Bollards

Site planning

Decision framework 

There are a range of Australian Standards/best practice guidelines, relating to this category. Key documents are referenced throughout and in the LIM Bollards - Standards.

Risk evaluation (for bollards near roads)

The risk evaluation process detailed in the Austroads Guide to Road Design Part 6 is the default requirement for use on roads. The Council may however choose to approve the use of an alternate process such as ‘generalised hazard assessment process’ if considered more appropriate in context. The design report should document this decision and the details of the alternate risk assessment evaluation process. Consult RPEQ.

Banana bars

The use of ‘banana bars’ is NOT supported by council due to the following:

• Banana bars are a yellow painted round section ‘u’ shaped metal pipe device installed adjacent to pathways as a cyclist slow down treatment. The upper ‘u’ section of the bar is bent in towards the pathway to encourage reduced cyclist speed and to provide a cyclist holding rail if required. This device is no longer supported by DTMR (Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads).  See Austroads Guide to Road Design Part 6A: Paths for walking and cycling, for bollards located to the edge of, or in the centre of a path.

Site decisions

• Bollard use should be minimised where possible. Use garden beds, plants, trees or high kerbs instead of bollards. 
• Locate bollards at the boundary between parks and parking areas to deter unauthorised vehicle entry.

Users

Site conditions

Consider the physical characteristics of a site and requirements of the activities to be conducted:

• location of utilities.

Co-location of facilities

• Facilities, including parking and pathways, are often already established and need to be considered in the determination of bollard location. 

Safety

• Safety clearances must be met.
• Removable bollards located in the middle of pathways should only be used where a risk assessment recommends them. 

Planning and design for the protection of people in crowded places

In recent years, terrorist attacks using vehicles targeting public places have increased and therefore the need for specifically designed protective measures has become important.

The general recommendation is to avoid bollards as counter-terrorism protective measures. Instead of bollards, implement “safe places by design” by using the natural environment and appropriate landscape design.

At the same time, public places have a need to be open, welcoming and attractive. Too many barriers will create a perception of “barricades” and will hamper openness. 

For further information and technical resources see the following documents:

• Hostile Vehicle Guidelines for Crowded Places - Australia-New Zealand National Counter-Terrorism Committee (ANZCTC). 
• Queensland Counter-Terrorism Strategy 2013-2019 – Qld Government.

Potential site conflicts

Locate bollards away from:  

• High use bikeways, busy roads and steep slopes, to avoid accidents. 
• Avoid interfering with other open space uses. Bollards installed too close to the edge of pathways will interrupt the free flow of pedestrian/cyclist traffic.
• Hazards such as waterways, fire and flood prone areas, sewers and stormwater drains, underground services.

Planning for sustainability

Planning for future works