Wildlife rescuers around Lake Wendouree have called for reduced speed limits for years to protect bird life, but a report in this week's council agenda indicates no change will be made. Most of Wendouree Parade, the road that encircles the lake, is 50km/h, though there are places in school or "high activity zones" where the speed limit is permanently 40km/h. With concerns over what rescuers say are high numbers of swan deaths in the past 18 months, there have been calls for a 40km/h limit right around the lake, and speed bumps where possible to further slow traffic. WHAT DO YOU THINK? HAVE YOUR SAY BELOW However, according to a report from Regional Roads Victoria, supported by Victoria Police, the speed limits currently in place are appropriate. The report will be discussed at Wednesday's council meeting. Officers will recommend following the advice and making no change to the speed limits, and beginning a community awareness and education campaign. READ MORE: The report states RRV also advised should council consider it appropriate to change the entire parade to 40kh/h, the correct Speed Zone Process must be followed for support to any change to speed limits signs. Victoria Police supplied accident data for Wendouree Parade, advising that between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2019 four collisions were recorded, and between January 1, 2020 to August 7, 2020, three collisions were recorded. DIGITAL SPEED SIGNS HAVE BEEN SPOTTED AROUND THE LAKE IN A 50km/h ZONE: All collisions were either no injury or minor injury, the report states. There is no mention of wildlife deaths in the agenda, only that signs advertising a phone number for wildlife rescuers had been installed. "On all roads it is the driver's responsibility to drive to the road conditions, this includes drivers being aware of and reacting responsibly to existing warning signs, the weather, other vehicles, cyclists and roadside activity like pedestrians and wildlife," the agenda states. "Many community members feed the swans and other wildlife which encourages the birds to move in amongst the car parking areas where it has been shown that they are most at risk. "It is the officer's determination that regardless of the speed limits the safety of the Black Swans should be based on driver, cyclist, and pedestrian education." Feedback from Regional Roads Victoria and Victoria Police is included in the agenda - RRV states "both the 40km/h and 50km/h zone in this circumstance would be in line with the guidelines and RRV would support the City of Ballarat's decision going forward given the City of Ballarat is the relevant road authority in this instance provided any change proposed is undertaken through the formal speed zone change process prior to speed limit signs being authorised". Ballarat Highway Patrol Senior Sergeant Stuart Gale is quoted in the agenda stating Victoria Police has no concerns about the speed limits. IN THE NEWS Instead, council officers recommend an education campaign and new surveys. "Officers suggest that an awareness and education campaign is a more suitable option highlighting that council will begin new traffic data surveys to determine driver behavior given our existing data suggest that drivers drive approximately 5-10km/h above the speed limit regardless of the speed zone," the agenda states. "Should the new data suggest no change to driver behavior a community consultation program should be conducted to determine if 40km/h is the desire of the greater community." If you are seeing this message you are a loyal digital subscriber to The Courier, as we made this story available only to subscribers. Thank you very much for your support and allowing us to continue telling Ballarat's story. We appreciate your support of journalism in our great city.
Heads up: A swan in the Lake Wendouree gardens on Saturday. Picture: Adam Trafford
Wildlife rescuers around Lake Wendouree have called for reduced speed limits for years to protect bird life, but a report in this week's council agenda indicates no change will be made.
Most of Wendouree Parade, the road that encircles the lake, is 50km/h, though there are places in school or "high activity zones" where the speed limit is permanently 40km/h.
With concerns over what rescuers say are high numbers of swan deaths in the past 18 months, there have been calls for a 40km/h limit right around the lake, and speed bumps where possible to further slow traffic.
WHAT DO YOU THINK? HAVE YOUR SAY BELOW
However, according to a report from Regional Roads Victoria, supported by Victoria Police, the speed limits currently in place are appropriate.
The report will be discussed at Wednesday's council meeting.
Officers will recommend following the advice and making no change to the speed limits, and beginning a community awareness and education campaign.
The report states RRV also advised should council consider it appropriate to change the entire parade to 40kh/h, the correct Speed Zone Process must be followed for support to any change to speed limits signs.
Victoria Police supplied accident data for Wendouree Parade, advising that between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2019 four collisions were recorded, and between January 1, 2020 to August 7, 2020, three collisions were recorded.
DIGITAL SPEED SIGNS HAVE BEEN SPOTTED AROUND THE LAKE IN A 50km/h ZONE:
Why speed limits around the lake probably won't change any time soon
All collisions were either no injury or minor injury, the report states. There is no mention of wildlife deaths in the agenda, only that signs advertising a phone number for wildlife rescuers had been installed.
"On all roads it is the driver's responsibility to drive to the road conditions, this includes drivers being aware of and reacting responsibly to existing warning signs, the weather, other vehicles, cyclists and roadside activity like pedestrians and wildlife," the agenda states.
"Many community members feed the swans and other wildlife which encourages the birds to move in amongst the car parking areas where it has been shown that they are most at risk.
"It is the officer's determination that regardless of the speed limits the safety of the Black Swans should be based on driver, cyclist, and pedestrian education."
Feedback from Regional Roads Victoria and Victoria Police is included in the agenda - RRV states "both the 40km/h and 50km/h zone in this circumstance would be in line with the guidelines and RRV would support the City of Ballarat's decision going forward given the City of Ballarat is the relevant road authority in this instance provided any change proposed is undertaken through the formal speed zone change process prior to speed limit signs being authorised".
Ballarat Highway Patrol Senior Sergeant Stuart Gale is quoted in the agenda stating Victoria Police has no concerns about the speed limits.
Instead, council officers recommend an education campaign and new surveys.
"Officers suggest that an awareness and education campaign is a more suitable option highlighting that council will begin new traffic data surveys to determine driver behavior given our existing data suggest that drivers drive approximately 5-10km/h above the speed limit regardless of the speed zone," the agenda states.
"Should the new data suggest no change to driver behavior a community consultation program should be conducted to determine if 40km/h is the desire of the greater community."
If you are seeing this message you are a loyal digital subscriber to The Courier, as we made this story available only to subscribers. Thank you very much for your support and allowing us to continue telling Ballarat's story. We appreciate your support of journalism in our great city.
