Event Traffic Management

What is an Event Traffic Management Plan (ETMP)?

An event traffic management plan (ETMP) is a document that sets out the inputs, planning and design of traffic management arrangements required to facilitate an event with consideration of all relevant traffic impacts.

While an ETMP may serve many purposes, it should primarily be used to ensure that an event can be safely implemented with appropriate consideration and management of risks.

The primary principle in developing traffic management plans (TMPs) and traffic guidance schemes (TGSs) is ensuring the safety of event participants, spectators, event personnel and road users.

Do I Need an Event Traffic Management Plan?

Any activity (including off-road activities) that has the potential to impact the operation of the road network or traffic flow will require a traffic management plan and/or parking management plan. This includes activities that will affect the flow of traffic beyond the capacity of the existing road infrastructure (e.g. increased demand on road, road closures, changes to road access/conditions and/or increased demand on the number of available car parking spaces) within a 400m radius of the event site.

At a minimum, all event organisers are required to submit a risk assessment to council to identify any hazards and implement controls for people arriving and leaving the event.

Click here to determine the event traffic management requirements for your event based on attendance numbers for your venue*
Click here(PDF, 96KB) to view the event traffic management plan development process

*Please note - It is important to recognise that each event has unique characteristics and offerings and, therefore, the traffic management requirements may differ for each event. If you are unsure whether you require an event traffic management plan, please contact council’s Transport and Investigation section on 1300 MACKAY (622 529).

Application Process

Once the level of event traffic management requirements have been determined for your event, then you will need to complete and submit the following items to council at a minimum of 3 months before the event (major events may require 6 months’ notice) to obtain approval:

• Submit a Temporary Entertainment Event Permit (if you haven’t already) to notify Council of your intent to run an event in the region;
• Submit a current Certificate of currency for Public Liability Insurance, nominating Mackay Regional Council as an interested party for a minimum value of $20 Million;
• Signed Indemnity (as part of your Application for Temporary Road Closure permit;(PDF, 463KB))
• Relevant fee payable. Traffic Management Plan assessments Fees and charges are available here(PDF, 1MB)
• Prepare and submit a risk management plan to identify any hazards and implement controls for people arriving and leaving the event;
• Provide details of the accredited Traffic Controller registered under the Traffic Management Registration Scheme responsible for erecting and dismantling required signage and barricades;
• Engage a certified traffic management designer to prepare and submit an event traffic management plan and an Application for Temporary Road Closure(PDF, 463KB) to council on your behalf. You can find a list of qualified traffic management designers on the TMR website;
• A letter signed by all affected residents or business operators within the area of the proposed road closure (for works and events that
  are likely to cause an unreasonable level of inconvenience); Click here for things to consider to minimise disruption to stakeholders.
• Prepare a Parking Management Plan (for events expected to attract visitors or participants of more than 500 persons at any one time);
• Prepare a procedure to enable Emergency Services to gain access to and through the area of temporary road closure;
• Engage with all relevant agencies such as Queensland Department of Main Roads, Queensland Police (QPS), Translink and Mackay Taxi to gain relevant approvals, such as:
  • Approval from the Queensland Department of Main Roads will be required for events on or impacting a state-controlled roads,
    and Queensland Police (QPS) must also approve road closures or traffic management activities before closures can commence. Council’s “Letter of No Objection” is required prior to obtaining the Police Permit.
  • If the closure affects bus routes and taxi ranks or the event has an expected attendance of greater than 5,000 person, then
    Translink and Mackay Taxi will need to be notified and/or consulted with regard to provision of public transport services to
    and from the event.
  • Where attendance is greater than 5,000 people, the event must be referred to Queensland Department of Main Roads(PDF, 3MB) DTMR
    per Transport Operations (Passenger Transport) Act 1994, 67C Declaration of special event.
• Hold a stakeholder meeting with all relevant parties to discuss requirements and logistics (This could include: The event organiser, Traffic Management Company, Council’s Health and Regulatory Services, Council’s Transport and Investigation section, Queensland Department of Main Roads (DTMR), Queensland Police (QPS), Translink, Liquor Licensing and the security company that the event organiser has engaged).

Once all the closure approvals are obtained you are required to submit a copy of the road closure permit, traffic management plan and supporting information to council’s Health and Regulatory section as part of your event’s Temporary Entertainment Event Permit(PDF, 177KB) (council@mackay.qld.gov.au).

Event Capacity Matrix - Event Traffic Management

Please use the below event capacity matrix to determine the level of event traffic management required for your event based on attendance numbers for your venue*.

*Please note - It is important to recognise that each event has unique characteristics and offerings and, therefore, the traffic management requirements may differ for each event.

Venue Name	Low Risk	Medium Risk	High Risk	Extreme Risk
Event Location	Capacity of Existing Road Infrastructure. No specific Traffic Management required. Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment and Implement Controls as Required. Event Traffic Management Plan not required with application.	Event Traffic Management Plan required with application. May require road closures/traffic control adjacent event precinct.	Event Traffic Management Plan required with application. Will require road closures and traffic control adjacent event precinct. Moderate impact to Transport Network and will likely require mass transport options. Mass transport cannot be fare based and must be provided free of charge. Possible use of curtesy buses etc. transporting from approved satellite parking venues. Where attendance >5000 event must be referred to DTMR per Transport Operations (Passenger Transport) Act 1994, 67C Declaration of special event.	Event Traffic Management Plan required with application. Stakeholder Meetings must be held prior to event. Event must be referred to DTMR and included as major stakeholder and invited to stakeholder meetings. Significant impact to Transport Network requiring mass transport options provided as advised by DTMR. Will require road closures and traffic control adjacent event precinct. Where attendance >5000 event must be referred to DTMR per Transport Operations (Passenger Transport) Act 1994, 67C Declaration of special event.
BB Print Stadium	< 2600	2600 - 3200	3200 - 3800	> 3800
Mackay Aquatic Recreation Centre	< 1700	1700 - 2100	2100 - 2500	> 2500
Sugar Bowl Skate Park	< 1200	1200 - 1500	1500 - 1800	> 1800
The MECC	< 2800	2800 - 3450	3450 - 4100	> 4100
Bluewater Quay	< 2500	2500 - 3050	3050 - 3600	> 3600
Meadowlands Amphitheatre (Mackay Regional Botanical Gardens)	< 600	600 - 750	750 - 900	> 900
Queens Park	< 4300	4300 - 5250	5250 - 6200	> 6200
Greenmount Homestead	< 2000	2000 - 2450	2450 - 2900	> 2900
John Breen Park	< 1900	1900 - 2350	2350 - 2800	> 2800
Old Mulherin Park	< 1400	1400 - 1750	1750 - 2100	> 2100
New Mulherin Park	< 1100	1100 - 1400	1400 - 1700	> 1700
Sarina Field of Dreams Parkland	< 2000	2000 - 2450	2450 - 2900	> 2900
Harrup Park	< 1400	1400 - 1750	1750 - 2100	> 2100
PCYC Norris Road	< 990	990 - 1195	1195 - 1400	> 1400
Mackay Showgrounds	< 2600	2600 - 3200	3200 - 3800	> 3800
Lamberts Beach Tavern	< 700	700 - 850	850 - 1000	> 1000

If your venue is not listed, please contact council’s Transport and Investigation section on 1300 MACKAY (622 529) and council will investigate and advise the extent of traffic management planning required for your event based on your attendance numbers and venue.

At a minimum, all event organisers are required to submit a risk assessment to council to identify any hazards and implement controls for people arriving and leaving the event.