While Development Approval provides authority to develop your private property it does not provide the required approval to conduct works on Council land to alter public land. Public land extends from property boundary to property boundary and includes the road carriageway, footpaths and verge.

All Council maintained Public Roads can be found within Council’s Register of Public Roads.

Under the Local Government Act 1999 (Section 221), property owners are required to apply for authorisation from Council to make any alterations to public land. The alterations are then required to be undertaken in accordance with Council's specifications.

Authorisation to undertake the following works must be obtained from Council:

• Install, modify or relocate a driveway and gutter crossover or otherwise change the construction or arrangement of the road to facilitate access from or to a property.
• Install, interfere with or remove a structure (such as pipes, wires, cables, fixtures, scaffolding, elevated work platforms, hoarding and other objects) in, on, across, under or over the road.
• Place a mini-skip on the road.
• Introduce traffic management protocols (because of an encroachment).
• Plant, interfere with or remove a tree or other vegetation on the road.
• Verge alterations, including the installation of an irrigation system.
• Placement of mobile cranes on roads.
• Pedestrian walkway/footpath encroachment.
• Temporary Road Closures/Occupation.

Additional authorisation from the Department of Infrastructure and Transport (DIT) is required should any works within the road carriageway is required for the following arterial roads:

• Main North Road
• North East Road
• Regency Road
• Nottage Terrace
• Fitzroy Terrace
• Torrens Road
• Churchill Road
• Prospect Road

Demolition works must be given Development Approval by Council. The builder/ developer/contractor has a responsibility to take precautions to ensure the safety of persons at the site or in its direct vicinity.

Requirements

All work must be done according to the specifications sheets and conditions set out on the application forms with the City Works Guide.

Information and guidelines for verge developments can be found here.

The Driveway Crossover Policy provides the process required for the installation, modification or relocation of a driveway crossover including limiting the number and width of crossovers allowed and protecting street trees from removal.

Information and guidelines for verge developments can be found here.

Roads to be made good. A person who breaks up, or damages, a Public Road under and authorisation conferred by Section 221 under the Local Government Act (1999) or another Act must restore the road at least to the condition that existed immediately before the action was taken.

Apply for approval

Applications must be made in writing by completing a City Works Permit Application Form 

The following shall be provided as part of any permit applications:

• Valid copy of Public Liability Insurance (Certificate of Currency) for $20,000,000.
• Site plan to relevant scale of proposed works including dimensions.
• A relevant traffic management plan (required for footpath and road occupations).
• A copy of a Dilapidation Report as per Council’s Request.
• Payment of relevant Fee (as per Councils current Fees and Charges Register).

The form and documents can be submitted to Council via:

Email: admin@prospect.sa.gov.au
Post: PO Box 171, Prospect SA 5082
In person: 128 Prospect Road, Prospect

Council will consider all applications to alter a road, however, in some instances the proposed use of the council land may not be deemed appropriate and therefore some applications may not be approved.

Approved applications will receive a permit allowing the alteration to be undertaken. The permit will include a number of general and specific requirements.

Works must not commence unless approval has been provided.

If you don’t have approval

Please note if you fail to gain approval and undertake any of the above works on Council land you may:

• Receive a fine
• Face potential legal liability
• Be required to pay for any damage caused to Council infrastructure and the cost for rectification.

More information

If you have any queries regarding approvals for undertaking work on public land please contact Council’s Infrastructure and Assets Team on (08) 8269 5355 or admin@prospect.sa.gov.au