Information update December 2016

Consent for works - utilities and public transport operators

All works conducted Are you exempt from consent? Do you need a Memorandum by utilities or public If the works proposed to be conducted of Authorisation (MoA)? by a utility or public transport operator If you are a works manager for a utility transport operators are ‘minor works’, then those works or a public transport operator (or an are exempt from the need for consent agent for the works manager) then you (or their agents) within unless those works are also deemed are authorised to erect, remove or alter the road reserve need to be ‘traffic impact works’. the following traffic control devices The definitions of ‘minor works’ and without a Memorandum of Authorisation consent from the ‘traffic impact works’, as contained in (MoA): Coordinating Road the Road Management (Works and ∞∞ works advisory devices (as defined in Infrastructure) Regulations 2015, are the Road Safety (Traffic Management) Authority (CRA), unless set out at the end of this Fact Sheet. Regulations 2009) an exemption applies. When planning for the conduct and ∞∞ hand-held stop signs timing of your works (whether consent As a general rule, for freeways and is required or an exemption applies), ∞∞ work zone signs arterial roads the CRA is VicRoads, measures should be taken to ensure ∞∞ temporary works speed limit signs and for municipal roads the CRA is the safety of road users and to minimise (with a minimum speed of 40 km/h) the local municipal Council. disruptions to traffic, public transport, The works manager is responsible for abutting property owners, businesses getting written consent before any work and utility customers. starts. The consent application form is available on the VicRoads website at .vic.gov.au, and an application Are the works ‘minor works’? fee always applies. It is an offence to conduct work within the road reserve without consent. No Yes

Are the works ‘ ?

Yes No

Consent required Exempt from consent

Make application to Works may proceed Coordinating Road Authority without consent for consent to conduct works in the road reserve

vicroads.vic.gov.au 3101. Kew STU691 11.16 Authorised and published by VicRoads 60 Denmark Street These authorisations are allowed When do you notify VicRoads? Definitions provided that: When you commence the works, ‘Minor works’ (as defined in theRoad ∞∞ you have the consent of the CRA you should advise the CRA so they Management (Works and Infrastructure) for the works or you are exempt can determine if the public should Regulations 2015) are any of the following from consent (under either the be informed. kinds of works undertaken by a utility, Road Management Act 2004 or a provider of public transport, a On completion of the works, a utility the Road Management (Works and responsible road authority (or an agent or a public transport operator is exempt Infrastructure) Regulations 2015); and of any of these bodies): from the need to give notice to the CRA ∞∞ all traffic control devices are included of the completion of any ‘minor works’ a) the installation, repair or maintenance in a Traffic Management Plan (TMP), that are not: of aerial cables or other overhead which is available onsite for inspection non-road infrastructure; ∞∞ ‘traffic impact works’; or at all times when workers are present. b) works undertaken so as to enable ∞∞ works that consist of, or include, a person to be provided a service the excavation of any part of a What happens in an emergency? by a utility; roadway, pathway or shoulder (other ‘Works conducted in an emergency’ than an excavation conducted solely by or with the authority of a utility or c) the repair or maintenance of: to repair, maintain, install or replace public transport operator are exempt a single pole in an urban area or no i) street lighting; or from the consent of the CRA. This more than 3 poles in any other area). exemption includes: ii) bus stop infrastructure, tram For all works where a utility or public stop infrastructure or other ∞∞ works conducted in response to transport operator is not exempt from public transport related non-road incidents such as a burst water main, giving a notice of completion, the CRA infrastructure located on the gas main explosion or fallen power must be notified by the 14th day of the roadside; or lines on the road; or month next following the completion iii) tram tracks, including the roadway ∞∞ works in relation to a safety related of the works. area between and on the outside incident, customer service obligation of the tram tracks for which the or regulatory service provider Do you have a traffic relevant provider of public obligation that requires attendance management plan? transport is responsible; within a specified priority response time of between 24 hours and 3 A Traffic Management Plan (TMP) must d) the excavation of: be prepared for all works on roads in business days. i) any part of a road other than a accordance with the Code of Practice roadway, pathway or shoulder; or Note: Further information on ‘works conducted in for Worksite Safety – Traffic Management. an emergency’ can be found in clause 37 of the The TMP must be available onsite for ii) an area of a roadway, pathway Code of Practice for Management of Infrastructure in Road Reserves (2016). inspection at all times when workers are or shoulder; present. All of the traffic control devices This exemption allows the responsible to be used must be included on the TMP. Note: Regulation 6(2)(b) provides that if works under (d) works manager to respond to the above also exceed 8·5 square metres, then those works emergency, make the site safe for road are not ‘minor works’. Notification users and other members of the public, e) the use of an access hole for the and undertake temporary works to For works on a freeway or arterial purpose of accessing, repairing reinstate any services where possible, road, please call the VicRoads Traffic or maintaining infrastructure including temporary reinstatement of Management Centre on 13 11 70. under a road; the road for traffic. Additional information f) the installation, repair or maintenance The CRA must be advised of the of traffic control devices carried out in emergency event as soon as These publications can be accessed accordance with the Road Safety Act reasonably practicable. from the VicRoads website: 1986 or any regulations made under Works that need to be undertaken in ∞∞ A Guide to Working in the that Act; Road Reserve the short term (whether planned or g) the repair or maintenance of poles; unplanned), or that can be deferred Companion to a Guide to Working ∞∞ h) the replacement or relocation of a to a later date, are not considered to in the Road Reserve (this contains single pole in an urban area (unless be ‘works conducted in an emergency’. FAQs, process flow charts and those works are part of works ‘works’ examples) to replace or relocate 2 or more consecutive poles); i) the replacement or relocation of ‘Traffic impact works’(as defined in f) works conducted on a road in an not more than 3 poles in an area the Road Management (Works and urban area within metropolitan other than an urban area (unless Infrastructure) Regulations 2015) are: , , those works are part of works to or : a) works conducted: replace or relocate more than 3 i) that are likely to have a duration consecutive poles); i) on a freeway; or of more than 2 hours; and j) the pruning of a tree or other ii) on an arterial road that require ii) that are likely to cause a delay vegetation; the deviation of vehicular traffic to a bus or tram for more than into an on-coming traffic lane; or k) the removal of a tree or other 5 minutes between 9 a.m. and vegetation in accordance with any iii) in a clearway when it is in 3 p.m. on a weekday; or Act other than the Road Management operation; or g) works that cause the temporary Act 2004; iv) in a bus lane when it is in closure or relocation of a bus stop or l) any other works conducted for operation; or tram stop or prevent access to the purpose of repairing, inspecting, a bus stop or tram stop in an urban v) on, or partly on, or that affect, operating or testing an asset or for the area for more than 15 minutes; or a bridge or other structure; or purpose of a survey. h) works conducted in an urban area, vi) on a roadway within 20 metres If any of the works listed in (a) to (l) above between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m., on the either side of a children’s crossing also consist of, or include any of the roadway of an arterial road, within 100 when that crossing is in operation, following works, then those works are not metres of an intersection with traffic unless parking is permitted ‘minor works’: signals, which require the closure to within 20 metres either side of vehicular traffic of one or more lanes a) service extension works (definition the crossing and the works are on that roadway that are available to below); conducted on that parking area; or through traffic. b) the excavation of an area of a vii) within a road reserve on, or in the ‘Peak hour traffic works’ are works roadway, pathway or shoulder vicinity of, a level crossing within conducted between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. exceeding 8·5 square metres; the meaning of section 221U of or between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. on a the Transport (Compliance and c) works undertaken by a utility weekday on a roadway of an arterial road Miscellaneous) Act 1983; or to decommission or remove, in an urban area (other than a roadway that by excavating or filling any part of a b) ‘peak hour traffic works’ (definition is a service road) and any of the following road, non-road infrastructure (other below); or paragraphs apply: than poles, aerial cables or other c) works that require a part of a roadway, a) the roadway has one lane for vehicular overhead non-road infrastructure): other than a part on which parking is traffic to travel in each direction i) that is located longitudinally within permitted, to be closed and the works are conducted in any a road reserve: to vehicular traffic for: lane and result in vehicular traffic in that lane during that time being A) over a distance exceeding 100 i) a continuous period of more continuously stopped for more than metres in an urban area; or than 12 hours; or 5 minutes; B) over a distance exceeding 300 ii) for a period of more than 24 hours b) the roadway has more than one metres in any other area; or in 7 days; or lane for vehicular traffic to travel in ii) that is located under a roadway, d) works that require the cancellation, each direction and the works are pathway or shoulder and the works deviation to a different road or conducted in one or more (but not all) require the excavation of more than replacement, of a tram or bus of the lanes that are for travel in one 8·5 square metres of that roadway, operated by a provider of public direction and result in vehicular traffic pathway transport; or in those lanes during that time being or shoulder; or continuously stopped for more than e) works conducted on a road in 15 minutes; iii) that affects road-related an urban area within metropolitan infrastructure. Melbourne, Geelong, Ballarat or c) the roadway has more than one lane Bendigo: for vehicular traffic to travel in each direction and the works are conducted i) that are likely to have a duration of in all of the lanes that are for travel in more than 15 minutes; and one direction and result in vehicular ii) that are likely to cause a delay traffic in those lanes during that time to a bus or tram for more than being stopped for any period of time. 2 minutes between 6 a.m. and . 9 a.m. or 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. on a weekday; or ‘Service extension works’ are works For further information about specified in column 2 of the table below working in a road reserve that are undertaken by a utility (or its phone 13 11 71 agent) in the area specified in column 3 of the Table for the purpose of: visit vicroads.vic.gov.au/business- and-industry/design-and- a) extending non-road infrastructure management/working-within- owned, operated or controlled by that the-road-reserve utility; or b) enabling a person to be provided

a service by a utility.

Item Works Area

1 Works involving the installation of non-road an urban area infrastructure under an area of road that spans a distance exceeding 100 metres in length

2 Works involving the installation of more than one an urban area additional pole

3 Works involving the installation of non-road infrastructure any area other than under an area of road that spans a distance exceeding an urban area 300 metres in length

4 Works involving the installation of more than 3 additional poles any area other than an urban area