The push to reduce the speed limit in the Eaglehawk CBD from 50km/h to 40km/h will be a focus at tonight’s Whipstick Ward meeting.

Councillor Peter Cox said members of the community felt traffic along Napier, Victoria and High streets was travelling too quickly.

“It should be a people precinct, not a vehicle precinct,” Cr Cox said.  

The Whipstick Ward councillor said the death of an 88-year-old Eaglehawk woman who died in February after being struck by a car while driving her mobility scooter across Napier Street highlighted the importance of road safety. 

“[That] fatal accident involving an elderly person demonstrated that safety of pedestrians must be the highest priority in shopping precincts,” Cr Cox said. 

“There is a Scope located just near the intersection so we have a lot of people in wheelchairs moving around the area.

“These are areas for people and not fast moving cars and trucks.

“We already have a 40km/h zone in Eaglehawk Road outside the primary schools and it would not take much to extend it through the whole of the shopping centre.” 

But not all locals are thrilled about the idea of slowing traffic on the major artery to the Bendigo CBD. 

Sam Barber said he used the road every weekday to drop his to younger siblings to Eaglehawk Secondary College on his way to work or university. 

“Getting there now is already quite slow,” the P-plate driver said.

“This is a main road … slowing it down will only make that worse.” 

Cr Cox said tonight’s ward meeting will also discuss a range of other issues including the redevelopment of the Eaglehawk Railway Station precinct, a proposed fenced dog park, the 3556 Community Plan, upgrade of facilities at the Albert Roy Reserve and the organic curb side collection.

“Ward meetings have been a focus to discuss these important issues for many years as they affect our local amenity,” he said. 

“It is an ideal time to raise issues and get them on the agenda for much wider discussion.”

The meeting starts at 7pm in the Eaglehawk Band Hall opposite Aldi.

Head to the Advertiser online to have your say on the proposed speed change.