Under the Local Government Act, Council needs to manage people working on the road, particularly utility network operators working within the road reserve. It's not just about the safety and access side of things as outlined above - it's also about making sure any proposed works don't damage existing Council assets and infrastructure in the area; and that any features temporarily affected are reinstated properly once the works are done.
That is why anyone or any business planning to dig up part of the road/berm as part of a project, such as installing a new driveway or laying water pipes, must have an approved corridor access request as part of their application