Traffic Assessments

Amber has recently completed a Traffic Impact Assessment for the 500MW Middlebrook Solar Farm, which is one of the largest solar farms in the country. The project involved extensive consultation with the relevant road authorities in order to gain prior approval for the proposed access arrangements of the site. Amber prepared concept designs for intersection upgrades and conducted a review of the traffic impacts of the proposal on the surrounding road network. This continues are extensive involvement in the renewable energy sector.

The Amber team is often engaged to provide detailed traffic engineering advice for car parks within large residential dwellings. When money is not a barrier there are a wide range of options available to clients to improve their car park layout to meet their needs. This can include providing a hidden parking area via car stackers, the provision of a turntable so vehicles don’t need to manually turn around, or providing a car lift system to remove the need for a basement ramp. Our designs tailor the overall layout to meet the specific vehicles of our clients which can include sports performance vehicles which often have scraping issues when entering or exiting parking areas. Our technology allows us to check the car park as part of our design review to ensure all vehicles expected to access the site can do so in a comfortable manner.

Amber has undertaken a traffic modelling exercise to assess the potential traffic impacts of a 700-lot subdivision in North Orange. The proposal forms part of an amendment to the LEP and utilised the Orange Strategic Traffic Model as a base to determine the required road upgrades for the project. The subdivision and associated internal roads represent a significant change to the traffic distribution in the area. Our team have extensive experience preparing Traffic Impact Assessments for subdivision projects and regularly work with Council’s and road authorities as part of our assessment to ensure a smooth application process.

The Riverina Anglican School is expected to experience significant growth over the next few years and a masterplan was prepared in order to allow 1,505 students, 140 staff, and an Early Learning Centre to be accommodated on-site. Amber provided traffic engineering and transportation planning advice to help develop the masterplan. We prepared a Traffic Impact Assessment which included a SIDRA intersection modelling analysis of the nearby intersections based on traffic survey data collected in the area. We also prepared a Car Parking Demand Assessment to determine the level of parking required to meet the future demands. School projects require careful consideration to ensure vulnerable road users are seperated from vehicle movements and we always design with safety in mind.

Amber prepared a Traffic Impact Assessment for a mixed use development in Northcote. The project provided a shop on the ground floor and six levels of apartments above. We provided design advice for the car park which provided a semi-automatic car stacker system and prepared a swept path assessment to ensure the car park complied with the Planning Scheme and AS/NZS 2890.1:2004. We also undertook parking surveys and provided a Car Parking Demand Assessment to support the parking reduction.

Amber has completed a Traffic Impact Assessment report for the proposed mixed use subdivision adjacent to Narromine Road in Dubbo. The project represents a significant addition to the Dubbo township, proposing approximately 2,000 residential lots, 40 hectares of industrial and commercial land, and a new shopping centre. The Traffic Report provided a traffic modelling assessment using SIDRA to determine the traffic impacts of the project on the surrounding road network and the required road upgrades and intersection treatments. We worked closely with the relevant disciplines in the team to ensure the subdivision is designed sustainably to allow for alternative transport modes. The report is to be used to support the masterplan and a range of Planning Proposals and Development Applications for the various stages.

Amber has recently completed Traffic Impact Assessments for six 5MW solar farms for BNRG located within Victoria. We understand the cost of any road upgrades on smaller renewable projects can be financially challenging. In order to achieve a practical outcome for the access arrangements for smaller renewable projects we work closely with the local road authorities to ensure road upgrades are minimised and suitable traffic management measures are provided within Traffic Management Plans.

Our team regularly works on regional projects which has included the preparation of a Traffic Assessment to support a Planning Proposal for a service centre near Gunnedah. The site was proposed to accommodate a convenience store and several fast food outlets, and also accommodated a caravan park. The assessment included a traffic modelling exercise using SIDRA for nearby intersections to determine the impact of the additional vehicle movements generated by the various uses. Given the site connected to the State road network it was important for us to liaise with Transport for NSW to determine suitable access arrangements for the site based on the Austroads Guide and our relevant expertise.

Amber Organisation staff prepare a Traffic Impact Assessment for the 118 place childcare centre located in regional Victoria. Key considerations included the provision of car parking against the requirements of the Planning Scheme and the design of the car park to ensure it operates in a safe and efficient manner. Our Director also provided expert witness services to VCAT to support the development.

One of our subdivision projects is the 105-lot subdivision in Vineyard. Amber prepared several Traffic Impact assessments for the various stages of the project and provided traffic engineering and transportation planning advice to support a variation to the Indicative Layout Plan. We also conducted a review of the traffic and parking aspects of the proposal and provide design advice for the Austroads turn treatments. This forms one of the many subdivision projects we have been involved with in the growth precincts.