It was signed off last year but a looming change of speed limit in Auburn Street has again divided public opinion.
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The speed reduction, from 50km/h to 40km/h, will be implemented in the first week of February, when signage changes are expected to be finished.
At the same time, a 15 tonne load limit along Lagoon and Auburn Streets, between Union and Clinton Streets, will be imposed. It's designed to keep heavy vehicles out of the area, however those that can only deliver to the front of businesses are exempt.
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Councillors agreed to the changes last October, following public consultation which garnered 106 online responses plus email and written submissions. The council has acknowledged that opinion was split 50/50 on the speed reduction but councillors opted to go ahead with the change.
The consultation was undertaken in August in response to a Transport for NSW request. It followed public feedback in 2019 on the council's draft CBD master plan which also proposed the speed reduction to 40km/h. At that time, 98 people agreed with the change and 52 disagreed.
People again took to social media this week when the council signalled the imminent speed decrease.
"Change to the speed limit (is) both stupid and unnecessary," wrote one resident.
Others suggested the survey was unrepresentative and a referendum should be conducted.
Yet others described it as a "great idea" and pointed out it was impossible to travel faster at the best of times.
"Seems like a lot of complaining for a lousy 10km/h change when most of the time you can only go 40km/h or less anyway," a respondent said.
"If you are getting to 50km/h between traffic lights it must be night time! This town amazes me the amount of people complaining about every little thing."
The change was originally proposed in the interests of public safety. Staff cited past studies that the 10km/h reduction reduced the risk of pedestrian crashes.
Council general manager Warwick Bennett said people had previously "reacted negatively" to the speed change but also to the artificial grass on Auburn Street's median, which he believed was a vast improvement.
He told The Post the council wasn't turning the main street into a pedestrian mall but with more people walking about, it was appropriate to slow the traffic.
"I don't think people will notice a difference," he said.
The change required Transport for NSW approval.
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Goulburn Chamber of Commerce president Darrell Weekes agrees with the speed change and the new load limit.
"I think they're both excellent decisions," he said.
"The less trucks, the less chance of noise and it creates a far more pleasant shopping environment," he said.
"Before the highway bypass we had trucks 24/7 and Auburn Street wasn't a pleasant place to shop. There were also some horrific deaths from accidents."
As most businesses received deliveries at the rear of premises, he didn't see a problem with the 15 tonne load limit. He noted the exemption and said Sloane Street was better equipped to handle heavy vehicles.
He believed many motorists didn't exceed 40km/h and were more inclined to slow down as they looked for a park or avoided pedestrians stepping out onto the street.
"It makes for a much safer environment," Mr Weekes said.
He hoped it would encourage more people to the CBD, prompting more beautification and building owners to improve shop-top housing.
"They could be improved dramatically if owners invested in them. I've seen that happen in many other places," Mr Weekes said.
"The southern end of Auburn Street used to be part of the main shopping area. I'd support a zoning change to encourage more residential development there because the shopping area has moved northward twice now."
The Chamber president cited residential units on the former Saint Patrick's Primary School site in Verner Street and villas underway nearby in Bourke Street, as evidence of the trend towards CBD living.
Although the council was not proposing it, Mr Weekes did not support a pedestrian mall in Auburn Street, saying Goulburn was more of a "driving town."
Do you have something to say about this issue? Send a letter to the editor. Click here for the Goulburn Post
Louise Thrower
If you have a story to tell, drop me a line at louise.thrower@austcommunitymedia.com.au or call 0418 229 678.
If you have a story to tell, drop me a line at louise.thrower@austcommunitymedia.com.au or call 0418 229 678.
