He told The Post that he and general manager Warwick Bennett had held "the most positive meeting yet" last week with the Roads and Maritime Service about the issue.

Talks have been ongoing for well over a year. The council wants Auburn Street's State Road classification removed and shifted to Sloane Street to give it control over the main thoroughfare's appearance.

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Goulburn street swap talks resume

Cr Kirk said he'd received the strongest indication yet at the meeting that the swap would happen.

"(But) as the government is in caretaker mode, the legal part will not occur until after the election," he said.

"...The timing is good because of our CBD beautification. If that is impeded by RMS ownership, then it's counter-productive."

The council is also "back in the race" when it comes to maintaining RMS roads on its own patch. Currently, Upper Lachlan and Queanbeyan Palerang undertake the work.

Goulburn Mulware Council relinquished its contract to do so some years ago but in recent time has lobbied RMS to open up its processes for tendering.

Cr Kirk said the authority would phase Goulburn Mulwaree into its maintenance schedule but this also had to signed off after the election.

The council also took the opportunity to press the need for a roundabout at the Hume Street/Finlay Road intersection. Cr Kirk cited the fact that another accident had occurred there last week.

It is one of several roundabouts and traffic treatments the RMS is considering along Hume Street, another being at the Mary Street intersection.

The Mayor said the authority informed him that the Hume Street/Finlay Road intersection was "a high priority."

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