Traffic Management at Special Events

If you are organising a special event in Queensland, such as a sporting or community event, you should first refer to the Queensland Government’s Best practice guidelines for event delivery in Queensland. This outlines the guiding principles for event organisers interacting with the Queensland Government to enable them to successfully plan and manage an event. For information about managing events in Queensland and access to this guide, please visit Help with running special events.

Depending on the size, location and impact of your event, you may identify several stakeholders such as local council, landowners and Queensland government agencies which you may need to contact to discuss your event and requirements.

To run a special event in Queensland, organisers must obtain written approval from the Queensland Police Service (QPS) and the public or private authorities responsible for the roads the event will use.

The Department of Transport and Main Roads has published a step-by-step guide on the process for seeking approvals. Read through Supplement 6.2-1 Special Events Affecting Roads in Queensland (PDF, 7.82 MB) for information.

What is the Event Traffic Marshal Scheme?

The Department of Transport and Main Roads is committed to supporting local community and sporting groups by making it easier for them to hold events.

As part of this commitment, Transport and Main Roads has introduced the Event Traffic Marshal (ETM) scheme, an alternative option for traffic control in low speed / low risk environments at sporting and community events. The ETM role allows basic traffic control activities to be delivered by trained volunteers at permitted special events.

Community and sporting organisations often require the assistance of volunteers to allow events to proceed smoothly, and to reduce the cost of staging events. Volunteers traditionally undertake various event tasks such as parking attendance; event set up activities; and pedestrian / spectator control.

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Information for Event Organisers

This fact sheet provides Event Organisers with information about engaging volunteers as Event Traffic Marshals (ETMs) to undertake basic traffic control duties at Special Events in low risk road environments.

How to become an Event Traffic Marshal

The Special Event Traffic Marshal Scheme is administered by the Department of Transport and Main Roads.
The scheme is intended to provide sporting, community and special interest groups with an alternative option to manage traffic in the vicinity of the event, in circumstances where accredited Traffic Controllers may not be required for basic and low risk duties.