Roads, Private Right of Ways & Pedestrian Access Ways
Public Roads
Public roads are set out on a plan of survey to provide public access. They are gazetted this way under relevant statutory legislation.
A temporary/permanent barrier road closure is to prevent access to traffic for a period in excess of four weeks and is generally applied to accommodate long term roadworks or to close off a section of road reserve to traffic until the road is required for traffic use. Application for the temporary/permanent barrier closure of a public road to traffic (section 3.50 Local Government Act 1995), can be made by completing and submitting the Barrier Road Closure Information Application(PDF, 375KB) package for the City’s processing and for Council’s consideration and decision.
A permanent road reserve closure is generally applied to accommodate subdivision or because the road reserve no longer serves a purpose and its closure will not remove access to lots. Application for the permanent closure of a road reserve (section 58 Land Administration Act 1997) can be made by completing and submitting the Road Reserve Closure Information Application package for the City's processing and for Council's consideration and decision. Should Council resolve to close the road reserve, a request for closure is forwarded to the Minister for Lands to undertake the closure.
Private Right of Way (ROW)
A private Right of Way (ROW) was usually created on a plan, or plans, of survey by a landowner and/or subdivider to provide a secondary or future road access. Historically, many private ROW were created for sewer night carts, which collected sewerage from the rear of properties. For reasons unknown, many private ROW remained in the ownership of an original landowner and/or subdivider who may now be deceased or a de-registered company.
Closure of a private ROW, if deemed to provide no purpose, can be applied for by completing and submitting the Private Right of Way Information Application package for the City’s processing and for Council’s consideration and decision. Should Council resolve to close the private ROW, a request for closure is forwarded to the Minister for Lands to undertake the closure.
Pedestrian Access Ways (PAW)
Pedestrian Access Ways (PAW) are generally created on a plan of subdivision to create a reserve for pedestrian access. A PAW is intended to provide safe pedestrian movement between streets. It may be classed as strategic, in that it provides convenient, and in some cases direct, access to bus stops, schools, shops, parks, ovals, community facilities, medical centres and more. Closure of a PAW is controlled by State Government legislation and an application for closure must be made by all the landowners adjoining it.
Closure of a PAW can be applied for by completing and submitting the Pedestrian Access Way Information Application package for the City's processing and for Council's consideration and decision. Should Council resolve to close the PAW, a request for closure is forwarded to the Minister for Lands to undertake the closure. WAPC and City of Swan guidelines for PAW closures are available on this page under 'related information'.