Traffic Management Plans for the City of Melbourne
AS 1742.3:2019-compliant TMPs prepared for the City of Melbourne's Consent for works and CBD projects across the Hoddle Grid, Docklands and Southbank — tram interface handled, formatted to lodge first time. From $1,500, and we'll beat any written quote by 10%.
Updated 14/07/2026
Do I need a Traffic Management Plan for works on a City of Melbourne road?
Yes — and it's non-negotiable. The City of Melbourne's standard conditions state a Traffic Management Plan (TMP) “must be prepared for all works on roads” under the Code of Practice for Worksite Safety – Traffic Management, and you must give affected occupiers at least 5 business days' notice before works start. The TMP is submitted as part of your Consent for works, must be available on site whenever workers are present, and must list every traffic control device you'll use.
Melbourne's own consent pages don't publish a fixed assessment turnaround, so plan conservatively and lodge early — and note the second clock: if your works touch a DoT Victoria-managed arterial such as St Kilda Road or Punt Road, you'll need a separate Memorandum of Authorisation and road occupation charge, for which DoT asks you to allow at least 5 working days. Every plan must be drawn to AS 1742.3:2019 and the Road Management Act 2004. In the CBD the defining constraint is the tram network, so a TMP that ignores tram tracks and overhead gets bounced. MK builds your Melbourne TMP to lodge cleanly the first time, in the terminology the City of Melbourne's assessors expect.
Melbourne's three approval paths — and who signs off
“TMP approval” in the City of Melbourne isn't one stamp. Which path you're on decides your timeframe, so order the right document for the right authority.
| Path | What it covers | Who approves & timing |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Management Plan (TMP) | Required for all works on roads under the Code of Practice for Worksite Safety – Traffic Management. Lists every control device and covers staging, access and pedestrian safety, with the site-level scheme for each work zone. | Submitted as part of your Consent for works and kept on site. Must comply with AS 1742.3:2019 and the Road Management Act 2004. |
| Consent for works / Occupy public space (local street) | Working within, or occupying, a Council-managed road, footpath or public space — hoardings, gantries, loading, lane and footpath closures in the Hoddle Grid and inner suburbs. | City of Melbourne under the Activities Local Law 2019 and Road Management Act 2004, lodged via the online permits portal. Give occupiers at least 5 business days' notice; notify 24 hours before commencing. |
| DoT Victoria consent (arterial / freeway) | Works affecting a State-declared arterial or freeway — St Kilda Road, Victoria Parade, Punt Road, Footscray Road, Flemington Road or the West Gate Freeway/CityLink. | Department of Transport and Planning (DoT Victoria, formerly VicRoads) via a Memorandum of Authorisation and road occupation charge — allow at least 5 working days; not Council. |
Not sure which path your site is on? Send us the address and your permit or planning conditions — we'll confirm whether it's a City of Melbourne consent or a DoT Victoria Memorandum of Authorisation, at no cost.
TMP, CTMP or CMP — which one does my Melbourne project need?
Quick answer: in Victoria the road document is a TMP. “CTMP” is the New South Wales name for the same thing, and a CMP is a separate planning-permit document.
If your works are in Melbourne, you need a Traffic Management Plan (TMP) — not a CTMP. “CTMP” (Construction Traffic Management Plan) and the phrase “construction traffic management plan” are New South Wales terms; Victoria prepares a TMP under the Road Management Act 2004 and AS 1742.3. A Construction Management Plan (CMP) is a different document again — a broader site-management plan often conditioned on a planning permit, and it doesn't replace the TMP that lets you occupy the road.
| Document | What it is | When you need it |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Management Plan (TMP) | The Victorian road-works document — staging, road occupation, pedestrian safety and the TGS for each work zone, to AS 1742.3 and the Road Management Act 2004. | Whenever you occupy or work in the road reserve. Goes with Melbourne's Consent for works. |
| Construction Management Plan (CMP) | A broader site-management plan — construction hours, deliveries, parking, amenity and neighbour impacts. May reference traffic but isn't the road-occupation approval. | Often a condition of your planning permit. Separate from the TMP, and sometimes required as well. |
| CTMP (a NSW term) | The New South Wales name for a construction traffic management plan. Victoria doesn't use it. | Never in Victoria. If a head office or interstate consultant asks for a “CTMP” on a Melbourne site, that's your TMP. |
Send us your permit or planning conditions and we'll tell you exactly which documents your Melbourne project needs — the TMP, and whether a CMP is conditioned too — at no cost.
When Melbourne requires a Traffic Management Plan
The City of Melbourne requires a TMP for all works on roads, and a consent for occupying public space. Common triggers across the LGA:
- Consent for works (road works) on a Council street
- Occupy public space permits for hoardings, gantries and loading
- CBD and high-rise construction affecting a road or footpath
- Works on or alongside tram corridors and stops
- Lane or footpath closures requiring pedestrian detours
- Crane lifts and concrete pumping over a public road
- Works on or near State arterials (DoT Memorandum of Authorisation)
- Fishermans Bend and major-project construction traffic
- Utility works (water, gas, NBN, power) within the road reserve
- Temporary road or footpath closures for works or events
Not sure if your job needs one? Send us your permit conditions or scope of works — we'll confirm at no cost.
What's in a Melbourne-ready TMP from MK
A TMP is a full technical document, not a sign diagram. Every plan we prepare for a Melbourne site includes:
- Construction staging & sequencingHow traffic, deliveries and works phase across the build to keep the CBD road network moving.
- Site access & haulage routesIngress, egress and heavy-vehicle routes mapped to suit the Hoddle Grid, clearways and one-way streets.
- Road & public-space occupation layoutHoardings, gantries and on-street loading set out for a Consent for works or Occupy public space permit.
- Tram-interface managementWork zones set out to keep clear of tram tracks, stops and overhead — the defining CBD constraint.
- Pedestrian managementCovered walkways, hoardings and detours for high Hoddle Grid foot traffic, drawn to AS 1742.3:2019.
- Code of Practice compliancePrepared to the Code of Practice for Worksite Safety – Traffic Management, with every control device listed as Council requires.
- Supporting site-level schemes (TGS)Site-specific traffic guidance for each work zone as the build hits the road.
- Lodgement-ready formatStructured to submit with your Consent for works via the City of Melbourne online permits portal.
Melbourne TMP cost
A standard TMP for a City of Melbourne site typically costs between $1,500 and $2,500. Our pricing by project complexity:
Send us a written competitor quote and we'll beat it by 10%. No catch. Council, permit and DoT Victoria fees are separate and paid directly to the authority.
How we get your Melbourne TMP lodged
Three steps from enquiry to a lodgement-ready PDF — designed to get your document right first time so a CBD assessing officer has no reason to bounce it.
Send Site Details
Email or call with the site address, scope of works, hours and any permit or planning conditions. Site photos help but aren't required.
We Design Your Plan
Our designers draft your TMP and supporting site-level schemes in CAD, to AS 1742.3:2019 and the Code of Practice, with the tram interface handled — in the language Melbourne's assessors expect.
Lodge & Apply
Signed PDF in your inbox, ready to submit with your Consent for works via the City of Melbourne permits portal, or DoT Victoria where an arterial is involved.
Suburbs we prepare TMPs across in Melbourne
We design TMPs for projects anywhere in the City of Melbourne — the CBD and every inner-city precinct in the municipality.
CBD / Hoddle Grid
Melbourne CBD — the Hoddle Grid, with tram corridors, clearways and high pedestrian volumes.
Carlton
Carlton and Carlton North — university precinct and heritage streets.
Docklands
Docklands and the waterfront precinct.
Southbank & South Wharf
Southbank and South Wharf — arts precinct and riverfront high-rise.
North & West Melbourne
North Melbourne, West Melbourne and Kensington.
Parkville to Fishermans Bend
Parkville, East Melbourne, Flemington and the Fishermans Bend renewal precinct.
"We're an architectural firm and have used MK Traffic a number of times now. Great documentation, great price, short turnarounds to meet our deadlines. A professional firm we're proud to keep using for all our projects." Elias S — Damour Design
Melbourne TMP FAQs
Direct answers to what Melbourne builders, developers and project managers ask us most.
Do I need a Traffic Management Plan for works on a City of Melbourne road?
Yes. The City of Melbourne's standard conditions state a Traffic Management Plan (TMP) must be prepared for all works on roads, under the Code of Practice for Worksite Safety – Traffic Management. It's submitted as part of your Consent for works, must be available on site whenever workers are present, and must list every traffic control device you'll use.
Which permit do I need — Consent for works or Occupy public space?
It depends on the works. A Consent for works (road works) covers working within a Council road, while Occupy public space for construction or maintenance covers hoardings, gantries and occupying a footpath, road or public space. Temporary road or footpath closures have their own consent. Both sit under the Activities Local Law 2019 and need a TMP where a road is affected — we confirm which your job needs.
Do I lodge with the City of Melbourne or DoT Victoria?
It depends who manages the road. Works on local streets go to the City of Melbourne via its Consent for works, lodged online. Works affecting a State arterial — St Kilda Road, Victoria Parade, Punt Road, Footscray Road or the West Gate Freeway — need a separate Memorandum of Authorisation and road occupation charge from DoT Victoria, for which you should allow at least 5 working days. We confirm the right authority for your site.
How much does a TMP cost for a Melbourne CBD project?
A standard TMP for a City of Melbourne site costs between $1,500 and $2,500. Commercial and mid-rise projects range from $2,500 to $5,000, and major CBD tower, tram-corridor or major-project works sit above $5,000. Pricing depends on staging, the tram interface, traffic volume and pedestrian impacts. Council and permit fees are separate. Send a written competitor quote and we'll beat it by 10%.
What does the City of Melbourne require in a TMP?
Council's standard conditions require the TMP to be prepared for all works on roads under the Code of Practice for Worksite Safety – Traffic Management, to comply with AS 1742.3:2019 and the Road Management Act 2004, to list every control device used, and to be available on site whenever workers are present. You must also give affected occupiers at least 5 business days' notice and notify 24 hours before commencing.
Who can prepare a TMP in Victoria?
A compliant TMP should be prepared by a suitably qualified traffic consultant, working to AS 1742.3:2019, the Code of Practice for Worksite Safety – Traffic Management, and the Road Management Act 2004. In the CBD that also means handling the tram interface correctly — which is exactly what MK does.
How fast can MK deliver a Melbourne TMP?
Most TMPs are turned around within 24 to 48 hours of receiving your site details. Standard supporting site-level schemes ordered before 11am can be same-day. Because the City of Melbourne doesn't publish a fixed turnaround and DoT arterial consents need at least 5 working days, getting a clean plan early is what protects your start date.
Can you prepare a Melbourne CBD TMP if you're based in NSW?
Yes. MK is a NSW-based firm preparing Victorian-compliant TMPs remotely, drawn to AS 1742.3:2019, the Code of Practice and the Road Management Act 2004, with the CBD tram interface handled. We work from your site address, plans and permit conditions — across the Hoddle Grid, Docklands, Southbank and every City of Melbourne precinct.
Is it a TMP or a CTMP in Melbourne?
In Melbourne — and everywhere in Victoria — it's a TMP (Traffic Management Plan). “CTMP” (Construction Traffic Management Plan) is the New South Wales term for the same road document; Victoria works to a TMP under the Road Management Act 2004 and AS 1742.3. If an interstate head office asks for a “CTMP”, on a Melbourne site that's your TMP. A Construction Management Plan (CMP) is a separate planning-permit document and doesn't replace it.
TMPs for other Victorian councils
We prepare Traffic Management Plans formatted to each council's road-occupation pathway and the Road Management Act 2004. Other Victorian councils we cover:
Need a different document?
A TMP covers your whole project. For a single work zone, you'll likely need a Traffic Guidance Scheme.
Ready to get your Melbourne TMP started?
Send us your site details and permit conditions — we'll quote within the hour and have a lodgement-ready plan to you fast.
Request a TMP