If you’re planning to carry out works on or around the Christchurch Tramway, you may need a permit, or in some cases, an isolation of overhead or underground cables.
Anyone working near tramway infrastructure must understand the risks and their health and safety obligations.
If you need assistance or advice, please get in touch with our team via email to tramway.management@ccc.govt.nz.
Find out more information about contractor work health, safety and wellbeing.
The Christchurch Tramway is in the central city.
The map below indicates the existence and location of Christchurch Tramway assets, including tram poles and overhead lines. Underground feeder cables are not shown.
It is for information purposes only, and any measurements shown on this map are indicative only.
You must undertake further steps to verify the actual existence and location of any tramway assets, which may include:
- Inspecting the area looking for surface features such as isolation cabinets, tram poles, overhead lines, and building attachments.
- Using a cable locator device.
You may need a permit to work on and around tramway assets if:
- You are planning to work within 4 metres of any tramway infrastructure, including tram poles, overhead wires, tracks, and underground feeder cables.
- You are planning to work at any height above the tramway overhead.
- You are planning any excavation works that may cause an unstable batter within 8m of a support of the overhead electric line.
- You are transporting loads of 4.8 metres or more in height through the Christchurch Tramway network.
Anyone involved in building or working on or near tramway electrical infrastructure has legal responsibilities under the New Zealand Electrical Code of Practice for electrical safe distances (NZECP 34:2001) [PDF, 875 KB]
The Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010 require that a person who carries out any construction, building, excavation, or other work near an electric line must maintain safe distances. Failure to comply could lead to prosecution by WorkSafe.
Work covered under NZECP 34
All types of permanent or temporary buildings and work or excavation near tram poles, electric line supports, and overhead lines must comply with the requirements of NZECP 34.
This includes, but is not limited to:
- Physical work on houses and buildings.
- Erecting scaffolding.
- Installing fences or construction hoarding.
- Digging and laying a driveway.
- Erecting signs or flags.
If your worksite is within the road reserve, including the road, berm, and footpath, you must also have:
- A Works Access Permit, obtained by applying for a corridor access request.
- An approved traffic management plan.
Some tramway assets are located on private property. In addition to a permit to work on or near tramway assets, you will need permission from the landowner when planning your work.
To be eligible to apply for a permit to work on and around tramway assets, the responsible person on site must have completed the Christchurch Tramway – Contractor Online Induction assessment.
We strongly recommend that anyone else involved in your work also undertake this induction.
Your induction will expire two years from the date of completion.
Request online induction to work on or around tramway assets
Once you have completed the induction, you can apply for a Permit to Work on and around the tramway.
We will respond within five business days. Please be aware that lead times for approvals vary according to the location and nature of works, so contact us well ahead of the ideal start dates.
Apply for a permit to work to work on or around tramway assets
Please be aware that the permit to work only assesses the risk of work impacting the safe operation of the Christchurch Tramway.
It is important to note that the permit to work:
- Does not assess the safety of the work itself. Contractors need to work with their client and Council to ensure that a safe work method has been appropriately reviewed and approved, prior to applying for this permit.
- Does not assess the design or standards of workmanship. Contractors need to work with their client and the Council to ensure all relevant design and construction reviews are completed prior to applying for this permit.
If you are unable to work safely around the live electric overhead, track or underground feeder cables without maintaining a safe distance, it is possible to request an electrical isolation or de-energisation of the tramway network.
Isolation or de-energisation of the Christchurch Tramway is generally completed at night, outside of the tramway’s operating hours, 7am to 11pm.
For more information or isolation requests outside of these times, please contact tramway.management@ccc.govt.nz.
It's free to apply for a permit to work near or on tramway assets.
Additional costs may be incurred depending on the location and type of work being undertaken, and any subsequent controls required to complete the work safely.
These may include, but are not limited to, site walkover, placement of physical non-conductive barriers, isolation, de-energisation of the network, stand over, or structural bracing of tramway poles.
