A GRANDFATHER pushing for a speed limit reduction through Chatsworth has gained Moyne Shire Council's support.
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The council will submit an application to Regional Roads Victoria for a permanent speed reduction from 100km/h to 80km/h on the Caramut-Chatsworth Road approaching the town, and 60km/h through the town.
Chatsworth district resident Pat Bourchier pushed to have the speed limit reduced to 40km/h near Chatsworth Occasional Childcare Centre, where two of his grand children attend, and delivered a petition with 81 signatures to the council.
"One of the reasons a 70-year-old went into bat is that my grand kids go there, and I don't want them under any threats," Mr Bourchier said.
"There's cars coming over a crest and doing 100km/h, if you're approaching the childcare centre, there is not enough distance to stop."
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Council officers recommended a 80km/h speed limit for the road, which they said was driven by around 200 motorists daily and had a record of truck crashes.
But councillors at Tuesday night's meeting unanimously backed also applying for a 60km/h speed reduction through the town.
Mr Bourchier said he was rapt with the outcome if it meant the childcare centre, which was used by about a 15 children, was safer along with a district road.
"Certainly if you ask anyone out here if they had any near misses, it would be 100 per cent," he said.
"That childcare centre is also a bus stop for the Mortlake to Hamilton bus where children get on in the morning."
Councillor Jordan Lockett said the council's application was "a good compromise" with the petitioners.
"I hope that VicRoads will come to the table and help out the residents of Chatsworth. We have heard tonight there are clearly some dangerous roads," Cr Lockett said.
Regional Roads Victoria acting regional director Emma Miller-Olsen said the road authority would carefully consider any request for a speed limit change for the council-managed road.
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