Proposal

Council is proposing to reduce the speed limit around the Kyneton 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% (50km/h to 40km/h).

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.
  • Recommendations from the Kyneton Movement Network Plan and Kyneton Urban Design Framework.
  • The high volume of pedestrian traffic in Kyneton supports the need for a low-speed environment to enhance safety.

    • Proposed roads

    The proposed speed reduction is limited to the core business/activity area and the residential areas nearby, comprising the following roads and proposed lowered speed limits (see map below):
    • Piper Street (Mollison Street to Wedge Street)
    • Yaldwyn Street West (Mollison Street to Powlett Street)
    • Mair Street (Mollison Street to Victoria Street)
    • Yaldwyn Street East (Mollison Street to Victoria Street)
    • Bowen Street (Mollison Street to Victoria Street)
    • Lauriston Street (Mollison Street to Victoria Street)
    • Market Street (Mollison Street to Victoria Street)
    • Welsh Street (Mollison Street to High Street)
    • Bodkin Street (Mollison Street to New Street)
    • Begg Street (Mollison Street to Ross Street)
    • Ross Street (entire length)
    • Maxwell Street (Mollison Street to Ross Street)
    • Franklin Place (Begg Street to end of seal)
    • New Street (Begg Street to High Street)
    • Clowes Street (Mollison Street to Ebden Street)
    • Pohlman Street (Mollison Street to Ebden Street)
    • Donnithorne Street (Mollison Street to the west of Ebden Street)
    • Simpson Street (Mollison Street to Ebden Street)
    • Jennings Street (Mollison Street to Powlett Street)
    • Baynton Street (Mollison Street to Ebden Street)
    • Mollison Street (Piper Street to Begg Street)
    • High Street (Mollison Street to New Street)
    • Ferguson Street (Market Street to High Street)
    • Victoria Street (Market Street to Mair Street)
    • Langley Street (Begg Street to Franklin Place)
    • Mollison Street (Piper Street to north of Beauchamp Street)
    A map showing proposed speed limit reductions to roads around Kyneton.

    A map showing proposed speed limit reductions to roads around Kyneton. This includes traffic count data that helped to inform these decisions.

    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 50km/h to 40km/h, the chance of a fatal injury is reduced by more than half (from 80% to 26%).

    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.

    October 2025 update

    Thank you to everyone who shared feedback on the proposed area-wide speed reduction in Kyneton. We appreciate the strong engagement on the speed reduction project and we received 136 submissions in total.

    Submitters supported 40km/h limits on key streets and near schools and recreation areas, noting benefits for pedestrian and cyclist safety and a more family-friendly, walkable town. Concerns related to efficiency, the need for more crossings and footpaths, and risks of inconsistent implementation. Council acknowledges these issues and continues to advocate and seek funding for infrastructure upgrades, while emphasising that enforceable lower limits are an important step to protect vulnerable road users, with most roads already operating below the proposed speeds.

    Council will now proceed with the implementation of the reduced limits, with signage planned to be installed in the near future 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.

    We thank you again for your engagement and ongoing support in shaping safer, more liveable streets in Kyneton.

    If you have any further questions on these proposals or how your individual submission was considered, email the Engineering Services team at engineeringservices@mrsc.vic.gov.au