Reduced speed zones on highway extended
Reduced speed zones on highway extended
Speed: The 110km/h zone on Riddoch Highway will start further out of Naracoorte on the northern side after a successful plea for change by residents.
The 80km/h and 60km/h zones on the highway north of Naracoorte will be extended after a council decision on Tuesday night.
Naracoorte Lucindale Council decided to accept a compromise on a request to extend the reduced speed zone on Riddoch Hwy (also known as Bordertown Road).
Residents Trevor and Robyn Norman had been seeking an extension of the 80km/h zone on the highway "north of Naracoorte of around 1.3km so that the 80km/h zone includes the Repeater Station Rd intersection".
Mrs Norman said the request was prompted by safety concerns and followed a fatal accident on that stretch of road late last year.
The Department for Planning Transport and Infrastructure declined to extend the zone that far, but instead proposed a compromise: "To extend the 60km/h zone northwards by approximately 260m and the 80km/h zone to a point approximately 500m north of the McMillan Road intersection."
The council's director of operations Steve Bourne recommended to Tuesday night's council meeting that councillors accept the compromise.
Most councillors were in favour, however Crs Cameron Grundy and Trevor Rayner voted against extending the lower speed zone.
Cr Grundy argued that the stretch of road was the only place north of Naracoorte where a vehicle could pass a truck heading north because of the winding nature of the highway.
He said reducing the speed zone would make that impossible and mean that vehicles could be stuck behind trucks for longer, or be forced to make potentially dangerous passing moves further up the highway.
He added that, generally, he didn't like reducing speed zones on regional roads. He asked: "Where does it start and where does it stop?"
Despite the comments, the recommendation was passed 7-2.
Mrs Norman told the Herald she was delighted with the decision and felt it would make the road much safer.
She said as long-term residents of that area, she and her husband had seen a lot of new houses spring up around them, and the road use now was very different to 20 years ago when they had few neighbours.
"And once the safety barriers went up, basically we live in a 110km/h zone, turning into our driveway has become a safety issue. We could wait for the oncoming traffic to pass, but if you get a B-double truck, they just can't get around you.
"It's a real safety issue. The speed is too high for where it is.
"I'm very, very happy with the decision and with the council."
The reductions are due to be implemented within two months.
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