The council is clearing vegetation from drains, reforming back drains and renewing culverts as part of a major investment in its rural roads over the next five years under a Rural Resilience Waitaki roading plan.
Roading manager Michael Voss said the drainage work was in line with New Zealand Transport Agency's key roading maintenance activities.
''It is important roadside drains are free of vegetation to allow for unimpeded stormwater flow, particularly during a rain or storm event. This will, in turn, allow the road surface and base to dry out,'' he said.
Once water had infiltrated the road base, it could take up to a month for the water to drain away, which could significantly damage the road.
''If we have a good maintenance strategy, we can limit any damage done,'' Mr Voss said.
With limited funding to renew roads, drainage maintenance was a cost-effective way to ensure optimum road performance.
Rural townships were not being overlooked.
In Kakanui, old side drains were being cleaned now to improve stormwater flow.
The council instigated the rural roads resilience project after submissions from the rural sector that the state of roads had declined, mainly because of an increase in traffic and heavy loads, such as milk tankers.
Of the $635,000 allocated this financial year, taking account of the NZTA subsidy and depreciation budgets, $402,900 would be needed from rates.
Not all was funded from new rates, with about $200,000 being reprioritised from other areas.
The five-year project was in addition to normal maintenance.
It would also prepare the roads for increasing traffic from land use changes and the introduction of heavier commercial vehicles.
This financial year, the focus was on flood protection.
