New councillors went toe-to-toe with a former councillor over Walhalla Rd when the largest ever petition was tabled to Baw Baw Shire.
The petition, with 3138 signatures, implored council to reconsider its road management plan, saying the gravel road was vital to access bush areas, as a through road to Woods Point, Marysville and Jamieson, and served as "vital alternative access" in emergency situations.

Lead petitioner and former councillor Michael Leaney said it was the largest ever petition presented to council and "the massive response clearly shows that these roads are indeed reasonably required for general public use."
"Roads should be your top priority and their ongoing maintenance, to ensure they are passable, should come before spending money on other programs that don't deliver the basics to our community and visitors," Mr Leaney said.
Council, as part of its draft road management plan, proposed removing three sections of Walhalla Rd - including a 20.2km stretch from Walhalla to Beardmore and a 29.7km stretch from Aberfeldy to Matlock highlighted in the petition - from its roads register to cut maintenance costs.
However, Crs Kate Wilson and Adam Sheehan expressed disappointment at the lack of conversation with Mr Leaney, alleging he had spread misinformation.
The misinformation referred to a line in the petition which claimed Baw Baw Shire would save less than $10,000 by ceasing maintenance on this road.
Questioned at the lectern, Mr Leaney said the figure was obtained from a Gazette article at the time.
The Gazette quoted the removal of five sections of unsealed road - the majority of which was Walhalla Rd - was forecast to save more than $10,000 per year.
However, whilst removal of three sections of Walhalla Rd was projected to save $7695 in annual operating costs, it failed to note $194,909 savings in annual maintenance costs.
Mr Leaney, the Walhalla and Mountain Rivers Tourism president, was not present for councillor debate but used community questions to seek traffic count data for the road.
Interim chief executive officer John Bennie said council had not undertaken counts on two sections of Walhalla Rd since the early 2000s, "as there are no primary residences".
However, he said traffic counts were conducted at two locations - near Cemetery Rd in Aberfeldy and in the vicinity of Selma Trk - in December 2022. These showed a 16-vehicle average and 13-vehicle average per day consecutively.
Cr Adam Sheehan said it was pleasing to see community engagement via a petition but "disappointing to see some of the misinformation and the fanfare that's been stirred up."
"I implore the community; reach out to ward councillors when you've got matters of concern," Cr Sheehan said. "We are here to work for you."
"Access to our bush and recreational areas is of the highest importance to council. But the cost to maintain these sections of road is arguably not the responsibility of council given there are no rateable properties adjoining the road."
Cr Kate Wilson said assumption of negative intent and unnecessary drama had overlooked the intent of putting the draft road management plan out for consultation.
"The petition also hasn't moved us any closer to good road management," Cr Wilson said. "It ignores the fact that council never intended these roads to be just left for no maintenance and to fall into disrepair. It was actually to consider if the State Government were a more appropriate owner of these roads, given that they're largely within State Forest and not directly servicing people who pay rates."
Cr Ben Lucas said he would like to know how many of the 3000 people who signed the petition had driven on the road.
"Reactive maintenance, I think, is the best course of action," Cr Lucas said. "We'll just see how it goes. We can always add it later if it goes really pear shaped."
Cr Danny Goss, noting a past vote by Mr Leaney on South Face Rd maintenance, said council needed to make tough financial decisions and no ratepayers lived on the impacted sections of Walhalla Rd.
Cr Goss said savings generated would be absorbed elsewhere in the roads budget and "I can think of lots and lots of places that would welcome that sort of money being spent."
Councillors unanimously voted to receive the petition, refer the matter to officers to investigate and request the petition was considered as part of council's final road management plan and public road register.
Cr Goss called for a division. All nine councillors voted in favour.