A couple from Bundanoon, New South Wales, is urging their local council to take action after an incident involving a large pothole resulted in a damaged tyre costing them AUD 560. Nila Mezei was driving on Sallys Corner Road near Exeter when her car hit the pothole, causing the tyre of her Range Rover Evoque to pop. Despite their efforts to seek compensation, the couple’s claim was denied by the Wingecarribee Shire Council, which stated it had no prior knowledge of the pothole.
During the drive, Mezei noticed the pothole but could not avoid it due to oncoming traffic. “The tyre popped immediately,” she recalled. Her partner, Bruce Randall, expressed frustration over the council’s response, stating that the pothole had been present for some time. “That ditch has been there for a while, clearly,” he said. The couple’s attempts to file a complaint and seek compensation were met with legal language from the council, asserting they were not negligent since they were unaware of the pothole.
After the tyre incident, roadside assistance replaced the damaged tyre, but it caused Mezei to arrive late to work. The couple’s compensation claim was swiftly dismissed, leaving them disappointed. Randall criticized the council’s dismissal of their complaint as a generic response. He expressed concern that others might not be as fortunate as they were, saying, “It feels like they’ve just wiped their hands… It’s disappointing… It is time they do something about the roads.”
Council Defends Its Position on Road Maintenance
In defense of its decision, Wingecarribee Shire Council referred to the Civil Liability Act 2002, which protects councils from liability when they lack actual knowledge of a danger. According to a council spokesperson, since 2019, the region has faced 16 declared natural disasters, resulting in over AUD 43 million in road damage. They noted that AUD 24 million in claims remain unresolved due to complex funding processes.
Despite acknowledging that potholes can pose risks, the council stated that community safety is a priority. “Council works to identify, prioritise, and repair road hazards as quickly as resources allow,” the spokesperson added. The council confirmed that the pothole in question has now been filled.
Wider Context of Road Maintenance Issues in New South Wales
In New South Wales, the road network spans more than 180,000 kilometres, with councils responsible for maintaining over 85 percent of it. Local authorities can apply for funding from the AUD 50 million Fixing Local Roads Pothole Repair Round, yet managing potholes primarily falls to them.
The issue of potholes has become a source of frustration for drivers across Australia. In some extreme cases, members of the public have resorted to vandalism to bring attention to persistent road hazards. In 2022, phallic graffiti appeared around a pothole in Inverloch, Victoria, while a message demanding repairs was spotted in Adelaide in 2023.
Overall, the incident highlights ongoing challenges faced by local councils in maintaining road safety and responding to community concerns about deteriorating infrastructure.
