Who is responsible for ensuring an alternative path of travel is accessible?
From time to time construction, repair, alteration and maintenance work blocks the footpath. In these situations an alternative path should be provided. Responsibility for ensuring the alternative path of travel is accessible rests with the local government authority and the organisation that is undertaking the construction or alteration work – if different to the local government authority. Generally a local government authority would approve an application from a developer to establish a temporary alternate path of travel while, for example, heavy crane lifting work is undertaken. Approval to block the existing footpath should include specific conditions related to the maintenance of accessibility during development activity otherwise enforcement of the approval conditions becomes difficult. The developer must take whatever action is necessary to make the alternative path as accessible as possible and ensure that it remains accessible throughout the time of diversion.
