REDUCTIONS for some of the speed limits in the region\u2019s arterial roads may be on the way following a request from Golden Plains Shire staff for community feedback on the issue.<\/p>\n
Input is being sought on the proposed lowering of nine roads with the speed of most of them sitting at 80kph or more.<\/p>\n
Golden Plains Shire mayor Cr Brett Cunningham said the aim of the proposal is to increase safety for vehicle and foot traffic.<\/p>\n
\u201cCouncil is continually looking to improve road user and pedestrian safety across the Shire and these speed limit reductions are the next step to ensuring increased safety for all residents and visitors to the Shire,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI encourage all residents to review all roads with proposed speed limit changes and provide their valuable feedback for the safety and benefit of everyone in Golden Plains.\u201d<\/p>\n
Many of the roads have been chosen as a result of past community input, as well as their proximity to residential properties and town centres.<\/p>\n
The proposed changes include reducing the entirety of Haddon\u2019s Wilsons and Thomas roads from 100kph to 80kph, and 60kph to 50kph respectively.<\/p>\n
Inverleigh\u2019s Teesdale-Inverleigh Road could be reduced from 100kph to 80kph just before Jollys Road heading towards the Hamilton Highway before dropping again to 60kph leading into town.<\/p>\n
Nearly 2000 metres of Vaggs and Bowes roads off the Sebastopol-Smythesdale Road thoroughfare could drop from 100kph to 80kph while the latter\u2019s 60kph from Brooke Street could extend to Pascoe Street.<\/p>\n
Sebastopol-Smythesdale Road\u2019s primarily 100kph limit through Ross Creek may also be shortened to 80kph from Ross Creek Road to Kirks Road towards Sebastopol.<\/p>\n
Bannockburn\u2019s Clyde and Kelly roads\u2019 existing 60kph limits are proposed to be extended up towards their Midland Highway intersections.<\/p>\n
A roughly 700-metre portion of Scotchmans-Lead might also see a drop from 80kph to 60kph.<\/p>\n
Jessica Farmer has lived with her husband on a five-acre property on Haddon\u2019s Wilsons Road for just over a year.<\/p>\n
She said though she\u2019d welcome a reduction in traffic speed, the issue, as for many of the region\u2019s rural roads, is a complex one.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe problem is people don\u2019t slow down when they need to,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019m a horse owner and ride down Wilsons Road quite often.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe law is you need to slow down and go wide around horses and livestock and people don\u2019t do that.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know there\u2019s at least 10 to 15 other horse-riders on Wilsons Road who\u2019ve been confronted with it and I see people walking their dogs every day. For me personally, 80 would be welcome because it would be safer.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt the same time, when there\u2019s no one around, and it\u2019s a long farm road, 100 does seem appropriate. It\u2019s a divided opinion. I know my husband doesn\u2019t want the reduction.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019ll always be people that don\u2019t like change and people who aren\u2019t affected saying we should be allowed to drive 100 out in the country because it isn\u2019t suburbia.\u201d<\/p>\n
Should the municipality proceed with the proposals, staff will need to apply for the reductions through the Department of Transport and Planning.<\/p>\n
The process in lowering speed limits in consultation with VicRoads can take up to six months, according to a municipal spokesperson.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
REDUCTIONS for some of the speed limits in the region\u2019s arterial roads may be on the way following a request from Golden Plains Shire staff for community feedback on the issue. Input is being sought on the proposed lowering of nine roads with the speed of most of them sitting at 80kph or more. Golden […]<\/p>\n