Hopetoun Road residents fear that someone will be killed if the speed limit is not reduced. They also want better public transport. From left: Mary-Lyn McKay, Doreene McLaren, Elaine Mary Lane, Helen Malady, David Beattie, Alice Hallett, Janice Kennedy, Ruby Noble, Ian Sloane and Dawn Mason.
A WEST Warrnambool thoroughfare has come under close council scrutiny due to speed limit concerns and a lack of adequate public transport.
Two petitions with a total of 300 signatures were presented to Warrnambool City Council calling for a 20-kilometre-an-hour reduction in the speed limit and for a bus stop closer to their homes.
Both issues have been deferred until the city’s bus line operators and VicRoads have been consulted over the speed limit motion.
Hopetoun Road resident Doreene McLaren said she was disappointed that councillors had decided to defer tangible decisions on the two issues, which she claimed had popular local support.
“The speed limit along Hopetoun Road is an area that needs immediate action,” Ms McLaren said. “Walk across the road there at breakfast time, in the early evening or even late at night and there are cars flying past in both directions.
“We can’t keep delaying this issue, someone will be hurt or killed at the 60km/h speed limit.”
Resident numbers have grown in recent years on either side of Hopetoun Road with Mercy Place nursing home, Department of Housing units for elderly residents and an expanded Emmanuel College all lining the suburban link.
Cr John Harris said he was keen to see the speed limit reduced to 40km/h due to the high number of elderly people and schoolchildren in the area.
He said speed advisory signs would not work and was keen to consult with VicRoads over the best course of action.
Cr Peter Hulin said some councillors were hiding behind protocol over the two issues and believed both problems could be easily addressed.
“When it comes to this nonsense being peddled about having to consult with VicRoads, I think it’s more about some people wanting to delay a decision,” Cr Hulin said. “If you ran a business like they’re running council, delaying decisions all the time, you’d be shutting up shop within a week.”
Cr Rob Askew said bus operators had flagged possible changes to the public transport route which takes in the Hopetoun Road area. He said VicRoads also needed to be consulted over speed limit changes.
“It’s easy to take the populist point-of-view but the problem is that both issues need to be addressed through the proper channels,” Cr Askew said.