After a community consultation period, Goulburn Mulwaree councilors voted to endorse a 40km/h speed limit for Auburn Street and to divert heavy traffic.
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While the motion passed unanimously on October 5, the changes are pending approval by Transport for NSW.
The reduced limit has been in the works since November 2019. If successful, the limit along Auburn Street between Bradley Sand Clinton Street would be reduced to 40 km/h from 50km/h due to a high level of pedestrian activity.
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Plans also include the introduction of a 15 tonne load limit along Lagoon Street and Auburn Street between Union Street and Clinton Street .The load limit would allow buses and small single axle delivery trucks to continue to use the streets.
Vehicles exceeding 15 tonnes would be permitted to use Lagoon Street and Auburn Street to conduct business if there was no alternate route or access.
The proposal is subject to a road swap with the NSW Government where Auburn and Lagoon Street would be converted from a state to a local road, and Reynolds, Grafton and Sloane Streets to a state road. This would accommodate heavy vehicle movement through Goulburn along the state road network.
Deputy mayor Peter Walker said the changes were "a safety issue".
"There has been a lot of comment in the community about we only do 40km/h now... I think what we need to do is be realistic, [the speed limit] needs to be legally put in place," he said.
"People are still crossing on the road... they just cross wherever."
Over the 28 day consultation period 21,000 people were reached through the council's social media account with 106 formal responses and six submitted through email or mail. Community input included an approximately even split for and against.
Responses included:
"I think this is a brilliant idea for the CBD, there are too many people using this as their main road and they aren't even looking for a car park or to shop at one of the many local businesses."
"Good idea. Very rarely get over 40 in the CBD anyway and restriction of heavy traffic will make it even safer. There is always a lot of traffic in the main street, even on a Sunday."
"A change to the speed limit is completely unnecessary. At night time when there is no foot traffic and little car traffic it will be nigh on painful. Maybe create barriers in the median strip to ensure no one is crossing the road in the incorrect places, this would be a smart idea and much safer."
"I think the proposal is ridiculous to say the least. Traffic around the Goulburn CBD would be flat out to reach 40km/h at any given time. You will reduce the flow of traffic and cause banked up traffic for kilometres."
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