Proposed traffic management improvements - Braidwood Drive, Balwyn Road and Leisure Drive, Australind

The Shire of Harvey is seeking community feedback on proposed traffic management improvements to Braidwood Drive, Balwyn Road and Leisure Drive.

Background:

A number of requests have been received from residents who live along the eastern section of Braidwood Drive in Australind (Kingston Estate) and from ‘Edenlife’ Management (Leisure Drive and Balwyn Road) requesting the Shire consider installing traffic management to change driver behaviour in these streets.

Following initial complaints, Vehicle Classifiers were deployed along Braidwood Drive in February 2023. 
The results obtained are included in the following table:

Note: Constellation Drive currently has a posted speed of 50kph.

The 85% speed is the speed that 85% of vehicles using a road travel at or less than and is often used to determine the speed environment of a road. In this section of Braidwood Drive the 85% speed is 8kph over the posted speed which while not excessive is still higher than would normally be expected.

Of particular concern however was the maximum speed recorded of 152kph. While all roads that are assessed in 50kph zones have a small element of motorists diving at excessive speeds i.e. between 60kph and 100kph, a speed on 152kph is unusual. Hence residents’ concerns regarding the incidence of speed in this street.

The Proposal:

Officers developed a proposal for Council’s consideration at its Ordinary meeting held on 28 November 2023, comprising the installation of speed cushions and associated signage at strategic locations in the road network as shown below.

After considering the matter, Council made the following decision:

 That Council:

Council was advised that while not all residents would be in favour of such devises being installed in close proximity to their properties, vertical displacement devices on roads are the most effective way to slow vehicles and change driver behaviour. 

While the enforcement of speed is a WA Police responsibility, it can be argued that the protection of people's amenity and implementing safety improvements is the responsibility of local governments.

While what is proposed may be excessive it will undoubtedly achieve the aim of regulating traffic speeds. 

Further information and a larger plan is available on the Shire’s website at www.harvey.wa.gov.au 

Submitting Comments:

Your written feedback, via the following avenues, is requested by Thursday 25 January 2024. 

Please refer to the attached COMMUNITY CONSULTATION SUBMISSION FORM.

Thank you for taking the time to provide us with your comments on this proposal and should you require any further information please contact the Shire’s Director Infrastructure, Rick Lotznicker on (08) 9729 0300.