3Interpretation

### 3 Interpretation > > (1)  *\[Section 3 Subsection (1) amended by 25 Geo. V No. 78 \]**\[Section 3 Subsection (1) amended by 8 Geo. VI No. 4, s. 3 \]**\[Section 3 Subsection (1) amended by 9 Geo. VI No. 27, s. 2 \]**\[Section 3 Subsection (1) amended by No. 22 of 1951, s. 2 \]**\[Section 3 Subsection (1) amended by No. 101 of 1957, s. 2 \]**\[Section 3 Subsection (1) amended by No. 71 of 1967, s. 2 \]**\[Section 3 Subsection (1) amended by No. 30 of 1977, s. 5 and Sched. 1 \]**\[Section 3 Subsection (1) amended by No. 84 of 1984, s. 4 \]**\[Section 3 Subsection (1) amended by No. 35 of 1985, s. 4 and s. 25 and Sched. 1 \]**\[Section 3 Subsection (1) amended by No. 5 of 1990, s. 3 and Sched. 1 \]**\[Section 3 Subsection (1) amended by No. 30 of 1995, s. 3 and Sched. 1 \]*In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears – > > > > > ***construction***, in relation to a road, includes – > > > > > > > > (a) the reconstruction or realignment of the road; > > > > > > > > > (b) the bringing of the road to a higher standard; > > > > > > > > > (c) investigation and associated engineering studies in connection with – > > > > > > > > > > > > (i) the construction, reconstruction, or realignment of the road; > > > > > > > > > > > > > (ii) the bringing of the road to a higher standard; or > > > > > > > > > > > > > (iii) the planning of alternative routes for the road; > > > > > > > > > (d) the acquisition of land for the purpose of – > > > > > > > > > > > > (i) constructing, reconstructing, or realigning the road; or > > > > > > > > > > > > > (ii) bringing the road to a higher standard; and > > > > > > > > > (e) the doing of any other thing in relation to a matter specified in [paragraph (a)](#GS3@Gs1@Nd1@Hpa@EN) or [(b)](#GS3@Gs1@Nd1@Hpb@EN) – > > > > > > but does not include the maintenance of the road; > > > > > ***country road*** means a road not being or forming portion of a State highway or subsidiary road, but does not include a street in any town; > > > > > ***Crown lands contract*** means a contract made under the [Crown Lands Act 1976](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1976-028) or a corresponding previous enactment; > > > > > ***line***, used in relation to a highway, means the strip of land subject, or to become subject, to the highway and includes a portion of the length or breadth of a line; > > > > > ***maintenance***, used in relation to – > > > > > > > > (a) a road, means all works which are required for the preservation and upkeep of the road or its associated works, but does not include any works for the reconstruction of the road; and > > > > > > > > > (b) any plant, includes the reconstruction, repair, improving, and upkeep thereof; > > > > > ***Minister for Lands*** means the Minister for the time being administering the [Crown Lands Act 1976](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1976-028) ; > > > > > [*\[Section 3 Subsection (1) amended by No. 90 of 1999, Sched. 1, Applied:14 Aug 2000\]*](/view/html/inforce/2000-08-14/act-1999-090#JS1@Ja21@GC11@Hpd@EN) ***motor taxes*** means the taxation imposed in respect of motor vehicles by, and collected under, the [Vehicle and Traffic Act 1999](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1999-070) ; > > > > > ***municipal district*** means a municipal area; > > > > > ***municipality*** means a municipal area; > > > > > ***plant*** means plant (including vehicles and animals) for the construction or maintenance of roads, bridges, jetties, and aerodromes, and includes any land, workshop, building, fixture, machine, implement, tool, or other equipment, erected, purchased, or acquired for the purpose of the construction or maintenance of any plant, and any spare parts to be used in connection therewith; > > > > > ***Register*** means the register of title to land kept under the [Land Titles Act 1980](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1980-019) ; > > > > > ***road*** means a public highway and includes – > > > > > > > > (a) a road sign; > > > > > > > > > (b) traffic control equipment; > > > > > > > > > (c) street lighting equipment; > > > > > > > > > (d) a vehicular ferry; > > > > > > > > > (e) a bridge or tunnel, including a bridge or tunnel for the use of pedestrians; > > > > > > > > > (f) a path for the use of persons riding bicycles; > > > > > > > > > (g) a ramp to facilitate the launching of boats; > > > > > > > > > (h) vehicular access from a road to a ramp referred to in [paragraph (g)](#GS3@Gs1@Nd12@Hpg@EN) , being vehicular access; > > > > > > > > > (i) a fence erected, at the cost of the Crown or a council, for the protection of traffic, being a fence; > > > > > > > > > (j) a culvert; > > > > > > > > > (k) a kilometre post; and > > > > > > > > > (l) a milestone – > > > > > > that is associated with such a highway; > > > > > ***road authority***, used in relation to a State highway or subsidiary road, means the Minister; and, used in relation to any other road, means the council having the control of such road; > > > > > ***Secretary*** means the Secretary of the Department; > > > > > ***service authority*** means a person having the charge and control of a system for supplying water, gas, or electricity, or of drainage or sewerage; > > > > > ***State highway*** means a road in respect of which a proclamation declaring the same to be a State highway for the purposes of [Part II](#HPII@EN) is in force; > > > > > ***subsidiary road*** means a road in respect of which a proclamation declaring the same to be a subsidiary road for the purpose of [Part II](#HPII@EN) is in force; > > > > > ***the Fund*** means the State Highways Trust Fund referred to in [section 4](#GS4@EN) . > > > (2)  *\[Section 3 Subsection (2) omitted by No. 35 of 1985, s. 4 \]*.  .  .  .  .  .  .  .   > > > (3)  *\[Section 3 Subsection (3) amended by 8 Geo. VI No. 4, s. 3 \]*Where in any Act passed before the commencement of the [Roads and Jetties Act 1944](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-9999-999) , reference is made to a main road, it shall be construed as a reference to a road which is a State highway within the meaning of this Act.