Concrete pours: It is considered where there is an engineering requirement to ensure the structural integrity is not compromised and to avoid cold joints which weakens the concrete caused by an interruption or delay in the concreting process. The pours can also be affected by frequency of concrete deliveries and weather. 

Tower crane installations and dismantle: It is considered for safety reasons and to minimise traffic disruption due to the size of the operation, road closures and restricted travel times for heavy vehicles transporting materials on VicRoads Road.

Restricted delivery times and access: It is considered when there is restricted travel times for heavy vehicles transporting materials on VicRoads Road, restrictions placed by other authorities or impacts emergency services such as hospitals.

Business park or shopping precinct:  It is considered for safety reasons and to minimise disruption to daily tenants. This is generally within areas not surrounded by residential tenants. Examples include:

1. Removal or installation of an ATM.
2. Building works on an office within a business park.
3. Changeover of business signs where it’s deemed unsafe or disruptive to passing pedestrians and traffic. 

Out of Hours applications must be lodged 7 days prior. Applicants must notify once approval is given to surrounding residents (within a 100m radius) of your intention to work out of hours.

There are 2 options to satisfy this requirement:

• Option 1 - Distribute a letter 7 days prior to works; or
• Option 2 - Send a letter with all planned concrete pours (which includes pour number and size) and panel lifts for the whole build. Monthly send an updated letter for the coming month. Notification letter 2 days prior; or
• Option 3 - Send a letter with all planned concrete pours (which includes pour number and size) and panel lifts for the whole build and include google account details to provide notification 2 days prior.

Notification letters should state:

• Purpose of out of hours works
• Date/time applied for
• Labelling pours as pour 1, pour 2 and so on for each pour
• Brief explanations as to why this work has to be carried outside the legislative time (finishing off works)
• How many people will be on site at that time
• An acknowledgement of the disturbance caused

All letters must be stamped approved by council prior to distribution. A sample letter can be viewed here.

Out of Hours applications associated with a Construction Management Plan can be pre-approved when all relevant documentation is provided for the endorsement of the Construction Management Plan. Each Out of Hours permit MUST then be paid and applied for. Up to 5 permits can be applied for at one time.

The first pre-approved Out of Hours permit related to a Construction Management Plan and any other required Out of Hours permit must be lodged 7 working days prior to the planned date to ensure time to notify residents. After the initial Out of Hours permit has been approved further applications must be lodged 3 working days prior to the planned date.

Below is an indication of the type of documentation to be submitted with an Out of Hours Permit:

• Notification letter to local residents
• Applications must clearly detail
  • the works, provide justification and outline the effect on the safety and amenity of residents and the general public.
  • All activities that are proposed to be undertaken and the types of equipment or tools to be used, e.g. saws, jackhammer, etc
  • The times that each activity is to occur i.e. all or part of the permit duration.
  • Whether the work is internal or external and any noise or nuisance mitigation measures.
  • VicRoads MoA for Over Dimension vehicle / NHVR Notice (if required)

Permits can be requested for up to 5 out of hour dates if associated with a CMP.

On many occasions a Temporary Road Closure Permit is required in conjunction with an Out of Hours Permit.

Further details are below for specific types of work being undertaken.

Concrete works

For a concrete pour you will be required to provide the following;

• The size of the pour
• Estimated pour time
• Estimated cure time
• Why so long to cure (e.g. weather temperature)
• Why a particular pour cannot be done in stages*
• Estimated staff needed on each pour
• What equipment needed during the out of hours period
• Any other information that may assist with our assessment of the application
• Number of pumps (one pump / double pump, how many cubic metes per hour etc)

*Note: This documentation needs to be provided by an engineer suitably qualified to provide such information.

Tower Crane

For the erection of a tower crane, please consider the space you will require. Usually sites need to close the road for this to happen. Take as much space as required, safety for workers and general public being number one.

• Traffic management plan
• You may need to speak with the other businesses in the area to ensure you are not disturbing their deliveries etc.
• Tower crane erections or dismantling can be done a Saturday or Sunday
• If you decide to do this work during the week, it is still suggest getting an out of hours approval (as nothing ever goes according to plan)

It is likely a Temporary Road Closure Permit is required in conjunction with an Out of Hours Permit.

Heavy Vehicles / Deliveries

An out of hours application will be required where other authorities have issued consent for heavy vehicles to travel on roads outside of normal approved working hours.

Panel Lifts

When an application is received for panel lifts, the applicant will be contacted to address potential weather impact to works i.e if it is windy will they still be able to carry out the lift?

As of September 2022, all Out of Hours Permits require an out of hour application to be lodged and an inspection will occur to ensure compliance.