What is a traffic management service?

A traffic management service plans and controls the movement of vehicles and pedestrians around a worksite, event or film set. It typically includes a Traffic Management Plan, a Traffic Guidance Scheme, permits such as Road Occupancy Licences, and licensed traffic controllers on the ground.

What's the difference between a TMP and a TGS?

A Traffic Management Plan (TMP) is the overall strategy for managing road users and site safety. A Traffic Guidance Scheme (TGS) is the specific on-site layout of signs, cones and traffic controls used to implement that strategy.

What is a Road Occupancy Licence?

An ROL is the approval you need from the road authority (like Transport for NSW) to occupy part of a state road for works or an event. CATO prepares and lodges ROLs as part of every relevant job.

How much does traffic management cost?

It depends on crew size, hours, equipment and permits. Request a rate card and we'll send you exact rates the same business day — free, no obligation.

How far in advance should I book?

Councils and road authorities can take weeks to approve permits, so engage us as early as you can. Crews alone can often be arranged within 48 hours — call (02) 9517 1313.

Do you cover both NSW and Queensland?

Yes — Sydney and greater NSW, plus Brisbane, Gold Coast and South East Queensland.

What is the difference between a TMP and a TGS?

A TMP outlines the overall strategy for managing road users and site safety; a TGS shows the specific on-site layout of signs, cones and traffic controls used to implement it.

What is a Road Occupancy Licence?

The approval required from the road authority to occupy part of a state road for works or events. We prepare and lodge it for you.

How do I know if a road is State or Local?

State roads are managed by Transport for NSW (or TMR in QLD); local roads by the council. It changes who approves your permit — we identify this for you as step one.

How long do TfNSW or TMR road-occupancy approvals take?

State road approvals typically take 2–6 weeks. A simple lane closure on a low-impact corridor can be approved in 2–3 weeks; full road closures, night works or high-volume arterial works often need 4–8 weeks plus Transport Management Centre / TMR coordination.

How long do local council permits take?

Local road and footpath permits vary by council. Minor footpath or verge works are commonly 1–2 weeks; local road lane closures or full closures usually take 2–4 weeks. Complex works near schools, hospitals or shopping strips may extend further.

How long do event road-closure permits take?

Events need extra lead time. Council special-event permits often require 6–12 weeks, and any state-road component needs a separate TfNSW/TMR approval (4–8 weeks). Major public events such as marathons, NYE and festivals should start planning 3–6 months out.

What are typical Brisbane / South East Queensland timelines?

Brisbane City Council (BCC) road and footpath closures commonly take 2–4 weeks. TMR state-road permits for high-volume corridors can take 4–6 weeks, especially if the route requires TMR pre-lodgement meetings or completed TGS review.

Why do permit timelines change by activity type?

Low-risk activities — footpath signage, verge occupancy, minor utility works — are assessed faster. High-risk activities — lane closures, night works, full road closures, major events — need traffic impact analysis, stakeholder consultation, safety checks and sometimes police or utility coordination.

Where do these lead-time ranges come from?

They are drawn from CATO Group's day-to-day experience lodging Traffic Management Plans, Traffic Guidance Schemes, Road Occupancy Licences and council permits with Transport for NSW, the Transport Management Centre, TMR, Brisbane City Council and local councils across NSW and SEQ. We update them as council processes and queue times change.

Last updated: 14 July 2026

Plans & Permits

Traffic management plans and permits — approved, not bounced

CATO Group prepares Traffic Management Plans (TMPs), Traffic Guidance Schemes (TGS), Road Occupancy Licences (ROLs) and council permit applications for construction, events and film across NSW and South East Queensland. Our designers have a decade of working relationships with councils and Transport for NSW, so plans are built to be approved first time. Part of our end-to-end traffic management services.

1800 841 500

Every rejected plan costs you weeks

Here's what nobody tells you: councils don't reject plans because they're strict — they reject plans because the plan didn't answer their questions. Wrong template. Missing sight lines. No pedestrian provision. Then you're back in the queue.

We've spent 15 years learning exactly what each council and TfNSW wants to see. That knowledge is the product.

Included

One team for the whole paper trail

Traffic Management Plans (TMP)
the strategy
Traffic Guidance Schemes (TGS)
the drawn on-site layout
Road Occupancy Licence (ROL) applications
lodged and chased
Council permits and key stakeholder liaison
Pedestrian management plans
Revisions handled fast when scope changes

Council and state-road approvals commonly take 2–8 weeks, depending on the road authority, activity type and council queue.

The single best thing you can do for your program is start the permit process today.

Estimator

Permit lead-time estimator

Pick your project type and target date. We will suggest when to start your permit application and when to engage CATO.

Project type

Target works / event date

Factors that may add time

Near school, hospital, shopping strip or major intersection

Requires police or event-control sign-off

Utility consultation required

Heritage, environmental or stakeholder consultation

Incomplete TMP / TGS

TMR pre-lodgement meeting required

Suggested planning window

Select a project type and target date to see your suggested planning window.

Free download

Pre-permit planning checklist

A printable, 3-page checklist to help you estimate council and road-authority approval lead time for your project. Includes activity type checklists, a typical lead-time table and a project planning worksheet.

Download checklist (PDF)

PDF · 29 KB · 3 pages

FAQ

Plans & permits, answered

Methodology note

The lead-time ranges above are a planning guide based on CATO Group's project history with TfNSW, the Transport Management Centre, TMR, Brisbane City Council and councils across NSW and SEQ. Actual approval times can vary depending on council queue, road classification, activity risk, submission completeness, and whether police, utility or event stakeholder consultation is required. For official timeframes, contact the relevant road authority or council directly.

Relevant projects

Relevant projects & case studies

Projects delivered with in-house TGS design, TMPs and council / TfNSW / BCC / TMR permit lodgement:

Filter

See all plans & permits case studies →

Keep exploring

Related services, industries & case studies

Related services

Industries we serve

Locations & case studies

Tell us your dates. We'll tell you your permits.

Send us your job dates and location — we'll come back with exactly which permits you need and when to start.