Decision details

2025/484897

Background

The Instrument requires a council to convene a Local Transport Forum (formerly known as Local Traffic Committee). The Forum provides advice, technical review, and coordination of works and events. It does not vote, issue approvals, or make decisions.

The four formal members of the LTF are representatives from each of Council, Transport, NSW Police, and the relevant State Member(s) of Parliament.  Additional members may be invited by Council.

Some works must be referred to the LTF for advice prior to implementation, such as those which restrict or prohibit passage for longer than 6 months and those which prevent or hinder safe public transport operations for more than 24 hours.

For most works, referral to the LTF is optional at the discretion of council, provided the Forum is later given a record of any use of prescribed traffic control devices.

The Instrument commenced on 1 August 2025 and continues to be in force until revoked. It is not obligatory for Councils to use the Instrument and TfNSW representatives will continue to attend LTFs and can provide advice on any matter. However, TfNSW will no longer vote on proposals as Council is ultimately responsible for decisions taken on its network.

If the LTF is unable to resolve concerns, TfNSW only may initiate a “Statement of Concern” (SoC) process as detailed below:

·                A SoC must be issued to Council within 7 days of a LTF meeting, during which a proposal must not be implemented.

·                The SoC clearly documents TfNSW’s view and Council is obliged to consider it and respond in writing to the LTF.

·                After a further 7 days, Council may proceed.

·                SoC can only be lodged against proposals that must be referred to LTF, not for proposals brought to LTF at Council’s discretion.

Councils must provide forum attendees with the meeting agenda and minutes for review in advance. All proceedings of the LTF including agenda, minutes and records relating to any SoC (including Council’s response) must be made publicly available online as soon as practicable.

The Regional Traffic Committee has been discontinued, and that appeal process is now replaced with the SoC process. A SoC does not oblige Council to change or withdraw a proposal, but it places both TfNSW comments and Councils response on public record. The SoC process only applies to those proposals for which prior referral to LTF is mandatory.

The Instrument may not be used outside of City of Sydney LGA, on a road classified as Freeway, Controlled Access Road, Toll Way, Transitway or State Roads, except with the consent of TfNSW. When using the Instrument, Councils should engage with TfNSW – either directly or via the LTF in advance of undertaking any works that are likely to affect the operation of a traffic signal. Installation or changes to traffic signals may not be carried out otherwise than by or with the consent of TfNSW.

City of Sydney approach

The City of Sydney is setting up internal processes based on the now revoked 2023 Temporary Delegation to Councils. Most of the following items can be approved by existing delegations from the Chief Executive Officer to staff using the Instrument:

·                Parking Changes: e.g. timed restrictions, paid parking, no parking, no stopping, mobility parking spaces 

·                Work Zones: temporary loading zones to support construction.

·                Pedestrian facilities: including new pedestrian crossings and pedestrian refuges and upgrades of existing pedestrian crossings to raised pedestrian crossings

·                Continuous Footpath Treatments  

·                works to enable On-street dining

·                traffic calming treatments including road humps, raised intersections, kerb buildouts, chicanes and slow points

·                Greening in new kerb extensions / in-road trees

·                New Cycling facilities including bicycle parking, separated cycleways, bicycle paths, shared paths and contra flow access for bicycle riders.

Over the next 12 months, the City will review this process and the scope of matters referred to the LTF. In the interim, matters outside the above scope will continue to be referred to the LTF.

Community engagement

The community will be consulted or notified on all transport proposals, as they are now, regardless of whether they are approved by staff delegation, endorsed by LTF or approved by Council. Information on how and when feedback will be considered will be explained in the engagement material. The City's procedures will include mechanisms to refer matters to the LTF where there is community concerns.