Traffic Management Plan Template for Australian Projects
A Traffic Management Plan (TMP) explains how traffic, pedestrians and road users will be safely managed around your worksite. Councils and road authorities ask for one as a condition of works permits, planning approvals and construction submissions.
This page is a working reference — what a TMP must contain, what differs by state, and the common reasons councils reject one.
What every Traffic Management Plan must contain
An AGTTM-compliant TMP needs to address each of these. Use this list to check whether a draft TMP covers what councils assess:
✅ Project details — site address, scope, dates, hours, contractor
✅ Risk assessment — hazards and the controls applied to each
✅ Traffic control strategy — speed limits, lane closures, pedestrian rerouting
✅ Traffic Guidance Scheme (TGS) drawings — scaled site diagrams
✅ Speed zone and advance warning distances per AGTTM Part 3
✅ Stakeholder notification plan — residents, businesses, emergency services
✅ Emergency management procedures and emergency vehicle access
✅ Site-specific notes — school zones, intersections, night works
✅ Planner credentials and sign-off
A TMP missing any of these is usually returned for rework.
State-by-state TMP requirements
AGTTM is the national framework. The differences are in submission format and the responsible authority.
Victoria
• Arterial roads: Department of Transport and Planning (formerly VicRoads), AGTTM Part 3
• Local roads: relevant council. Inner-Melbourne councils (City of Melbourne, Yarra, Stonnington, Port Phillip) have stricter pedestrian requirements
• High-volume roads and motorways: planner needs TMD2 or TMD3 accreditation
Tasmania
• State roads: Department of State Growth, AGTTM with state supplements
• Council roads: relevant council, AGTTM baseline
• Hobart, Launceston, Devonport, Burnie and Clarence handle most metropolitan submissions
South Australia
• State roads: Department for Infrastructure and Transport via the Road Works and Events Coordination (RWEC) unit
• Standard processing up to 10 business days
• High-speed rural roads require AGTTM high-speed supplements
Northern Territory
• Administered by Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics (DIPL)
• Remote and high-speed roads require additional buffer distances
• Heat, wildlife and long sight distances often need site-specific risk controls
Why councils reject a Traffic Management Plan
The most frequent rework triggers:
• AGTTM non-compliance in the TGS — device placement or speed-zone buffers off-spec
• Generic template used without site-specific tailoring (councils detect this immediately)
• Missing risk assessment
• TGS not to scale or wrong road geometry
• Planner accreditation insufficient for the road environment
• Stakeholder notification plan missing for sensitive sites
• Emergency vehicle access not addressed for road closures
A rejected TMP normally resets the assessment clock — getting it right first time is faster and cheaper than the rework cycle.
Why an independent planner matters
Many TMPs are sold as part of a bundled package by traffic control companies. The plan is priced low but used to direct the on-ground control work to the same company at full margin.
OnPoint TGS is an independent planning business. We are not owned by, or affiliated with, a traffic control company. The documents we prepare aren't used to lock you into a specific controller.
Get a worked TMP for your project
A working TMP tailored to your project is faster and more reliable than a generic downloadable template — and it's ready for council submission. Quote in two business hours, draft in four.
What we need to start:
• Site address · Scope of works · Road type and speed zone · Expected dates and hours · Number of stages
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a generic TMP template for any project?
No. Generic templates are useful for understanding what a TMP must contain, but they're rarely accepted as submissions by councils. A TMP must be site-specific — the risk assessment, TGS, notifications and emergency procedures must all reflect the actual project.
Is a TMP the same as a Construction Traffic Management Plan?
Not exactly. A CTMPis a specific type of TMP focused on the construction phase. For most planning permit conditions, councils ask specifically for a CTMP.
How long does it take to prepare a TMP?
A standard single-site TMP can be prepared in four business hours — this is the OnPoint TGS guarantee. Complex multi-stage projects or sites with multiple TGS layouts may take one to two business days.
Who approves a TMP?
The relevant road authority or council. State roads go through the state road authority (Department of Transport and Planning in Victoria, Department of State Growth in Tasmania, DIT in South Australia, DIPL in the Northern Territory). Council roads go through the council.
Do TMP requirements vary between Australian states?
The framework is the same — every state uses AGTTM as the national standard. What varies is the responsible authority, the submission format, the assessment timeline and the planner accreditations accepted for higher-risk roads.