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Acts that Support Applications

Section 138 of the Roads Act 1993

Applications under Section 138 of the Roads Act 1993

Consent under Section 138 of the Roads Act 1993 is required for any works or activities in a public reserve, public road way or footpath (nature strip or verge).

For all unclassified roads and many classified roads Local Government is the consent authority with the Roads and Maritime Service giving concurrence or consent on classified roads.

What type of activities require a Section 138 approval?

The types of work requiring approval includes, but is not limited to:

  • opening a road (digging in or creating a trench through or under a kerb or footpath)
  • erecting, removing or interfering with a structure, work or tree on a public road (includes using small and/or large machinery on a public road)
  • pumping water into a public road from adjoining land
  • driving any vehicle across a kerb or footpath
  • creating a temporary vehicle crossing
  • connecting a road (whether public or private) to a public road.

Please consult your local council for more information.


Online Section 138 Approvals

You can now submit an application for certain councils, anywhere and anytime with our online service. 

Simply check the list of councils below to see if the service is available in your Local Government Area.

Councils using the online service 

BEGA VALLEY SHIRE COUNCIL
BELLINGEN SHIRE COUNCIL
BERRIGAN SHIRE COUNCIL
BLAND SHIRE COUNCIL
BLAYNEY SHIRE COUNCIL
BYRON SHIRE COUNCIL
CAMPBELLTOWN CITY COUNCIL
CENTRAL DARLING SHIRE COUNCIL
CESSNOCK CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF PARRAMATTA COUNCIL
CLARENCE VALLEY COUNCIL
COOLAMON SHIRE COUNCIL
EUROBODALLA SHIRE COUNCIL
FORBES SHIRE COUNCIL
KEMPSEY SHIRE COUNCIL
KYOGLE COUNCIL
MID-WESTERN REGIONAL COUNCIL
MURRAY RIVER COUNCIL
ORANGE CITY COUNCIL
PORT MACQUARIE-HASTINGS COUNCIL
RICHMOND VALLEY COUNCIL
SHOALHAVEN CITY COUNCIL
THE COUNCIL OF THE SHIRE OF HORNSBY
UPPER HUNTER SHIRE COUNCIL
URALLA SHIRE COUNCIL
WALCHA COUNCIL


How to lodge

  1. Register for a NSW Planning Portal account to start your application.
  2. Log in to complete the online application form. You may be required to submit further documents to support your development application.
Last updated: 14/12/2023

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