and streets has all changed since 1993.  

The review of the Act aims to better reflect the modern function of roads for all users, recognising both traffic movement and the place-making roles that streets play.

Watch the highlight video from our key stakeholder roundtable event on 9 April.

Resources

Contact us

For further questions please contact: roadsactfeedback@transport.nsw.gov.au

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