Proposal

Council is proposing to reduce the speed limit along selected roads within the Riddells Creek 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 (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 walk or cycle 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 Riddells Creek Movement Network Plan.
  • The high volume of pedestrian traffic in Riddells Creek's business activity areas and access to public transport 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):
    • Station Street (Foodworks to train station car park access point)
    • Hamilton Street (Station Street to Fitzgerald Street)
    • Fitzgerald Street (Hamilton Street to Sutherlands Road)
    • Sutherlands Road (Foodworks to east side of Stephen Street)
    • Stephen Street (Hamilton Street to Sutherlands Road)
    • Sutherlands Road (east side of Stephen Street to 141 Sutherlands Road)
    A map showing proposed speed limit reductions to selected roads around Riddells Creek.

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

    Project Benefits

    The proposed work will provide the following benefits to the broader community:

    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%t 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 all community members who provided feedback on Council’s proposal for area-wide speed reductions in Riddells Creek. We appreciate the strong engagement on the speed reduction project and we received 62 submissions in total.

    Submitters emphasised the need to improve safety for vulnerable road users, including children, pedestrians, and cyclists, as well as to protect local wildlife. Concerns were also raised about high vehicle speeds, particularly from larger trucks near driveways and intersections. While some residents felt speed reductions may be inconvenient or preferred driver education as an alternative, traffic data shows that most roads already operate below the proposed limits. Introducing enforceable lower limits will therefore have minimal impact on travel efficiency while providing a safer and more consistent environment across the township.

    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 Riddells Creek.

    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