Brisbane City Council
Local Disaster Management Plan
Chapter 7:
Traffic Management
Sub-plan
2015
Brisbane City Council Local Disaster Management Plan
Chapter 7 – Traffic Management Sub-plan 2015
Table of Contents
1.0
Purpose .................................................................................................................................... 1
1.1
Scope.................................................................................................................................... 1
1.2
Rationale ............................................................................................................................... 1
1.1
Approval................................................................................................................................ 1
1.2
Custodian.............................................................................................................................. 1
2.0
Planning and Coordination ....................................................................................................... 2
2.1
Emergency and Support Services ......................................................................................... 2
2.2
Local Disaster Coordination Centre (LDCC) .......................................................................... 2
3.0
Guidelines for Local Traffic Management Plans ........................................................................ 3
3.1
Objectives ............................................................................................................................. 3
3.2
Using This Guideline ............................................................................................................. 3
3.3
Developing a Local Traffic Management Plan ....................................................................... 3
3.4
Intelligence ............................................................................................................................ 3
3.5
Major and Arterial Roads....................................................................................................... 4
3.6
Road Closures ...................................................................................................................... 4
3.7
Ingress and Egress ............................................................................................................... 4
3.8
Distribution Points ................................................................................................................. 5
3.9
Communications ................................................................................................................... 5
4.0
Review and Forward Planning .................................................................................................. 6
Appendix 1 – Acronyms and Abbreviations ................................................................................. 7
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BRISBANE CITY COUNCIL DISASTER MANAGEMENT PLAN
CHAPTER 7 – TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT SUB-PLAN 2015
1.0 Purpose
This section of the Brisbane City Council Local Disaster Management Plan provides guidelines for
Traffic Management Planning in localised areas impacted by a disaster event or other critical incident.
1.1
Scope
This part describes the role of Brisbane City Council and the Queensland Police Service (QPS) in
establishing, coordinating and managing Local Traffic Management Plans.
1.2
1.1
Rationale
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No two events will be the same.

Localised suburban areas can be severely affected by the impacts of a disaster event.

Traffic management planning takes an all hazards approach.

Where possible, actions will be taken to manage traffic flow within an impacted area.

Whether an isolated incident, or part of a wider event, incidents should be managed on a
case-by-case basis.

Traffic management planning aims to support safe, effective and efficient operations within
impacted areas.

Traffic management plans will, as required, restrict access to and around an incident.

Traffic management plans will cause disruption to normal traffic and public transport services.
Approval
This Evacuation and Reception Sub-plan is approved by the Brisbane LDMG under the terms and
provisions of the Act.
1.2
Custodian
The MDMO, on behalf of Council, is the custodian of this plan. The custodian has the responsibility for
implementing, evaluating, testing, reviewing and updating this plan. The custodian is also to ensure
proper quality, security, integrity, consistency, privacy, confidentiality and accessibility of the plan.
The Custodian’s contact details are:
Title: Manager, Disaster Management Office
Contact:(07) 3403 8888
GPO Box 1434, Brisbane Qld, 4001
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Brisbane City Council Local Disaster Management Plan
Chapter 7 – Traffic Management Sub-plan 2015
2.0 Planning and Coordination
2.1

Reflects the needs of the local community before, during or after an incident.

Reflects the priorities set by the Brisbane Local Disaster Management Group.

Is a joint responsibility between Council and the Queensland Police Service (QPS) and
associated agencies (as required).

Establishes strategies, tactics and operational requirements for the development of Traffic
Management Plans.

Establishes roles, responsibilities and resources in order to successfully execute the Traffic
Management Plan.

Includes reviewing Traffic Management Plans following an incident.
Emergency and Support Services
Local emergency service providers such as the State Emergency Service (SES), Queensland Fire
and Emergency Services (QFES) and the Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) should be advised
of Local Traffic Management Plans.
Where appropriate, additional support service providers should be made aware of Local Traffic
Management Plans.
Where appropriate, the community should be made aware of any Local Traffic Management Plans.
2.2
Local Disaster Coordination Centre (LDCC)
The LDCC is Council’s dedicated facility for coordinating its response to disaster events.
The LDCC will coordinate in conjunction with QPS, where appropriate, the establishment of Traffic
Management Plans.
Where a Level 3 Activation of the LDCC has occurred, an experienced police traffic officer with local
knowledge will be deployed by QPS (where possible) to Regional Incident Management Teams
(RIMTs) to assist with the coordination and development of localised traffic management plans.
In addition to the Level 3 Activation measures detailed above, where a Level 4 Activation of the LDCC
has occurred, an experienced police traffic officer will also be deployed by the QPS (where possible)
to the LDCC to oversee and coordinate localised traffic management plans.
The LDCC in association with the Brisbane Metropolitan Transport Management Centre (BMTMC)
and QPS will, where possible, monitor localised traffic management plans and escalate information
and issues as appropriate.
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Brisbane City Council Local Disaster Management Plan
Chapter 7 – Traffic Management Sub-plan 2015
3.0 Guidelines for Local Traffic Management Plans
3.1
Objectives
The objectives of this guide are to:
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
3.2
Increase traffic management planning and preparedness;
Reduce the adverse impacts of a disaster event or other critical incident on the community;
Support the emergency management framework; and
Facilitate timely response and recovery activities.
Using This Guideline
This guideline addresses key areas for consideration when developing localised traffic management
plans. The information provided is intended as a starting point for the development, execution and
review of localised traffic management plans that reflect the needs of the community and prevailing
environmental conditions. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list nor to restrict or limit planners.
Localised traffic management plans should be scalable and flexible in order to be responsive to
changing operational tempo, priorities and conditions.
3.3
Developing a Local Traffic Management Plan
Personnel familiar with the local area should be responsible for the development of localised traffic
management plans as it is their local knowledge that will inform traffic management plans.
Brisbane City Council and the local QPS Traffic Branch should be the lead agencies with support
from additional agencies as required.
When developing a Local Traffic Management Plan consider the following:
 Needs analysis. Identify the need for the traffic management plan. This could include risk and
threat assessments of hazards, identification of priority areas, type and nature of damage and
debris and impact to the community;
 Identify relevant stakeholders and obtain their input;
 Develop timelines for planning, execution and review;
 Identify key resources, personnel and points of contact;
 Establish appropriate traffic management strategies (closures, detours, ingress/egress, etc.)
for the situation and location;
 Identify logistical requirements for implementing identified strategies; and
 Establish dissemination and version controls.
3.4
Intelligence
Intelligence is information that has been value added.
Relevant and timely intelligence will aid in the development of traffic management plans. Where
information gaps exist, requests for additional information should be made to the Intelligence Group
within the Local Disaster Coordination Centre (LDCC), the Intelligence Liaison Officer within the
Regional Incident Management Team (RIMT), or collected from the local area.
Sources of information and intelligence may be numerous and varying. Every effort should be made
to harness information from as many relevant sources as possible that will assist in the development
of traffic management plans.
Information of intelligence value should be forwarded to the LDCC Intelligence group.
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Brisbane City Council Local Disaster Management Plan
Chapter 7 – Traffic Management Sub-plan 2015
Sources of intelligence include, but are not limited to:

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
3.5
The internet;
Council systems and information holdings;
Maps;
Situation reports;
Field and Operations personnel; and
Media.
Major and Arterial Roads
Priority should always be given to major and arterial roads.
3.6
Road Closures
Manned: Consider whether the closure requires control by police, a contracted traffic controller, or a
volunteer such as a member of the SES.
Unmanned: Consider the following:

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
3.7
Type of barrier and signage that will be required;
Duration and frequency of the closure;
Establishment of strategic traffic control points;
Use of Variable Messaging Signs;
Rolling and static closure programs and grid closures. This approach may assist with effective
and efficient resource allocation;
Where possible closures should be established early to prevent unwanted traffic from entering
the area; and
Establishment of exclusion zones where entry is permissible only to emergency or other
authorised vehicles (e.g. commercial operators clearing waste).
Ingress and Egress
Where necessary, traffic should be limited to emergency vehicles, other authorised vehicles and
operators (e.g. commercial operators clearing waste), and bona fide residents.
Walk-in:
Where possible:

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Identify suitable vehicle staging areas for persons visiting and assisting such as volunteers
and tradespeople (e.g. nearby parks’ carparks);
Establish dedicated routes IN and OUT (i.e. one way, contra flow);
Implement rolling stoppages for response and recovery operations. This will minimise the time
spent in any one particular location;
Identify and establish suitable haulage routes and run-on areas for trucks to marshal prior to
entering the controlled area. Separate these routes from general traffic routes;
Identify and establish suitable staging areas for the disembarkation from public transport of
crowds;
Identify and establish suitable pedestrian routes for general pedestrian traffic as well as
crowds;
Identify alternate routes and options; and
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Brisbane City Council Local Disaster Management Plan
Chapter 7 – Traffic Management Sub-plan 2015

3.8
Monitor the wider traffic area for emerging issues such as congestion or other incidents that
may impact on the traffic management plan.
Distribution Points
Areas may need to be designated for the purpose of distributing materials (e.g. bottled water,
sandbags).
Ideally, distribution points should be hardstand and operate on a one-way-in, one-way-out system
with identified ingress and egress routes. Sufficient room should exist for through traffic.
Temporary fencing can be utilised to manage ingress and egress at distribution points: i.e. orderly
funnelling in and funnelling out.
Distribution points should have a police presence to maintain public order and safety at the site. At
the very minimum, police resources deployed at the site should be 2 x police officers and 1 x police
vehicle.
Where the police are unavailable, security guard services may be considered in line with Council
procurement processes.
Consideration can also be given to mobile distribution if appropriate (e.g. bottled water on a flatbed
truck).
Multi-purpose distribution points can also be considered if appropriate (e.g. sandbag and bottled
water at the same location; or bottled water at waste centres).
3.9
Communications
Emergencies and disasters will draw significant media interest and a heightened requirement for
public information. The Council response to these needs is to be coordinated by the Local Disaster
Coordination Centre (LDCC), specifically the Crisis Communications Team.
Roadside Variable Messaging Signs (VMS) are an effective field communication field tool.
Communications channels available to the LDCC include:
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Fact Sheets;
Community Service Announcements - Radio and Television;
Brisbane City Council website;
Queensland Police Service website;
BMTMC website;
Brisbane City Council Contact Centre;
Social Media – Facebook, Twitter; and
Posters.
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Brisbane City Council Local Disaster Management Plan
Chapter 7 – Traffic Management Sub-plan 2015
4.0 Review and Forward Planning
The traffic management plan is a fluid document and should be reviewed regularly based on the
tempo of the operation, available intelligence and other information.
The traffic management plan should be reviewed at the end of the day and the plan amended as
required to meet the requirements of the next day.
Traffic management plans may need to be reviewed daily, every four hours, every hour, or as
required.
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Brisbane City Council Local Disaster Management Plan
Chapter 7 – Traffic Management Sub-plan 2015
Appendix 1 – Acronyms and Abbreviations
BMTMC
Brisbane Metropolitan Transport Management Centre
Brisbane LDMG
Brisbane Local Disaster Management Group
Council
Brisbane City Council
EHSOT
Emergency Human Services Operational Team
LDC
Local Disaster Coordinator
LDCC
Local Disaster Coordination Centre
LDMG
Brisbane City Local Disaster Management Group
MDMO
Manager, Disaster Management Office
QAS
Queensland Ambulance Service
QFES
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services
QPS
Queensland Police Service
RIMT
Regional Incident Management Team
SES
State Emergency Service
SOP
Standard Operating Procedure
VMS
Variable Message Sign(s)
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