FAQs
Which areas will be affected?
The Government is responsible for managing road reserve areas adjacent to NT Government managed roads across the Territory. This includes highways such as the Stuart, Arnhem, Barkly and Victoria highways. It also includes key arterial and regional roads such as Howard Springs Road in Darwin’s rural area, Lambrick Avenue in Palmerston, Amy Johnson Avenue in Darwin and Larapinta Drive in Alice Springs and many more.
Most local roads are managed by local councils, and are not included in these draft guidelines.
The guidelines also won’t apply to private land or Indigenous entities with land management responsibilities.
To find out who manages which road, visit https://nt.gov.au/driving/management/who-manages-a-road-in-the-nt
What is a road reserve?
The road reserve is the area of land between the boundary of private or business properties, and within which roads, footpaths and associated features may be constructed for public travel.
The main role of signage beside roads is to provide clear direction and advance warning to road users, and for regulatory purposes.
Road reserves were not created to be a principal place of advertising or a place to conduct businesses. The visual appearance of the Territory road environment is important to Territorians and visitors, and we need to maintain the amenity of the road reserve.
Maintenance of the road environment is also important for vehicle safety and the management of fire, weeds and wildlife protection.
What is the timeline for consultation about activities in road reserves?
Consultation to inform and finalise the draft guidelines will occur from June, July and August 2017 and all interested parties will get the chance to have their say. Government will consider the feedback from the consultation period and it’s expected new guidelines will be in place from October 2017
Why might activities in the road reserve cause a safety hazard?
The safety of all road users must be our first priority.
We must ensure that signage does not unduly distract motorists or pedestrians and contribute to inattention that increases risk of accidents.
In the Top End of the Northern Territory, signage in road reserves needs to be appropriately regulated and managed to reduce the risk of signage becoming a hazard during a cyclone warning/watch or event.
Commercial activities in road reserve - such as selling items including food or coffee from vans or selling vehicles – need to be undertaken in places where there is a safe entry and exit point for vehicles so that this does not cause a safety hazard. These locations also need to have adequate parking.
Why might activities in the road reserve impact on visual amenity?
The road reserves form part of the visual impression residents and visitors receive when they enter a city, suburb or town.
We need to ensure our road reserves are managed in a way that contributes positively as an entry statement to Territory cities, towns and suburbs.
The Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics and Members of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly have received a significant number of complaints from members of the public who believe instances of signage in the road reserve are not visually pleasing.
What other reasons are there for why activities in the road reserve should be managed?
It’s proposed that a simple system is devised that sets out appropriate ways and locations that businesses or individuals can use to display their signs, operate a commercial activity or sell a vehicle which focuses on maintaining safety and which is simple and fair.
This system would not be intended to create an unfair commercial advantage or disadvantage to any operator or individual and would be based on safety, equity and what is practical.
Why is a moratorium being put in place?
A 6-month moratorium period from the introduction of regulations (October 2017) will allow time for those who want to advertise or conduct other activities in road reserves to do so while the new guidelines are being implemented.
Why are you asking us what we think?
The Northern Territory Government will take the views of all stakeholders into account when finalising these guidelines in October 2017.
We want to support commercial activities in appropriate areas while minimising hazards to road users and protecting the visual amenity of our road reserves.
How do other jurisdictions manage signage in road reserves?
Most state government jurisdictions around Australia do not allow any signage or commercial activities to take place in road reserves they manage.
Some state and local government entities in some parts of Australia do allow signage and commercial activities in the road reserve under certain parameters.
These jurisdictions have significant regulations which manage activities which are allowed to occur on road reserves.
Some examples are; XXXXXX- TO BE PROVIDE BY PROJECT TEAM