Councils want power to slash speed limits to 40km/h

Speeding motorists are leaving residents in fast-growing Sydney suburbs feeling “too scared to leave their homes”, local councils have said while pushing to slash speed limits across the city’s road network.

Several Sydney councils, including Waverley, Blacktown and the City of Sydney, have united to campaign for the NSW government to give councils more powers to reduce speed limits on suburban streets.

Local councils are pushing for powers to lower speed limits in the suburbs.Credit: Dion Georgopoulos

Under current laws, councils wishing to reduce speed limits must apply to Transport for NSW, in an assessment process that some councils say is “arduously slow” and plagued by “ineffective governance structures”.

Waverley Council is among the councils that instead wants all speed limits to be under the control of local government, and says councils have a “more intimate knowledge of their local road network” in its submission to a government review of road legislation.

Blacktown Council – which oversees the city’s fastest growing region – said in its submission that speeding vehicles were leaving some residents feeling “trapped in their homes” and reluctant to walk or cycle, calling the default 50km/h limit in suburban areas “inappropriate”.

“Speeding complaints are among the highest volume we receive from our community [and councils] are better positioned to act in resident’s interests,” the council declared.

Bicycle NSW chief executive Peter McLean has supported lower speed limits in Sydney.Credit: Dion Georgopoulos

The campaign has sparked resistance from some motoring and business groups.

Business Sydney executive director Peter Nicolaou said giving councils more powers to cut speed limits could result in a “mishmash” of speed zones, causing flow-on effects across Sydney’s broader road network.

NRMA spokesman Peter Khoury said councils “arbitrarily cutting speed limits without any consistent approach could cause confusion for motorists and result in more drivers being fined”.

But pedestrian and road safety groups have backed the councils’ campaign.

Bicycle Sydney chief executive Peter McLean said councils “need to be empowered to reduce speed limits to create safer, more liveable streets”, while WalkSydney president Tegan Mitchell said the inability for councils to set their own speed limits was leaving many local streets at “dangerously high speeds”.

The calls come amid a spike in the number of councils applying to lower local speed limits. City of Sydney and Inner West councils have already reduced suburban street speed limits to 40km/h, and Waverley Council is in the process of reducing limits from 50km/h to 40km/h across Bronte, Bondi Junction and Tamarama.

Mosman Council also wants to cut speed limits from 50km/h to 40km/h on Military Road and on The Esplanade at Balmoral, despite mixed feedback from residents.

Peter Pappas, who runs Kazzi Beach Greek at Balmoral, believes there is little justification for the move.

“Putting it in a sign isn’t going to stop hoons, and the whole exercise just seems like a waste of money and over-regulation when councils should be focused on improving amenity,” he said.

Kazzi Beach Greek restaurant owner Peter Pappas is opposed to speed limit changes on the Esplanade at Balmoral Beach. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer

Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison has not confirmed whether she will support the councils’ campaign, but she said the current process ensures speed limits are “based on evidence, not opinion”.

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