If you’re developing in Melbourne, you’ve probably heard this question from council or your planner:
“Can you provide a swept path analysis for the driveway and car park?”
On paper, the driveway looks fine. In the real world, the first rubbish truck or delivery vehicle might not be able to get in or out without mounting the kerb, hitting a column or blocking the street.
That’s exactly what swept path analysis is designed to prevent.
In this guide, we’ll break down what swept path analysis is, when you actually need it in Melbourne, how it works, and how it helps you avoid failed inspections, redesigns and expensive on-site surprises.
Swept path analysis is a traffic engineering check that shows whether vehicles can safely turn, reverse and exit within your proposed layout. Instead of guessing, we use software to simulate the path a vehicle sweeps out as it moves – including the wheel tracks and the body overhang.
It’s most commonly used for:
The analysis produces swept path diagrams – drawings that show coloured lines for the vehicle’s path, so council and your design team can see at a glance whether everything works.
In practice, it’s about answering one simple question:
“Will the actual vehicles using this site be able to move around safely, without hitting anything or blocking traffic?”
You’re most likely to need swept path analysis in Melbourne when:
If your planning application changes vehicle access to the site, councils often want proof that:
Basement car parks and small sites are classic problem areas:
Councils and traffic engineers often request swept paths to show that typical cars (and sometimes larger vehicles) can park and exit without multiple point turns.
For mixed-use, commercial and industrial developments, you may need to demonstrate access for:
Swept path analysis confirms that these larger design vehicles can reach loading bays and turn around safely.
Industrial estates, logistics depots and warehouse developments often need swept path checks for:
This becomes especially important where access is constrained by neighbouring properties, narrow roads or tight internal geometry.
Many Melbourne councils refer to AS/NZS 2890 (parking facilities) and local planning scheme clauses that effectively require swept path assessments to show compliance.
If your traffic engineer or council planner has flagged “vehicle swept path analysis” as a condition, you’ll need diagrams as part of your traffic/planning submission.
The turning radius (or turning circle) is the smallest circular turn a vehicle can make. It depends on wheelbase, steering angle and overall vehicle size. Larger trucks need more space to turn than a small car.
In real projects, we’re less interested in theoretical numbers and more interested in whether that turning circle fits within your driveway, car park, laneway or access route.
Instead of guessing, engineers use standard “design vehicles” defined in Australian Standards and guides, such as:
Each has a specific wheelbase, overhang and turning ability. We can either use turning templates or more detailed software to simulate how those vehicles move through your design.
Here’s how a typical swept path analysis for a Melbourne development works.
We start with:
Using recognised swept path software such as AutoTURN, AutoTURN Online or similar, we simulate:
The software outputs swept path diagrams showing:
We check for clashes where vehicles:
If the swept paths show a problem, we work with your team to adjust:
Sometimes a small change like shifting a column line or widening a corner can make the difference between a layout that fails and one that passes.
A lot of Melbourne developments run into the same problems:
Swept path analysis exposes these issues at design stage, before concrete is poured – when changes are much cheaper.
Most councils around Melbourne base their access and parking expectations on the AS/NZS 2890 series (off-street parking and commercial vehicle facilities), plus local planning scheme clauses.
That usually means:
A swept path analysis report bundled with your traffic / parking assessment gives council clear evidence that your design is generally compliant with these standards.
The cost of swept path analysis in Melbourne varies, but it’s usually tiny compared to your overall project budget – and much cheaper than fixing a driveway that doesn’t work.
Pricing and timeframes typically depend on:
For most projects, swept path analysis is a small, one-off investment that de-risks approvals and avoids expensive site modifications later.
A typical swept path package for a Melbourne development includes:
A2Z Traffic isn’t just a traffic control company – the team also delivers planning and documentation including Traffic Management Plans, Construction Traffic Management Plans and Transportation Management Plans across Victoria.
That means when you need swept path analysis for your driveway or car park, A2Z can:
If your project changes vehicle access, has a tight car park, or needs service / emergency vehicle access, there’s a good chance council or your traffic engineer will request swept path analysis. It’s also required under AS 2890 for many off-street parking and commercial vehicle layouts, so getting it done early avoids delays and redesigns.
It depends on your development type. Typical design vehicles include small and large cars, utes, waste collection trucks, delivery trucks, and sometimes fire appliances or heavy vehicles for industrial sites. A good rule of thumb: test the largest vehicle that will regularly use the site.
Paper or CAD turning templates can work for simple, low-risk situations, but they’re limited. Modern swept path software like AutoTURN or AutoTURN Online is far more accurate and efficient, especially for tight, multi-level or mixed-use sites – and more likely to satisfy council.
For a simple driveway or small car park with good plans, swept path diagrams can often be turned around quickly. More complex basements, multi-vehicle scenarios or missing CAD files will take longer because there’s more modelling and refinement involved.
Our unparalleled expertise and support in managing traffic for your projects and events make us the glove-like fit for every one of your traffic needs.
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