Shire of Augusta-Margaret River keeps hands on the wheel with Safer Speeds trial despite concerns

The Shire of Augusta-Margaret River says it will continue its partnership with the RAC to trial speed reductions on hundreds of local roads despite the City of Busselton opting out and residents voicing concerns.

The shire’s leadership ruled out going back to public consultation despite Busselton noting the three-year “trial” was a misnomer which might not be reversed even if unsuccessful.

While the shire previously said residents showed “strong support” for the partnership, responding to questions from the Times, shire president Julia Meldrum acknowledged the project had “majority” support.

“We’ve listened to our community, and the majority support the Safer Speed Trial so we’re committed to the initiative because we want to make our roads safer for everyone,” she said.

“We’ve been assured the project has provision to fund any necessary signage changes at the end of the trial.”

Consultation data filed with council papers in December was collected through the shire’s website and then passed onto a consultancy for analysis.

The consultants found more women responded than men, and residents aged under 40 were under-represented.

The survey also found women and older respondents were more likely to back speed reductions, but just 54 per cent of those surveyed said they were concerned about speed.

About 38 per cent disagreed, leaving 8 per cent undecided, while on average 70 per cent or more acknowledged the safety benefits of reduced speeds in crashes.

Busselton Area Ratepayer and Residents Association spokesperson Jane Bennett said residents should be demanding the shire revisit its commitment after her group poked holes in the accident data cited to justify the program.

Of the eight regional zones identified in Main Roads data, the combined two local government areas in the Capes had the lowest number of crashes.

The Capes had 4 per cent of annual collisions compared to the wider South West at 29 per cent and 24 per cent in the Wheatbelt, which led to BARRA questioning the RAC’s site choice.

“It doesn’t make sense,” she told the Times.

While speed was a factor in road crashes, fatigue, inexperience, animal collisions and the effects of drugs and alcohol were all serious considerations, Ms Bennett said.

Osmington man Neil Adams urged residents to lobby the shire to reconsider the commitment given the campaign by BARRA.

“(Busselton) residents were successful in not going through with the RAC safer roads idea,” he said.

“Yet here in Margs, the shire swallowed it hook, line and sinker.

“It is important our voices are heard and represented so that transparency, accountability and common sense are applied by our council leaders.”

The RAC declined to comment on what ratepayers were being asked to contribute and how much funding would now feature in the program originally touted at $1 million.