Filming and photography

Most of the application fees are structured in accordance with the Local Government Filming Protocol 2009, which includes maximum charges and depends on the likely impact of the activity on traffic and parking.

Student films and not-for-profit organisations do not normally incur any fees.

The following are the charges detail below where applicable.

Council's adopted Fees and Charges can be found in the current fees and charges page.

You will need to provide the following information in support of your application:

• Address of the property
• Details of the activity, e.g. location and summary of work or activity
• Details of the proposed filming – start/finish dates and operating hours
• Backup/wet weather alternative dates
• Expiry dates of public liability insurance cover
• Specify filming classification, traffic management assessment, parking plan or unit-based plan
• If this is an urgent application, a
• Applicant details

You will need to complete the following application form:

Filming and Photography application form (PDF, 387.93KB) 

Filming and Photography application form (DOCX, 95.49KB) 

Have the following documents ready before starting the online application as they will need to be uploaded with the application during lodgement.

If they are not provided, the assessment will be delayed and may be refused.

• Application form – a signed copy of the application form
• Public liability insurance certificate of currency – required for every application (see details above)

The following information must be provided when applicable or when requested:

• Scope of works/site plan
• Traffic management plan
• A traffic control plan (prepared by a Transport for NSW-accredited person) in compliance with Transport for NSW Traffic Control at Work Sites Manual Guidelines – AS1742.3 and Work Cover NSW regulations
• Parking plan
• Pedestrian plan
• List of essential vehicle registrations
• Authorised safety report
• A draft notification letter(s) for distribution by the applicant to residents in the affected area, for approval by Council

If the works are to be carried out on or near a state-classified road or traffic lights, you will have to demonstrate that you have obtained written consent from Transport for NSW.

For the list of the state-classified roads within the Inner West Council can be viewed at the roads page.

14.1 The assessing Council Officer will contact the applicant within 10 (ten) working days if they need to discuss or seek clarification in relation to any aspect of the application. In some instances, the Officer may request additional information or amendments to your proposal in order to complete their assessment.

14.2 The Applicant must conform to all the requirements of this agreement together with the conditions issued by Council with an approved Permit.

14.3 The Applicant must provide Council with a copy of their Public Liability Insurance to the value of at least $20,000,000 (twenty million dollars). The Inner West Council needs to be noted as an interested party to the insurance policy for activity on Council roads and footpaths.

14.4 Immediate processing of applications is not guaranteed, and Council will not be responsible for the consequences caused by late applications or insufficient information. At Council’s discretion, in cases where less than one or five business days’ notice is given, respectively, an additional charge will be incurred.

14.5 The Applicant shall indemnify the Council;   

• Against all claims and expenses and costs arising therefrom made or recovered against the Council by any person arising out of any work done or purported to be done by the applicant under the authority of this Permit.

 • Against all claims and expenses and costs therefrom made or recovered against the Council by any person and against all loss damages costs and expenses incurred by the Council arising out of the failure of the applicant to comply with the provision of any Act, Regulation, Ordinance or By-law or any order or direction lawfully given thereunder by any person relating in any work done or purported to be done by the applicant under the authority of this Permit.

General Work Times:

14.6 Unless otherwise approved by Council, work shall only be permitted during the following hours:

• 7:00 am to 6.00 pm, Mondays to Fridays, inclusive (with demolition works finishing at 5pm);

 • 8:00 am to 1:00 pm on Saturdays with no demolition works occurring during this time; and at no time on Sundays or public holidays.

14.7 If approved by council, works may be undertaken outside these hours where they do not create any nuisance to neighbouring properties in terms of dust, noise, vibration etc. and do not entail the use of power tools, hammers etc. This may include but is not limited to painting.

14.8 In the case that a special permit is obtained from Council for works in association with this development, the works which are the subject of the permit may be carried out outside these hours. This condition does not apply in the event of a direction from police or other relevant authority for safety reasons, to prevent risk to life or environmental harm.

Noise:

14.9 All generators and other equipment must be controlled in accordance with the requirements of the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 and guidelines contained in the New South Wales Environment Protection Authority Environmental Noise Control Manual and not create a nuisance to the amenity of the neighbours.

14.10 Any noise generated by the filming and associated activities shall not give rise to an increase of 5dBA or more above the indoor background sound pressure level. No Amplification of any kind is to be used including loud hailers or megaphones.

Fees & Charges:

14.11 An application is only valid when the fees specified for payment at lodgement have been paid to Council.

14.12 A Permit is only valid on the condition that all required fees are paid to Council in accordance with Council's adopted Fees & Charges.

Traffic  Management:

14.13 No traffic control shall be undertaken without a traffic management plan being submitted to and accepted by Council.

14.14 The Applicant and/or Applicant's contractor must employ adequate site, traffic and pedestrian control/protection measures at all stages of the activity in accordance with Australian Standards 1742.1, 1742.2, 1742.3 and 1743 Traffic control devices for works on roads and RMS Traffic Control at Work Sites Manual Guidelines.

14.15 The Council does not approve Traffic Control Plans. The TCP submitted with the application is viewed as a document containing information about the impacts on traffic flow only and is NOT evaluated from the viewpoint of risk assessment of Work, Health and Safety.

14.16 If works are less than 50 metres from traffic lights, or on State road, the Applicant must provide Council with a relevant Transport for NSW (TfNSW) Road Occupancy Licence (ROL). Some classified roads may also require an ROL. Classified roads can be found on:  RMS Classified Road Schedule

14.17 TfNSW has responsibility for the road pavement and kerb and gutter on State Roads. If the main traffic route is a classified State Road, the applicant shall apply for a permit from TfNSW as well as obtaining written approval from the Police Traffic Branch. Note that Council is responsible for works, activities, occupation and restoration on footpaths of all roads including State Roads and will be responsible for the issuing of permits for such.

14.18 A minimum 1.5m wide accessible path of travel must be maintained for pedestrians at all times, clear of obstructions between the adjacent property boundary(s) and the approved area/articles- otherwise an appropriate alternative pedestrian thoroughfare is required.

Police Approval:

14.19 For works occurring on the roadway with consequent interruptions to traffic, the applicant is to contact the local Police Traffic Sergeant. An acknowledgment is to be obtained and a copy of that acknowledgement shall be held on site so that it can be produced if requested by any person or other authority.

Resident/Business Notification:

14.20 The Applicant shall be responsible to notify affected businesses, residents and other occupants at least three (3) days prior to undertaking the works/activity. Any concerns or requirements raised by business proprietors, residents and other occupants must be resolved or accommodated.

Safety and legislation:

14.21 The Applicant shall maintain no adverse impact on road safety for road users including pedestrians and cyclists. Provision is to be made for service vehicles, resident vehicles etc. to gain access to properties at all times.

14.22 The Applicant must comply with all of the agreements, declarations and conditions of the Local Government Filming Protocol 2009, the Code of Conduct for Location Filming in NSW, Work, Health and Safety Act 2011, Work Cover NSW, NSW Dial1100 before You Dig Service, Council's Fees & Charges, Environmental and other Legislation, Council policies and any other Regulation applicable to the activity.

14.23 Where in Council's opinion, inadequate barricading and/or lighting has been provided around the works or activity, Council may, without prior notification, install additional barricades and/or lamps and charge the applicant.

Site Management:

14.24 The site shall be maintained in a safe condition. The applicant shall, in demand, pay to the Council all expenses and costs incurred by the Council in respect of the repair or restoration of the footway or roadway rendered necessary as a result of any work or thing done or purported to be done by the applicant under the authority of this Permit.

14.25 The areas to be used for the activities must be maintained in a clean and tidy condition to the satisfaction of Council’s Engineering Services Manager. Failure to comply may result in the applicant being required to reimburse Council for any extraordinary cleansing costs.

14.26 Should Council incur costs as above or any of Council’s property and/or the physical environment sustain damage during the course of the occupation, or if the works put Council’s assets or the environment at risk, Council may carry out any works necessary to repair the damage and/or remove the risk. The cost of these works shall be borne by the applicant and/or if applicable, may be deducted from any security deposit/ bonds held by Council.

Parking:

14.27 Barricading of spaces for parking is not permitted unless approved by the Permit. If barricading for parking is approved, a Road Occupancy fee will be charged. This will allow for parking of essential vehicles only and is not guaranteed by Council.

14.28 All vehicles associated with the production to be legally parked at all times. Under no circumstances shall any vehicle associated with filming access park or reserve grounds without written consent.

14.29 Where approved by Council, parking of vehicles greater than 7.5m in length on a Residential street is only allowed for a maximum of 4 hours.

14.30 Unless approved for Road Occupancy as part of the Permit, vehicles greater than 7.5m in length and/or greater than 4.5t are not permitted to park in a local street for more than 1 hour.

Drones:

14.31 At the time of application, you need to provide a copy of all certifications provided by CASA (Civil Aviation Safety Authority) and you must meet all flying standard operating conditions specified by CASA.

Extension of Permit:

14.32 If the filming/photography is postponed due to unforeseen circumstances, the Applicant must advise the Council Representative in writing of the proposed revised date, as soon as practicable after the decision is taken to not proceed with the original approved date(s). Updated Police and RMS approvals, where applicable, are required. Providing there are no changes to the original traffic management plan and the road is available for use, a revised permit may be issued.

General:

14.33 A copy of the Permit must be held on site and be available for inspection whilst the works/activity is being carried out.

14.34 When the filming application relates to the use of council owned or managed facilities, the permit approval will be dependent on the approval and availability of the facility.

Application Declaration:

• I declare that all the information in the application is to the best of my knowledge, true and correct
• I understand that if the information is incomplete, the application may be delayed/rejected or more information may be requested and accept delays in processing may arise out of any inadequacies in the material submitted in support of the application
• I acknowledge that if the information provided is misleading, any approval granted ‘may be void’
• I declare that any electronic data provided is a true copy of all plans and associated documents submitted with this application.
• I declare that any electronic data is not corrupted and does not contain any viruses
• I understand that Council will use the information and materials provided for notification and advertising purposes if required.
• I have read, understood and agree to comply with Council’s permit conditions, and I agree to indemnify the Council against any action or claim for damages arising from work being undertaken under this permit.
• I will ensure safety at and around the works site is controlled and is in accordance with WorkCover requirements.
• I understand that Council will not commence processing of my application until such time as fees are paid.  I agree to pay the fees within 7 days of receipt of an invoice from Council.  I understand that if the fees are not paid, the application will be rejected and returned to me.