Source : Perth Now news
Town of Cottesloe council members have backed a “whole of suburb” approach to lower speed limits, claiming a proposal to create a smaller 40km/h precinct was not enough.
Town staff had recommended the council support reducing the speed limit along Broome Street and Marmion Street between Grant Street and Forrest Street from 50km/h to 40km/h.
Adjoining local side roads would also be considered to ensure consistency, which could result in the entire section of Cottesloe west of Curtin Avenue becoming a 40km/h precinct.
A detailed proposal would then be presented to the council before a formal submission would be made to Main Roads WA.
But the council voted unanimously at Tuesday’s meeting to support an alternate motion from Cr Michael Thomas for a “consistent, legible lower speed environment” for all local roads across the town, rather than in a limited precinct.
It also wants chief executive Mark Newman to investigate grant funding opportunities for signage in future lower speed areas, and liaise with neighbouring local governments and Main Roads to bring the findings to a council workshop no later than March 31, 2027.
Any future changes would be subject to community consultation.
“This motion supports the intent of the lower speed environment while seeking consideration of a whole of suburb approach to improve legibility and to explore alignment with neighbouring local governments to achieve a more consistent and integrated approach,” Cr Thomas said.
“Lower posted speed is most effective and easiest for drivers to understand when applied consistently across a wider area, eg the whole of Cottesloe.”
Road safety improvements and traffic calming measures have been on Broome and Marmion streets since May as part of Main Roads WA’s low cost urban road safety program.
Main Roads indicated it was open to going one step further and reducing the speed limit, but Cr Thomas said it was more important to consider streets across the entire town.
“These include Broome Street south of Forrest Street, where there was a speed-related fatality that occurred in 2022 near Pier Street, as well as a highly-used crossing to the playground and playing fields to Harvey Field,” he said.
“Broome Street to the north of Grant Street. North Street at the crossing near Kirkwood, which is a key sort of access gateway to Allen Park, and the length along the length of Railway Street between Grant Street and Forest Street, particularly near North Cottesloe Primary School.”
Cottesloe resident Mike Hume urged the council to reduce the speed limit on Broome and Marmion without waiting to hear from other local governments.
“It not only reduces the likelihood of fatality by half, which is quite extraordinary in itself, but the likelihood of serious injury is reduced by 30 per cent for every 10 per cent of reduction in speed. This equates to 60 per cent when reducing from 50 to 40km/h,” he said.
Cr Kirsty Barrett said the entirety of Cottesloe needed to be considered, and a longer six-month investigation with more consultation would be better in the long run.
“To make (speed limits) more consistent across the suburb, I think is more appropriate than the piecemeal approach that was suggested. It might take a little bit longer, but hopefully it will provide a better outcome for our community,” she said.
Popular coastal road Marine Parade officially enforced a uniform 40km/h speed limit yesterday.
Town officers said they were “separately investigating” introducing a lower speed environment in the foreshore precinct between Forrest Street and Eric Street, including the section of Marine Parade between Grant Street and Eric Street.
