This means Google GPS directs heavy traffic onto it rather than the preferred route of Sloane St.

It also means the council has been hamstrung in making improvements to the CBD.

But recently the Roads and Maritime Services (RMS), which owns state roads, has agreed to make Sloane St a state road instead of Auburn St.

A report to the June 4 Goulburn Mulwaree Council Meeting by general manager Warwick Bennett said the council has been trying to undertake a road swap with the RMS for some time.

"One of the concerns for a number of years in Goulburn has been the fact that Auburn Street is still a state road and thus the heavy traffic route for vehicles driving through our CBD," the report said.

"Although most vehicle users are aware that Sloane St is the preferred and most user friendly route, there is still some traffic being directed to Auburn Street because of the GPS instructions.

"We have been endeavouring to negotiate with RMS to undertake a road swap and ensure that the Google GPS directs traffic to the more suitable Sloane St. The progress has been slow but we are now making progress."

The RMS wrote to the council stating that they have now agreed with the swap and can proceed with the documentation to make this a reality.

The letter offers the transfer in two parts, with an interim period during which the council takes responsibility for the road and a second period, which will be after the completion of documentation. when the transfer will be completed.

The report said during the interim period the council would be allowed to undertake any improvements works on the road it considered appropriate for the betterment and improvements to the CBD.

"This includes the removal of the centre median and landscaping if that is affordable," the report said.

Apart from accepting the report, the recommendations before the council was: (1) "the council accepts the interim offer from RMS and the road safety responsibility for the operations of Auburn Street between Clinton and Goldsmith Street, and (2) that the council works with RMS (and its successor) to finalise the reclassification the full length of Auburn Street as a local road and the reclassification of Sloane Street as a state road."

At the meeting, May Bob Kirk asked why the recommendation said that Auburn St was a state road only from Clinton St to Goldsmith St?

Operations director Matt O'Rourke clarified that for the purposes of the RMS the section of Auburn Street would have been excluded to allow them to retain a link between two state roads - Crookwell Road (Goldsmith Street) and Sydney Road (Lagoon Street).

The motion was carried.

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