This sad case has exposed raw emotion and come at a cost to all sides. Melissa Pearce (pictured with her sister-in-law Sue Ellen Hughes at Oallen Ford Bridge in 2015) has lost a life partner she loved and a stepfather to her children. His parents have lost a son who helped care for them and his brothers, a good mate.

The council has learnt a hard lesson, one that nobody would want on their conscience. We are all too aware of the stress on management, several staff members and the Mayor occasioned by Mr Hughes’ death and this inquest.

But it also comes at a financial cost in legals bills and an impending compensation case. The council has never covered up its failings regarding Oallen Ford Road’s condition. A payout would seem inevitable.

This figure, and the legal bills, must be made public. As difficult as this inquest has been, the community, who ultimately funds the cost, has a right to know. 

Ms Pearce deserves credit in pushing for the inquest. The only positive to emerge is the knowledge that Goulburn Mulwaree Council will do its utmost to ensure such an accident never happens again.

Secondly, it’s that councils everywhere will learn the same lessons about road monitoring, reporting and repair. We’re aware many have been watching this case closely.

This was Ms Pearce’s objective to give her some peace of mind that her partner’s death was not in vain.

There’s no doubt meaningful changes have been made and will continue to be made. Improvements to the customer request management system are a win for ratepayers, not just on potholes but many other aspects. 

The works manager’s role is also now separated into three positions – a construction superintendent, maintenance superintendent and business operations manager. This is to ensure that works, large and small, are done thoroughly.

Councils carry a heavy responsibility to ensure our roads and public works are safe. They do not have finite resources and can’t be everywhere. They rely on the community to be their eyes and ears in many cases. But it is not a given.

Management regimes must be rigorous to counter any breakdowns, such as occurred so fatefully at Oallen Ford bridge on October 4, 2015. We’re confident the council is well on its way to achieving this.