Traffic management coordinators review a lot of plans. The ones that go through quickly answer the same questions without making the reviewer go looking. This is general guidance; every road authority has its own requirements, so check theirs too.
Does it fit this site?
The reviewer is looking for a plan written for this road, at this speed, with this traffic. Layouts should match the road's environment and the way it is actually used, including side roads, driveways, bus stops and anything else near the site. A generic plan with the address swapped in is the most common reason a TMP comes back.
Have the risks been assessed?
Under the NZ Guide to Temporary Traffic Management, traffic management is risk-based rather than prescriptive. That means the plan needs to show the thinking: what the hazards are for workers and road users, what you're doing about them, and why that's proportionate. The reviewer isn't counting cones; they're checking the reasoning holds up.
Who else is affected?
People walking, cycling, using mobility devices, catching buses and getting into their own driveways all need a safe way past. So do emergency services. Show how each is catered for, especially near schools, shops and public transport. If access to a property is affected, say how and for how long.
Have you talked to anyone else working nearby?
The Health and Safety at Work Act expects everyone in the corridor to consult, cooperate and coordinate. If the planning map shows other work close to yours, contact them and record what you agreed. A reviewer who can see that conversation has happened has one less thing to sort out on your behalf.
Are the basics right?
Dates and working hours that match the CAR. A named, qualified person who prepared the plan. Contact details for someone on site who can answer the phone. Any peak-hour or school-zone restrictions the council has. These are small things, but missing ones are what turn a one-day review into a week.