Victoria’s Bass Coast Shire Council is seeking to reduce the speed limit on a local road following its redevelopment and the opening of a new school in the near vicinity.
Council says it wants the speed limit on Shetland Heights Road cut from 60km/h to 50km/h to ensure the safety of locals and pupils of the new junior secondary campus of Bass Coast College, saying most of the road now features residential zoning.
“The review is in response to an independent traffic impact assessment, commissioned by Council, which clarified the demands on Shetland Heights Road and other streets in the school’s catchment area,” Council said in a statement.
A 50km/h speed limit also meets government guidelines for built-up areas, under the Department of Transport and Planning’s Speed Zoning Guidelines, it said.
“With primary access to the new school being on Potters Hill Road, most traffic increases occurred here,” Council said.
“Shetland Heights Road also saw a moderate increase, averaging 560 vehicles per day. However, more than 80% of children arrive by bus. Paths have also been provided to encourage local pupils from Newhaven and San Remo to travel by foot or bike. Therefore, in addition to monitoring traffic changes over the last year, the recommendation to reduce speeds to 50km/h is an essential safety measure.”
Council has requested the Department of Transport (DoT), to approve the new speed limit.
