Consent for utilities and public transport operators
Find out how to get consent to do work within the road reserve if you're a utilities or public transport operator.
Utility companies and public transport operators (and their agents) must get consent from the coordinating road authority (CRA) before doing any work within the road reserve, unless an exemption applies.
The Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) is usually the CRA for freeways and arterial roads, while your local council handles municipal roads.
The works manager is responsible for getting written consent before any work starts. You can get application forms for freeways and major roads from this website and submit them electronically.
It's an offence to do work within the road reserve without consent.
Exemptions from consent
Utility and public transport operators don't need consent for ‘minor works’ unless these works are also considered to be ‘traffic impact works’.
For the definitions of ‘minor works’ and ‘traffic impact works’, see the Road Management (Works and Infrastructure) Regulations 2015.
Regardless of whether consent is required, all works must be planned and timed to ensure road user safety and minimise disruptions to traffic, public transport, surrounding properties, businesses, and utility customers.
Download a larger version of the flowchart
Memorandum of Authorisation
If you're a works manager for a utility or public transport operator (or someone working on behalf of the works manager), you can set up, remove, or change the following traffic control devices without a Memorandum of Authorisation (MoA):
- works advisory devices (see the Road Safety (Traffic Management) Regulations 2019 for the definition)
- hand-held stop signs
- work zone signs
- temporary works speed limit signs (40 km/h minimum)
- VMS signs
- any other major traffic control device, but only with permission from Transport Victoria
- any other minor traffic control device, but only with permission from the relevant CRA.
However, this only applies if:
- you have consent from the CRA for the works or are exempt from needing consent
- all traffic control devices are included in a traffic management plan (TMP), which is available on-site.
MoA application fees
If you require an MoA from us, the following fees apply, according to the Road Safety (Traffic Management) Regulations 2019:
| How traffic control devices will be used | Fee value |
|---|---|
| Does not require the closure of any traffic lanes | 4.76 units |
| Requires the closure of one or more traffic lanes | 15.46 units |
| Requires the closure of a road | 40.43 units |
Emergency works
‘Works conducted in an emergency’ by or with the authority of a utility or public transport operator are exempt from needing consent from the CRA. This exemption includes:
- works to respond to incidents like a burst water main, gas main explosion, or fallen power lines on the road
- works related to a safety incident, customer service obligation, or regulatory service provider obligation that requires attendance within a specified priority response time of between 24 hours and 3 business days.
More information on ‘works conducted in an emergency’ can be found in clause 37 of the Code of Practice for Management of Infrastructure in Road Reserves (2016)
This exemption allows the works manager to:
- respond to the emergency
- make the site safe for everyone
- do temporary work to restore services where possible, including temporarily reinstating the road for traffic.
You must tell the CRA about the emergency as soon as possible.
Works that can be planned in advance or delayed to a later date are not considered to be 'works conducted in an emergency'.
Notifying the CRA
When you start work, you should let the CRA know so they can decide if the public needs to be informed.
You don't need to notify the CRA when you finish 'minor works' unless they were:
- 'traffic impact works'
- works that involved digging up any part of a roadway, path, or shoulder except for digging done only to fix, maintain, install, or replace a single pole in an urban area or up to 3 poles elsewhere.
For all other works, you must notify the CRA by the 14th of the month next after the works are finished.
Traffic management plan
All roadworks need a traffic management plan (TMP) that follows the Code of Practice for Worksite Safety – Traffic Management.
The TMP must be available for inspection whenever workers are present on-site at all times. It must also include a list of all traffic control devices that will be used.
Notification
For works on a freeway or arterial road, please call the Transport Operations Centre on 1300 107 757.