Proposal

Council is proposing to reduce the speed limit around the Gisborne township. This project is fully funded through the Victorian Government's Safe Local Roads and Streets Program, to improve road safety.

The program adopts a Safe System Approach, which focuses on designing and improving roads to reduce crash severity and improve safety by addressing human error and the road environment. The program is a collaborative effort between local governments, the Department of Transport and Planning (DTP), and the Transport Accident Commission (TAC).

Proposed Works

A township-wide speed limit reduction will greatly enhance safety for pedestrians, cyclists, and all road users, with studies showing that reducing speed limits has the potential to decrease fatalities by more than 50 per cent.

Lowering speed limits reduces the severity of collisions. Additionally, slower speeds allow for better reaction times, helping drivers avoid accidents and ensuring greater safety for vulnerable road users. This project will transform streets into safer, more liveable spaces, encouraging more people to utilise active transport options while promoting a safer driving culture.

The project was identified based on the following considerations:

  • Council's Mobility and Road Safety Strategy 2023-2032¸ Strategic Theme 2: Improving Safety and Mobility in and around towns
  • Gisborne Futures Structure Plan, 10.1 Walking and Cycling
  • Gisborne Urban Design Framework 2008
  • The high volume of pedestrian traffic in Gisborne supports the need for a low-speed environment to enhance safety.

    • Proposed roads

    The proposed speed reduction is limited to the core business and activity area, comprising the following roads and proposed lowered speed limits (see map below):
    • Neal Street & Goode Street (Hamilton Street to Robertson Street)
    • Prince Street & Brantome Street (Robertson Street to Fisher Street)
    • Fisher Street (Prince Street to Aitken Street)
    • Aitken Road Service Road (74 Aitken Street to Fisher Street; Fisher Street to Hamilton Street; Hamilton Street to Robertson Street)
    • Lyell Street (Neal Street to Goode Street)
    • Hamilton Street (Aitken Street to Neal Street)
    • Robertson Street (Neal Street to Prince Street)
    • Aitken Street (Jacksons Creek Bridge to 75m past Melton Road roundabout and Mount Gisborne Road roundabout)
    • Hamilton Street (Aitken Street to Melbourne Road roundabout)
    • Melbourne Road (57m past Kilmore Road/Hamilton Street roundabout)
    • Kilmore Road (Hamilton St/Kilmore Road roundabout to Mill Road)
    A map showing proposed speed limit reductions to roads around Gisborne.

    Project Benefits

    Lowering speed limits helps reduce the likelihood of accidents, especially those involving pedestrians and cyclists.

    The slower vehicles are moving, the less forceful the impact in case of a collision, which reduces both the severity and frequency of accidents.

    A study by the Curtin-Monash Accident Research Centre showed that speed contributed to the severity of road crashes and resulting injuries, especially for vulnerable road users such as pedestrians or cyclists.

    The study found that by reducing the speed limit from 50 km/h to 40 km/h, the chance of a fatal injury is reduced by more than half (from 80 per cent to 26 per cent).

    Slower-moving vehicles make people feel safer walking and cycling. With reduced speeds, pedestrians have more time to cross streets safely, especially at busy intersections.

    This enhances safety and encourages healthier lifestyles by promoting walking and cycling.

    Safer streets encourage people to participate more in activities such as walking, relaxing outdoors, or interacting with neighbours.

    July 2025 update

    Thank you to all those who took the time to review and provide considered feedback on Council’s proposed road safety improvements projects in Gisborne, during community consultation in March/April 2025. We appreciate the strong engagement these proposals received – close to 80 submissions in total across the three proposals – and the sentiments around improving pedestrian safety, traffic flow, and streetscape enhancements.

    • For Project 1 (proposed roundabout/streetscape upgrades at Hamilton/Aitken streets), there was strong support from submitters around enhanced pedestrian safety, slower traffic speeds, and streetscape upgrades that reflect Gisborne’s character.
    • For Project 2 (proposed compact roundabout at Hamilton/Brantome streets), submitters welcomed improved traffic flow and safer school-time pedestrian movement, along with the inclusion of indigenous vegetation.
    • For Project 3 (area-wide speed reduction), there was clear majority support for lower speed limits to address growing safety concerns and protect vulnerable road users.

    Key concerns across these proposals such as crossing locations, congestion, landscaping, and drainage have been carefully reviewed and addressed where practical, in consideration of technical guidelines and industry best practice.

    Further communication, if required, will be provided to impacted residents/businesses as the projects progress.

    • Project 1 - expected to be delivered by end of 2025
    • Project 2 - planned to be completed by end of the 2025-26 financial year.
    • Project 3 - Council will now proceed with the implementation of the reduced limits, with signage planned to be installed in the near future (early 2026) once final approval is received from the Department of Transport and Planning as the speed zoning authority. These works are being delivered as part of the Victorian State Government funded Safe Local Roads and Streets Program.

    Your input is greatly valued and continues to help shape safer, more accessible spaces in Gisborne. If you have any further questions on these proposals or how your individual submission was considered, contact the Engineering Services team at Engineeringservices@mrsc.vic.gov.au