Temporary Road Closure Application

There is a specific process that must be followed under the Local Government Act 1974, sections 319, 342 and Schedule 10, to temporarily close a road. To meet these requirements, the Council requires a road closure application.

In certain situations where the Council owns the land or property affected (e.g. an event in a park), you may not have to apply for a road closure.

Closing the road without Council approval is illegal and may result in prosecution.

You can only close the road when you receive the following from Council:

• An Approval Letter from Nelson City Council giving you approval to close the road.
• Traffic Management Plan approval.

You can only close the road on the dates and times specified, and by the method specified.

The content of your application will be reviewed against the criteria set out in the Local Government Act 1974, and the New Zealand Guide to Temporary Traffic Management (NZGTTM).

Once we are satisfied that your application meets the necessary standards, we will advise you and then begin processing it, to ensure that your event or infrastructure works can proceed within the timeframe required.

When planning events at Trafalgar Park, road closures need to be taken into consideration as a part of the risk assessment process.

Factors that need to be considered include:

• Numbers attending event
• Times of entry/exit
• Type of event – i.e. Is alcohol being sold? Are consents needed?
• Gate/gates being used
• Gate setup/process of entry
• If entry and exit be all at once, or staggered
• Where people will park

When there are large numbers of attendees entering/exiting the event the footpaths (particularly on Trafalgar Bridge) can become overwhelmed, and people can spill out onto the road creating safety issues.

Hathaway Carpark and Trafalgar Park Lane are not road reserve so a road closure does not need to be applied for to use these areas but there is a specific layout that needs to be used in this space to provide for resident parking.

Hathaway Court is private, but residents must still be notified if an event is happening with road closures in the area.

Nelson City Council Customer Service team must be notified.

As a general guide, Nelson City Council recommends that when numbers attending events at Trafalgar Park reach the thresholds stated below the associated mitigations are put in place, but every event is different, so it is important to discuss all options with your Traffic Management Planner to achieve the safest outcome:

• 4000+ Attendees
  • A traffic management plan is advised outlining the risks and their mitigations
• 6000+ Attendees
  • Road closures of Hathaway Terrace, sections of Trafalgar Street and Halifax Streets be considered
  • A traffic management plan as a minimum will need to be submitted
• 7000+ Attendees
  • If the majority of patrons will be exiting at the same time a road closure should be applied for and installed during exit. As a minimum, closure on Hathaway Terrace and Trafalgar Street from Wainui Street/Grove Street (depending on the gates being used) to Halifax Street
  • Road closures should be considered for entry depending on methodology of entry (e.g. queuing for bag checks, covid checking etc.)
  • Management of Halifax/Trafalgar Street intersection likely.
• 10,000+ Attendees
  • Road closures for duration of event advised
  • Requirement to liaise with Police
  • Recommendation to liaise with Wellington’s Transport Operations Centre (WTOC) to monitor the traffic lights or have them turned off if Traffic Management is in place at the intersection

If you have any questions or need assistance with your application, please email road.enquiries@ncc.govt.nz.