A Road Permit is required to carry out certain activities within road reserves in the Ipswich City Council (ICC) area. A road reserve is the area from property boundary to property boundary including the verges, footpaths, shoulders, traffic lanes, and median.
Permits are issued pursuant to the Local Government Act 2009. Carrying out such activities without a permit is illegal, and may result in a fine of up to 200 penalty units. Activities carried out in breach of a condition of a permit may result in a fine of up to 40 penalty units.
Permit applications can be submitted using the online form and must be submitted at least 10 business days prior to the requested permit period to allow for processing. Please ensure all necessary sections are completed and documents attached. Applications that are incorrect or incomplete will not be processed until all required information has been received.
Some road reserves within the ICC area are State Controlled Roads (SCRs), and separate permission must be obtained from the Department of Transport and Main Roads (DTMR) for activities within SCRs, refer to list of State Controlled Roads (PDF, 20.7 KB). Where the activity impacts both ICC and DTMR roads, permits are required from both authorities.
Note: Council waives their right to receive notice of works under Schedule 3, Clause 19 (1) (a)-(d) of the Telecommunications Act 1997 that do not involve breaking the surface of the road reserve.
Completing the Road Permit Application Form
NOTE: All Road Permits are issued to The Applicant (e.g. the organisation conducting the works – principal contractor or the organisers of an event). Any Public Liability Insurance associated with the permit must be held by The Applicant (not a sub-contractor).
A Traffic Management Company may apply on behalf of The Applicant, if it has been authorised to do so, but details of the applicant MUST be provided.
Notification of works under an Annual Permit
Annual Permits are only issued by invitation to utility service providers to enable regular maintenance works only on existing infrastructure.
Notification of works under an Annual Permit
Once an Annual Permit has been issued, Council is only to be notified of any works being carried out on existing infrastructure within the service corridor.
NOTE: The Permit Holder will be invoiced for a First Compliance Inspection fee for each notification.
New Application
Annual permit holders wishing to install new infrastructure or replace existing infrastructure (with the exception of fixture replacement) must complete a New Application to cover the associated works.
Pre-Lodgement Design Advice
Service authorities or their nominated sub-contractors may wish to receive (free of charge) Pre-Lodgement Design Advice from Council prior to lodging permit applications. A formal response letter will be generated - this is not approval for the works to proceed, all applicable permits will need to be obtained prior to commencing works.
NOTE: When applying for free Pre-Lodgement Design Advice at least 20 business days must be given, longer for large or complex projects.
Plan of Works
A detailed description of all proposed works is to be submitted where applicable.
Descriptions such as 'excavating road' are not acceptable. An example of an acceptable description would be "excavating trench across road to install conduits for new 11kV cabling, work to be staged across road one lane at a time, trenches to be plated and trafficable after hours".
A site plan indicating location of proposed work is required. Other marked up plans or drawings are also useful such as any proposed earthworks or temporary structures.
Traffic Management
A Road Permit is required for activities that do not involve breaking the surface of the road reserve, but DO involve altering or disrupting the normal flow of traffic (including vehicles, pedestrians, bicycles and mobility devices).
Traffic Management MUST be carried out by a company registered with the Department of Transport and Main Roads Traffic Management Registration Scheme. The Register of Traffic Management Organisations can be viewed on the Department of Transport and Main Roads website.
Traffic management must be implemented onsite by suitably trained and qualified people employed by the registered traffic management company, in accordance with the current version of the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) Part 3.
NOTE: Schemes that do not comply with the MUTCD may delay processing of the application.
Minor activities confined solely to the footpath or verge that do not divert pedestrians onto the shoulder or traffic lanes, and maintain sufficient space, adequate surfaces and protection for pedestrians to pass safely, do not require a Traffic Control Permit. Example activities include short term storage of construction or landscaping materials (less than 12 hours, with groundsheet protection for grassed areas, formed footpaths not impeded), opening manholes, pits or other structures for inspection by small work-crews (with any associated vehicles legally parked on the road).
Public Liability Insurance
The Applicant must hold a current Public Liability Insurance (PLI) policy with a minimum cover of $20 million throughout the permit period. The insurance company must be licensed to operate in Australia. The Applicant must provide evidence of insurance to Council with the application.
Standard Conditions
If The Applicant is unable to comply with any of the Standard Conditions they must state which number/s they can’t comply with and include an explanation for each outlining the reason/s why they are unable to comply.
The Standard Conditions are:
- All traffic management must be in accordance with the current version of the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD).
- All traffic management must be undertaken by a company registered with the Department of Transport and Main Roads Traffic Management Registration Scheme.
- All traffic management plans and traffic guidance schemes must be authorised by an appropriately qualified competent person as defined in the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD).
- Works or traffic control must not be undertaken within 100m of a 40km/h school zone on school days between the hours of 7.00am – 9.00am or 2.00pm -4.00pm.
- Works or traffic control must not be undertaken within 50 metres of any traffic signal.
- All works must be undertaken in accordance with Council’s Standard Drawings.
- Trees including roots are not to be removed, damaged or trimmed.
- Any public infrastructure (e.g. Footpaths, verges, road pavements, kerbing, gully pits, islands, street lighting, driveways, traffic signs or other street furniture) that is disturbed, damaged or removed when undertaking activities must be repaired or reinstated to the standard required by Council’s standard drawings.
- When carrying out activities, the Permit Holder must undertake all reasonable measures to:
a. Protect the public from nuisance, injury or loss;
b. Minimise the duration of lane or road closures;
c. Minimise impacts including delays for road users;
d. Ensure access to adjacent properties is maintained;
e. Minimise impacts on participants of events and activities;
f. Ensure the safe passage of all road and footpath users;
g. Ensure refuse vehicles can service adjacent properties;
h. Maintain the site in a clean and tidy condition;
I. Protect the integrity of all public utility services located in the road reserve including
completing a ‘Dial Before You Dig’ search before commencing works. - A copy of the Permit and approved Traffic Management Plan must be kept on site and be available for inspection at all times.
- Emergency services and all residents and businesses directly affected by the activities must be advised of the planned disruption at least 24 hours before works or traffic control commences.
- The Permit Holder must hold and maintain throughout the period of the works a current public liability insurance policy with a minimum of $20 million. The insurance company must be licenced to operate in Australia. The Permit Holder must provide evidence of insurance to Council with the application.
Fees and Charges
Invoices will be issued according to the details provided in the application.
Refer to Council's Fees and Charges.
Standard and Non-Standard works and traffic control are defined below for the purpose of calculation of fees and charges:
Standard - Works
If the following apply:
- Within Standard times (see below); and
- Complies entirely with ICC standard alignment drawings; or
- Generally complies with ICC standard alignment drawings, with only minor deflections around obstructions; or
- Non-standard alignment (in whole or in part), maximum overall length 80m and no part of alignment intrudes into existing or future roadway.
Non-Standard - Works
That not defined under Standard – Works such as:
- Outside the Standard times (see below);or
- Proposed alignment does not fully comply with ICC standard drawings with the exception of:
- Minor defections around obstructions; or
- Maximum overall length of work not longer than 80m.
Standard - Traffic Control
If ALL of the following apply:
- Requested permit duration does not exceed one month; and
- Within Standard times for particular scheme and road (see below); and
- Traffic guidance schemes impact on no more than three roads; and
- Traffic guidance scheme has not required RPEQ certification.
Non-Standard - Traffic Control
That not defined under Standard – Traffic Control such as:
- Requested permit duration exceeding one month; or
- Schemes impacting on more than three roads; or
- Outside Standard times for particular scheme and road (see below); or
- Any full closure; or
- Haul Road crossing; or
- Lane closures on a Main Street Arterial or Main Street Sub-arterial road; or
- Traffic Management Scheme has required RPEQ certification.
Standard Times
If the following apply:
- 9.00am to 2.00pm School days, all roads, all activities within 100m of a school zone.
- Times specified in DTMR permits for activities on State controlled roads that affect adjacent Council controlled roads.
- 7.00am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday, activities not affecting traffic lanes, or activities affecting traffic lanes on roads classified as: Local Streets (excluding Bell Street, Ipswich) or Minor Collectors.
- 9.00am to 4.00pm, Monday to Friday, activities affecting traffic lanes on Rural and Urban roads classified as: Major Collector; Sub-arterial (excluding Main Street Sub Arterial) or Arterial (excluding Main Street Arterial).
- 8.00am to 5.00pm Saturday and Sunday.
- Continuous for long term schemes required to maintain two-way traffic on all affected roads.
- Council approved Special Events times.
Standard Drawings
Works and reinstatement are to be carried out in accordance with Ipswich City Councils relevant Standard Drawings. Commonly referred standard drawings include SR.22, SR.23, SR.43, SR.44, SP.11 and SP.107.
Submitting Applications
To apply via the online application form – Click Here to be taken to the MyIpswich Portal.
Online application forms will submit straight to Council. Please make a record of the reference number of your online application.
Downloadable Road Permits Application Form
Completed downloadable application forms are to be sent to Ipswich City Council preferably via email to council@ipswich.qld.gov.au
Or by mail to:
Ipswich City Council
PO Box 191
Ipswich QLD 4305