Upcoming proposed and approved road closures associated with events
Proposed road closures
| Road | Closure Date and Time | Reason | Regulation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Talbot Street – from Hislop Street to Peel Street Cox Street – from Talbot Street to Hislop Street Wilson Street – from 24 Wilson Street (McKechnie Cottage) to Talbot Street | 13 November from 6am to 5:30pm | Geraldine Festival | LGA 1974 S1, c11(e) |
| Hislop Street from the Corner of Talbot St to the corner of Cox Street | 14 November 6am to 5:30pm | Geraldine Festival | LGA 1974 S1, c11(e) |
| Wilson Street (Lewis St to Waihi River) Peel Street (Hislop St to Talbot St) Hislop Street (Peel St to Talbot St) | 4th December 2026 5:30pm to 8pm | Geraldine Christmas Parade | LGA 1974 S1, c11(e) |
Approved road closures
Pursuant to the Local Government Act 1974, Schedule 10, notice is hereby given that the following road(s) will be temporarily closed to ordinary vehicular traffic for the period and reasons indicated:
| Road | Closure Date and Time | Reason | Regulation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stafford Street from Bay Hill to George Street Church Street from Stafford Street to Sophia Street Strathallan Street from Stafford Street to The Terrace | 9 July 2026 3:30pm to 8:30pm | Matariki Night Market | LGA 1974 S1, c11(e) |
Planning an event in the road corridor?
If you are organising an event that may affect roads, footpaths, or traffic, you’ll need to plan ahead to keep everyone safe and minimise disruption.
This explains when traffic management is required, who pays for it, and how to apply.
What is the road corridor?
The road corridor is the area of land between property boundaries. It includes:
- The road
- Footpaths
- Berms and shoulders
Do I need traffic management for my event?
If your event:
- Occupies the road corridor, or
- Affects normal vehicle or pedestrian movement
then Temporary Traffic Management (TTM) is required.
Traffic management helps protect:
- Event staff and volunteers
- Participants and spectators
- People using the road
Examples:
- Parades or fun runs usually require a full road closure
- Fairs or small gatherings may only require a footpath or shoulder closure
Before applying, think about how your event will affect the road corridor.
Road closure or traffic management – what’s the difference?
Temporary road closure
If your event requires a road to be closed:
- Approval is required from Timaru District Council Elected Members
- This is done at a public Council meeting
- Applications are considered under the Local Government Act 1974 (LGA 1974)
Temporary Traffic Management (no closure)
If your event only needs traffic management (for example cones, signage, or pedestrian controls, but a road closure is not needed):
- Elected Member approval is required if funding is being requested
- If you are paying for traffic management yourself, standard traffic management approval processes apply. Planning to work in the road corridor?
Who pays for traffic management?
Event organisers fall into one of these categories:
Commercial events: Events where goods or services are sold or promoted.
- You are responsible for all traffic management costs
- This includes the design and implementation of the Traffic Management Plan (TMP).
Community events (not seeking funding): Events focused on celebration, recreation, or commemoration.
- You are responsible for all traffic management costs
- This includes the design and implementation of the Traffic Management Plan (TMP).
Community events (seeking funding): Community events that are applying for funding assistance for TTM.
- Traffic management costs may be covered by Council*, subject to approval
- If approved, Council and/or its contractors are responsible for preparing and implementing the TMP
- Council will pay the traffic management provider directly
*Funding depends on available budget.
Funding for community events
Timaru District Council allocates funding per year to help eligible community events with traffic management costs.
Examples of eligible events include:
- Commemorative events
- Cultural celebrations
- Sporting events
To be eligible, you must:
- Be a legally established organisation (e.g. trust, incorporated society, charity, or company)
- Have an approved road closure (pending Elected Member approval) or
- Receive a Council officer recommendation for temporary traffic management (pending Elected Member approval)
If approved, Council will pay the traffic management provider directly.
How do I apply?
From June 2026, applications are submitted online using a single SmartyGrants form.
Key timeframes
- Applications must be submitted at least 90 days before your event. Early applications are strongly encouraged to ensure your event can proceed to its planned timeframe.
- Road closures must be publicly advertised at least 42 days in advance (legal requirement – LGA 1974). Council officers do this by adding proposed road closures to the relevant webpage.
When you apply:
- You’ll receive an automatic confirmation email. If you do not receive this, please check your junk folder.
- Council staff may contact you for more information if required
- Once your application has been reviewed, you’ll be advised of the estimated decision date.
Click here to begin your application
If you have any questions, please contact the Traffic Management Team on car@timdc.govt.nz.
What do I need to consider?
Traffic management planning
Traffic management planning
Well-prepared applications help keep the road network safe and reduce delays. The NZEA Planned Public Events Practice Note provides guidance on:
- Temporary Traffic Management Plans (TMPs)
- Expectations for event organisers
- Reducing back‑and‑forth during assessment
Traffic management planning
Well-prepared applications help keep the road network safe and reduce delays. The NZEA Planned Public Events Practice Note provides guidance on:
- Temporary Traffic Management Plans (TMPs)
- Expectations for event organisers
- Reducing back‑and‑forth during assessment
Location approval
The location of the road closure also needs to be approved by the appropriate Road Controlling Authority (RCA).
- Local roads: Timaru District Council
- State Highways: NZTA - NZ Transport Agency
If your event is also affecting a state highway, approval from NZTA is required. Visit the NZTA website below
Accessing our state highways | NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi
The location of the road closure also needs to be approved by the appropriate Road Controlling Authority (RCA).
- Local roads: Timaru District Council
- State Highways: NZTA - NZ Transport Agency
If your event is also affecting a state highway, approval from NZTA is required. Visit the NZTA website below
Accessing our state highways | NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi
Advertising and signage
Road closures must be legally advertised. Council officers do this by adding proposed road closures to this webpage above. This ensures compliance with the Local Government Act 1974, which requires public notice of a road closure to be advertised at least 42 days before the proposed closure period.
There are also rules about where temporary event signage can be placed. Click here to view an overview of these rules.
Road closures must be legally advertised. Council officers do this by adding proposed road closures to this webpage above. This ensures compliance with the Local Government Act 1974, which requires public notice of a road closure to be advertised at least 42 days before the proposed closure period.
There are also rules about where temporary event signage can be placed. Click here to view an overview of these rules.
Advertising and its costs
With your application, you must submit a Communications Plan explaining how it will be implemented.
It must show how you’ll notify:
- Residents
- Businesses
- Other affected road users
This ensures affected residents and businesses are aware of the closure and can plan accordingly (for example, if access, deliveries, or on‑street parking are affected).
You can:
- Use your own template, or
- Use the Council template below
With your application, you must submit a Communications Plan explaining how it will be implemented.
It must show how you’ll notify:
- Residents
- Businesses
- Other affected road users
This ensures affected residents and businesses are aware of the closure and can plan accordingly (for example, if access, deliveries, or on‑street parking are affected).
You can:
- Use your own template, or
- Use the Council template below
Public liability insurance
The Timaru District Council requires the Event Organisation (you) to have public liability insurance in place to indemnify yourself and Council against claims from the public arising from accidents.
For most events, a minimum cover of $1,000,000 is required, although some events may require higher cover.
The Timaru District Council requires the Event Organisation (you) to have public liability insurance in place to indemnify yourself and Council against claims from the public arising from accidents.
For most events, a minimum cover of $1,000,000 is required, although some events may require higher cover.
Health and safety at your event
Event organisers are responsible for the health and safety of participants, employees (including volunteers), and spectators.
Smaller events require a risk register, while larger or more complex events require a health and safety plan.
For guidance, contact Timaru District Council on 03 687 7200 or email enquiry@timdc.govt.nz.
Event organisers are responsible for the health and safety of participants, employees (including volunteers), and spectators.
Smaller events require a risk register, while larger or more complex events require a health and safety plan.
For guidance, contact Timaru District Council on 03 687 7200 or email enquiry@timdc.govt.nz.
Licenses you may require
Special licences may be required for the sale or supply of items such as food or alcohol.
Read more about special licenses on this webpage.
Special licences may be required for the sale or supply of items such as food or alcohol.
Read more about special licenses on this webpage.
Event hire (location)
If you wish to hold an event in one of the Facilities or Parks managed by Timaru District Council, see this webpage for how to make a booking.
If you wish to hold an event in one of the Facilities or Parks managed by Timaru District Council, see this webpage for how to make a booking.
Full standard conditions
The following items are standard conditions of road closure/temporary traffic management approval. Application approval may be subject to additional special conditions at the discretion of Timaru District Council. If this applies to your application, a Council officer will discuss it with you.
- The Timaru District Council requires the Event Organisation (you) to have public liability insurance arranged for the event, to indemnify yourself and Council against claims from the public arising from accidents.
- The Event is to be undertaken in accordance with a Temporary Traffic Management Plan approved by the appropriate Road Controlling Authority (RCA).
- The Event Organisation is required to submit a Communications Plan for their event with this application form and implement this plan.
- The Event Organisation is required to ensure that all staff at the event (including volunteers) comply with any instructions from NZ Police, Council Officers and Traffic Management Staff.
- The Event Organisation will be responsible for meeting the cost of any damage to public property, including roads.
- The Event Organisation will be responsible for ensuring the streets and surrounding areas be left in a clean and tidy condition.
- The Event Organisation is required to ensure compliance with any other relevant regulation/bylaw pertaining to the event (for example, health and safety, food/liquor licenses, waste management).
The following items are standard conditions of road closure/temporary traffic management approval. Application approval may be subject to additional special conditions at the discretion of Timaru District Council. If this applies to your application, a Council officer will discuss it with you.
- The Timaru District Council requires the Event Organisation (you) to have public liability insurance arranged for the event, to indemnify yourself and Council against claims from the public arising from accidents.
- The Event is to be undertaken in accordance with a Temporary Traffic Management Plan approved by the appropriate Road Controlling Authority (RCA).
- The Event Organisation is required to submit a Communications Plan for their event with this application form and implement this plan.
- The Event Organisation is required to ensure that all staff at the event (including volunteers) comply with any instructions from NZ Police, Council Officers and Traffic Management Staff.
- The Event Organisation will be responsible for meeting the cost of any damage to public property, including roads.
- The Event Organisation will be responsible for ensuring the streets and surrounding areas be left in a clean and tidy condition.
- The Event Organisation is required to ensure compliance with any other relevant regulation/bylaw pertaining to the event (for example, health and safety, food/liquor licenses, waste management).
Last updated: 29 May 2026