Former Yass Valley Council Mayor and current Councillor, Allan McGrath, gave notice that at the Ordinary Council Meeting on 25 September, he would move a motion that could see a safer speed limit be established in several areas.
The motion reads, “That a report and recommendations be prepared addressing the feasibility and likely benefits of establishing a 40km/h speed limit and/or other traffic calming measures for Mont Street, part Cliff Street, part Links Road, and all of Weemilah Street Yass.
“Council decided that this was something that needed to be discussed with TfNSW as they are the regulating body for these matters.
Council ultimately went with the following resolutions:
“1. Refer the matter to the local transport forum, requesting support for the submission to Transport for NSW to review the speed limit requesting a reduction to 40km/h speed limit for Mont Street, part Cliff Street, part Links Road, and all of Weemilah Street Yass.
“2. Make a submission to TfNSW for the speed reduction.
“3. A report and recommendations be prepared addressing the feasibility and likely benefits of establishing a 40km/h speed limit and/or other traffic calming measures for Mont Street, part Cliff Street, part Links Road, and all of Weemilah Street Yass.”
The changing of speed limits have been a point of discussion for many local Councils with some even going as far as to challenge the idea that TfNSW should need to approve speed limits if a Council wishes to.
Recently, a Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council member, Councillor Kelly, argued that if Councillors and locals including that of emergency services, all agreed there needed to be a change in the roads, why does an official, typically from Sydney, need to approve it.
Yass Valley Council have deferred to TfNSW to move ahead with the report.
– Jack Murray
