Awnings and Columns in the Road Reserve

• Owner: Road Network Division
• Manager: Road Projects Division
• Date of Effect: 11/12/2002
• Amendment Date
• Number: RNDPO04-10
• Previous Ref: P02/02F

Background

The provision of columns in the road reserve, and in particular in narrow verges, constitute an additional hazard for motorists increasing the potential for an accident, a conflict for pedestrians, and impact on services located in the verge / footpath area.

Applications for structures that impinge upon the road reserve, more specifically with regard to awnings and associated columns have been treated in a variety of ways in the past.

This Department of Planning and Infrastructure has previously approved the erection of awnings over footpaths within road reserves and on some occasions the placement of columns within road reserves. These have been assessed on an individual basis and necessitated the execution of a Deed of Indemnity and Release in favour of the Northern Territory Government.

 

Guidelines

The erection of an awning must be approved by the Road Network Division of this Department and will require the execution of Deed of Indemnity and Release in favour of the Northern Territory Government, prior to construction.

The height of the awning or any protrusion from the awning shall comply with the relevant Local Government policy / guidelines (where such Policy exists) and the following:

• the awning or any protrusion from the awning shall not extend any closer than 600mm to the face of the kerb or 3.0 metres from the building line where no kerb exists.
• any sign attached beneath the awning shall provide a minimum clear height of 2700mm from the footpath.

Arterial Roads

Within arterial road reserves, where no service road exists, awnings only will be permitted and only where the awning is supported by structures outside the road reserve, for example, by cantilevered construction.

Columns will not be permitted in the road reserve on arterial roads.

Service Roads

The provision of awnings and columns on service roads will be treated on an individual basis. Applications for columns may be approved based on individual assessment of impact on road safety, pedestrian’s access and impact on services. Approval will however, require that columns are not of a load bearing design (i.e. for decorative purposes only). There is to be no attachment to columns of signs, down pipes, etc.