At its meeting on Tuesday night, councillors considered a petition first presented at its July meeting, asking for the council to inspect Dean Street in Ararat's north.

The report said councillors found the drainage on the road was minimal, and that maintenance would not improve their situation. Staff instead suggested the council seal the road and install kerb and channel, estimating this work would cost $220,000.

Council chief executive Tim Harrison told the meeting the municipality had received several petitions of this kind in the past 18 months.

"It shows a need to take a more strategic approach to unsealed roads, rather than deal with this on an ad-hoc basis," he said.

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"The two recommendations are to consider sealing Dean Street in the 2021/22 Capital Works Program, and develop a 10-year strategy... to explore suitable treatments of unsealed urban roads and develop a capital works program to undertake such works."

Councillor Peter Beales asked Dr Harrison if "urban roads" would include roads in smaller townships like Elmhurst, and when he would expect the strategy to be completed. Dr Harrison said the strategy would, and that he hoped the council could complete it by the end of the calendar year.

Councillor Bernardine Atkinson moved the two-part motion, seconded by Councillor Bill Braithwaite. It was adopted unanimously and without amendment.

"(Dean Street) is one of the oldest streets in Ararat, so it's good we are looking at this as a proposal," Cr Atkinson said.

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