• A
• A+

Road Opening Management System (RON)

The Far North District Council has a Road Opening Management System, to ensure we are notified of all road openings undertaken within any road reserve in the district.e

What is a Road Opening Notice?

• A Road Opening Notice (RON) is needed when organisations or private contractors work on or near council services within the road reserve (area between boundary and boundary).
• This includes work in, on, along, over, accross or under the road. 

Application Form

If you wish to apply to have a road opened you need to fill out a Road Opening Application Form and forward it to GHD at:

GHD LTD

PO Box 672
Kaikohe

The Road Opening Application Form must be accompanied by the following:

• Hazard management plan,
• Traffic management plan,
• Works plan,
• Copy of any public notification (if applicable)

Far North District Council Schedule of Special Conditions

The Council has created a schedule of Special Conditions to apply as an amendment to the existing national standard SNZ HB 2002:2003.

Council Enforcement

The Council will enforce the necessity for a road opening application, as well as compliance with the approved standards via a suitable Council resolution.

Management System Database

A database has been created to record all application and inspection details to monitor the progression of works and any relevant inspections. All works will be recorded within this database and it will enable statistical reporting on performance to the Council.

Inspections

Regular inspections will be undertaken by a Council nominated engineer to ensure safety standards on site and reinstatement standards comply with the relevant codes for working on the road (SNZ HB 2002:2003 and the Council’s Schedule of Special Conditions).

Failed Works

After inspection, the works are given a pass or fail dependant on compliance with relevant standards. All passed works will require no further action. All failed works will produce a notice that will be sent to contractors outlining the site(s) that have failed with details of non compliance, and a request to fix the issues within 10 days of the date of the letter. If the works are not rectified within the 10 days, another notice will be sent out. If works are not deemed to be suitably up to standard after two (2) inspections another Contractor is attained at the contractors expense to complete the works to standard.

Each failed inspection (compliant works will not be charged) will incur an additional administration charge of $100 (payable to the Council on invoice at the end of the month).

In summary the Council's new system will affect contractors in the following ways:

• Contractors will now be required to apply for any works undertaken within the road reserve via an application form and by providing all the relevant attachments.
• All works will now be required to apply to the national standard SNZ HB 2002:2003 as well as the Council's Schedule of Special Conditions.
• Inspections will be undertaken by the Council’s Road Opening representative on a regular basis to ensure that all works and safety procedures comply with the relevant standards. Reinstatement works will also be checked for compliance.
• If a site is found to fail there will be notification to rectify, if still found to fail there will be a second notice. Third time a Contractor will be hired at contractors expense. There will be a charge of $100 per failed inspection. This will be invoiced to contractors on a monthly basis highlighting the site details and comments made on site by the person undertaking the inspections.

Temporary Road Closures

How can I arrange a temporary road closure?

Section 342 and the Tenth Schedule of the Local Government Act 1974 gives Councils the power to temporarily close any road to traffic (including pedestrian traffic). Councils can do this for parades, tree felling, sporting events, etc, after consultation with the Police Traffic Safety Branch. The Council is required to give public notice of its intention to consider temporarily closing a road, and again once the decision is confirmed to close it.

Temporary Road Closures are processed by the Council Property Legalisation Officer.  Please Contact the Council for further information.

What if it is a State Highway or other Transit road?

Applicants will need to approach Transit New Zealand. Transit operates under the Transport [Vehicular Traffic Road Closure] Regulations 1965, and has its own specific requirements for temporary road closures. The Regulations specify a 42-day public notice period, so Applicants are advised to contact NZTA as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

The Temporary Road Closure process

The Applicant should apply to Council Attn: the Property Legalisation Officer in writing stating the date and time and affected area of proposed closure using the Temporary Road Closures Application Form. The information will be passed on to the Roading Manager of Council, and to the NZ Police, for their comment.

The Community Board has delegated authority to consider temporary road closures of no more than 6 hours. If a proposed closure is longer than 6 hours it must be considered by the Works Committee of Council. A Notice of Intention to Consider a Temporary Road Closure will be published in the local papers. If no objections are received and the closure is approved, a Notice of Closure will be published.

As the closure must be approved at either a Board or Committee meeting, Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible.

The Applicant will be invoiced for the processing and the advertising costs. For current charges please refer to Council Fees and Charges.

Standard Conditions on TRCs

For most TRCs, for example street parades, the conditions are likely to be that:

1. The applicant shall provide a traffic management plan for the approval of the Roading Manager, detailing the proposed re-routing of traffic, the effects of such re-routing of traffic flows, and the provision of signage, barriers and marshalls.
2. The organisers must provide access to the area at all times for residents and emergency services.
3. The organisers must advise all residents and/or business owners that may be affected by the closure.
4. The organisers shall be responsible for repairing any damage to the road and clearing up all rubbish after the event.
5. In extreme weather conditions, the Roading Manager reserves the right to cancel the event.
6. The Payment of Council’s $50 Temporary Road Closure application fee and the payment of advertising costs.

Special conditions on larger events

Additional conditions that may apply to Rallies, etc:

1. The Applicant shall advise all persons on the attached list to be provided.
2. The Applicant shall provide a traffic management plan for the approval of the Roading Manager, detailing the proposed re-routing of traffic, the effects of such re-routing of traffic flows, and the provision of signage, barriers and marshalls.
3. The Applicant to arrange public liability insurance to the value of $1,000,000 for the event.
4. The Applicant to pay Council a road damage bond of $1,000 [one thousand dollars] per road closed.
5. The payment of Council’s $100 Temporary Road Closure application fee plus advertising costs, and an additional fee of $50 per Ward if the event crosses Ward boundaries.

Additional conditions that may apply to Tree felling:

1. The Applicant shall provide a traffic management plan for the approval of the Roading Manager, detailing the proposed re-routing of traffic, the effects of such re-routing of traffic flows, and the provision of signage, barriers and marshalls, and the use of machine assistance to keep trees within forest boundaries at all times.

1. The Applicant shall ensure clearance of all branches and vegetation are cleared from the road, verges and water tables after the work.