Kanwal speeding problems: Central Coast Council calls a public meeting

“Do we have to scrape a three-year-old up off the road before action is taken?” That’s the fear of residents who say something drastic needs to be done.

Taleiha Hobson-Rozyn with her children Jasper and Jai and Tony and Denise Grant Ttrying to negotiate their stret with no footpaths.(AAP Image/Sue Graham)

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A couple of well placed speed cameras could rake in a small fortune for the State Government in Kanwal according to one resident.

Tony Grant is one of a growing number of people in the suburb who say speeding along its long straight roads is out of hand.

”The State Government could make $50,000 a month here with a speed camera,” Mr Grant said.

“It’s a known issue but you rarely see a police car here,” he said.

Taleiha Hobson-Rozyn with her son Jasper . Picture: AAP /Sue Graham

Mr Grant has welcomed last night’s Central Coast Council decision to hold a public meeting about the problem in the next two months.

“I think a public meeting is the only way to get this solved,” Mr Grant said.

“People whinge about the speeding all the time, but don’t actually want to come forward,” he said.

“A public meeting would help us work out the level of support for action.

“Do we have to scrape a three-year-old up off the road before action is taken?”

Another resident Talieha Hobson-Royson has started a petition on Change.org to raise awareness about speeding.

“I live in Swan Street and people are flying down her well over the speed limit — P-platers, drives, even buses do it,” she said.

Kanwal speeding: Residents put up this sign near Kanwal petrol station.

“I’ve spoken to other people in other streets and in some cases they can’t reverse out of their driveway because of the speeding cars.”

Ms Hobson-Royson said most of the suburb was covered by a 50kmph speed limit.

She said there many young families with children, school, nursing homes, both a private and public hospital and a petrol station which meant there were always a lot of pedestrians.

“Potentially someone could be killed or seriously injured,” she said.

The motion for a public meeting was put forward by Cr Kyle McGregor who said speeding was one of the main issues people in Kanwal raised with him.

“In Pearce Road they’ve even put up their own signs asking people to slow down,” Cr McGregior said.

“This is not a new problem — it’s been coming up for years.”

Representatives from Police and Roads and Maritime Services will be asked to attend the meeting. The meeting date is still to be set.